Page 62 of When He Protects

“Liar.” But the word sounded like a caress, not a condemnation.

Weird. “You know exactly what I am. I’ve never pretended to be anything else with you.” She’d told him the truth from the first moment.Sometimes, you meet someone…and you know right away that the person is trouble.She hadn’t been saying that Tyler was trouble. She’d been trying to warn him that she was trouble.

“You went outside on that ledge at Jorlan’s place. You walked in the rain.”

“Light rain at the time. Hardly a sprinkle,” she dismissed. She wouldn’t remember the fear she’d felt. Or the way her left foot had slipped off the ledge on her way back to the library.

“You risked your life. You didn’t do that for diamonds.”

“No?”

“Something more valuable was waiting for you in that safe.Tell me, Esme.”

Her chest ached. “Did you think if you fucked me that I’d suddenly reveal every deep, dark secret that I have? The sex was good, but not that good.” And, furious, she rolled once more—this time, away from him. She sat up and shot off the bed.

But he grabbed her wrist. “It wasn’t good.”

Her jaw dropped. The hell it hadn’t been. He’d better not pretend that the sex between them had not beenphenomenal.

“It wasn’t good. It was the best I’ve ever had. The only reason I’m not fucking you again—right now—is because I know I hurt you.”

Her lips pressed together.

“You were damn tight. You said it had been a while for you. How long, Esme?”

Her chin lifted even though he couldn’t see the move. “Am I grilling you? Asking about your ex lovers? Tacky, Tyler, very tacky. Again, your post-sex talk is abysmal. Work on it.”

“How long.” Not a question. A very rough demand.

Jeez. “Two years.” A beat. “How long for you?”

“Six months.”

Do not think of Tyler having sex with anyone else.Her fingers might have curled into claws. “Are we done sharing about our exes now? Or do you want me to type up a list with names? Maybe want me to write a full report for you?”

“I don’t want to know the assholes. That will just make we want to beat the hell out of them.” His thumb slid along her inner wrist.

She forced her fingers to relax. To, ah, declaw. “Why would you want to do that?”For the same reason I want to attack your exes? Stupid jealousy?

“Because no one else should have you. Just me.”

“Sounds awful possessive for a pretend husband.”Remember that, Esme. It’s pretend. Just because you had an insane O, don’t go getting all confused and overly emotional. He doesn’t really care about you. It’s just an act.

“I am possessive.” No denial from Tyler. “Get back in bed.”

“So you can grill me again?”

“So I can hold you.”

A pang slid through her. It would be nice to be held.

“You’re tired. You nearly got run over today. Adrenaline wrecked you. And then I fucked you.” A pause. “Twice.”

She’d come more than twice. Not something she cared to share at the moment.

“I can be a gentleman for the rest of the night. Hell, youcan take the bed, and I’ll go back to bunking on the floor if that’s what you want.”

“Not necessary.” She eased back into the bed. He kept right on holding her wrist. Stroking over her pulse point. “I’m sure you can maintain control. Not like you’ll go all lust-crazed on me.”

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