Page 41 of Line of Resistance

Eloise’s wide eyes dropped, going back to fix directly on his aching length. “How in the hell was I supposed to miss that? It’s right front and center.” She motioned in his direction. “And you’re naked.”

Nate chuckled, enjoying teasing her a little too much as he hooked a thumb into the elastic of his underwear. “I’m not naked, but I can be if you want.”

He was hoping for another of those sexy, sweet gasps to feed the heat of lust coursing through his veins. Instead he got a scoff that was immediately followed by a scowl.

Eloise’s nostrils flared as her gaze snapped to his face. “Do you think this is funny?” She stood a little taller, shoulders squaring.

Then she was coming his way. Fast. “You just can’t stop yourself from fucking with me, can you?” She snagged his pistol from the table, snapping it free of its holster before switching off the safety without missing a beat as she continued to advance on him.

It was a situation he’d never been in before and reflex had him backing up, trying to keep distance between them.

But Eloise only walked faster and the cabin was too fucking small. Before he knew it, his back was against the wall and she was right in front of him, close enough the fabric of her skirt teased against his thigh. “Maybe I should send you out into the snow like this.” Her gaze drifted down his body. “See if—” Her eyes widened and she finally offered up another of those gasps he was chasing. “Did you get even harder?”

He was struggling to keep his breathing even. To stay focused on the very real danger he might be in.

Instead, all he could think about was how fucking cute she was. How easy it would be to lean just a little bit closer and finally feel her body against his. “I’ve never had a woman pull a gun on me before.”

Her jaw went slack, eyes bouncing to meet his. “And it’s turning you on?”

It absolutely was. Not that a random woman pulling a gun on him would have the same effect. This was purely because of the woman doing it. “It seems like you might’ve unlocked a new kink for me.”

A very specific kink. AnEloise in controlsort of kink. It took everything out of his hands. Meant he didn’t have to worry about what he was doing or the possible ramifications that might come with it.

Eloise continued to stare at him, mouth hanging open, pistol still in her hand. The way her fingers gripped it, keeping the barrel pointed safely away and angled toward the floor, told him this was not the first gun she’d ever seen. Add on how easily she switched off the safety, and he was pretty confident Eloise still had secrets she was keeping.

And he wanted to hear every one of them. “What about you?”

Her lips clamped together like she finally realized her jaw had dropped. “What do you mean, what about me?”

“Am I your first?”

She scoffed, outrage pinching her stunning features. “I’ve had plenty of sex.”

“Good to know. I like experienced women, but I wasn’t talking about sex.” He finally gave in to the need humming through him, daring to ease closer. “Am I the first man you’ve pulled a gun on?”

She pursed her lips, hesitating just long enough to tell him what he needed to know.

“Eloise Rivers.” He inched in a little more, barely brushing his body against hers. “I never expected you to be so violent.”

She inhaled sharply but didn’t step away. “I didn’t shoot him.”

Nate went still, his brain working through the possible scenarios that might have led to Eloise needing to arm herself. “Who is he?” For a second there he’d been able to feel like himself around her for the first time ever. Relaxed and calm and in control. But the thought of someone trying to hurt Eloise sapped every bit of calm from his body. “And where can I find him?”

Eloise’s eyes stayed fixed on his face, body still. “It was some random guy who tried to steal some stuff.”

It was the vaguest explanation he’d ever heard, and he had heard some pretty vague fucking explanations over the years. People rarely enjoyed spilling the truth, especially when it could cast them in a negative light. But he wasn’t sure what about this story Eloise might be worried would make her look bad. “Someone tried to mug you?”

Her gaze finally left his, lifting to the ceiling like his continued questioning bothered her. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Then what was it like?” He reached up to grab her chin, bringing it down until her eyes came back to his. “Tell me.”

He was walking on thin ice. Eloise was significantly more complicated than he’d initially realized. One wrong move would send him crashing through the ice into Arctic waters. She would freeze him out.

Possibly permanently.

But, like always, his control with her was practically nonexistent.

Her lips tilted in a little frown and for a second he thought the ice was beginning to crack, but then she huffed out a sigh. “It was at a campsite. I was at one of the national parks and he was creeping around during the night trying to get his hands on anything he could.”

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