Page 73 of Strictly Forbidden

We pitched and rolled, both of us laughing as Max jumped from one side to the other, still barking, even frothing at the mouth. I rolled her over finally until she was pinned to the ground, both of us gasping for air. I threw her arms over her head and she gave me a look of her own.

As if retaliation was already in the back of her mind.

“You really are one bad man,” she managed, her breathing as labored as mine.

“Yeah? What makes you think so?”

“You were supposed to let me win. Gentlemen would do that.”

“You got it wrong then, baby. I ain’t no gentleman.”

Her smile was far too salacious. “Then what exactly are you?”

“The big, bad wolf.” I issued a howl toward the heavens that stopped Max in his tracks before dropping my head and biting her on the neck.

She was still laughing, playfully trying to push me off. I was amazed at this woman, her resolve and her ability to forgive something I would never have expected. If I wasn’t extremely careful, I wouldn’t ever be able to let her go.

I rolled over onto my back just far enough away I wouldn’t be tempted to fuck her in the goddamn snow. I’d gathered the scent of cinnamon. Maybe she’d found some candy somewhere and it only made me want to kiss her. I turned my head toward Max, who was staring at us like we were two crazy people.

The rustling sound she was making drew my attention and when I looked, she was fanning out both her arms and legs in a constant motion.

I rolled over onto my elbow and side, doing nothing more than observing. “What are you doing?”

“Making a snow angel. I used to do this when I was a kid.”

“A what?”

“Oh, come on. You mom or dad had to teach you how to make a snow angel.”

“You don’t know my dad. He didn’t have time for such things and my mom wasn’t an outdoorsy kind of woman in the least.”

She laughed and continued what she was doing. I moved to a standing position, staring down at her. When it seemed like she was finished, I held out my arm to help her stand.

“If you have a hidden snowball, I will get you back.”

“Not a chance,” I told her.

As soon as she slapped her hand into mine, I pulled her to a standing position, maybe using just a little too much force, which caused her to smack one hand against my chest, our lips coming dangerously close to touching. She took a scattered breath, licking her lips.

“I, um…” she whispered, remaining where she was for a few seconds longer before pulling away. “Look. See, it looks like a perfect angel. Maybe she can guard me against nightmares.”

I peered down and sighed. If only that were true.

“Come on. Let’s see if we can get the satellite working.”

She glanced into my eyes, still searching. Maybe still hoping. She nodded once and it was just another breakdown of what we shared.

But the heat was still intensifying.

And damn if I didn’t begin to fully realize that she’d been brought into my life for a reason. Saving me. How ironic that a girl who wrote about monsters and demons in real life, a woman considered fragile on the outside but truly the strongest woman I’d ever met on the inside would be the one.

The. One.

As we stood together, staring down at the fallen angel, I could also see a warm glow shimmering across the surface. Maybe it was from the sun but in my mind, it was more about the spirit inside the woman who stood so close I couldn’t breathe. She held a light transcending everything else. It was as if no darkness, no evil, no horrible men determined to end lives and wreak havoc could destroy her special qualities.

Only a man like me could.

That made whatever decision was necessary to make that much harder.

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