Page 25 of Unlawful Seduction

She faded into the shadows and I pressed the back of my head against the cage.

Did she have any idea she was the more dangerous of the two of us?

Against common sense and my better judgment, I returned to the kitchen. She hadn’t been lying. She had a Scrabble board positioned on the table and was actively concentrating on forming a word.

The fact she ignored my return all through me grabbing two remaining beers from the fridge and planting myself down opposite her spurred another wave of explosive heat. The box lid was on the chair and I selected another holder and the correct number of letters, taking my time to position and move them around while I let my gaze meander on the words she’d already placed on the board.

“Can I join in?” I asked. Why not be polite?

“Do I have a choice?”

“Everyone has a choice, sweetheart. Sadly, it’s often not the one that makes us happy, but the one we need instead.”

“Oh, now you’re a philosopher as well as everything else. Go for it.” She waved her hand inches above the board. “I’d like to see what you can do.” She sat back, swirling the bottle of beer back and forth.

The challenge was accepted. Granted, not the one I’d enjoy partaking in, but the only one allowed. After a full minute of thinking, I was able to place six of the squares on the board.

Her expression shifted from sheer joy in knowing she was going to beat me at a preferred game to shock then annoyance as she peered down at the word.

“What… the… hell?” Her whispered voice saturated the room with a spicy essence.

“That’s thirty-six points.”

She was still staring at the letters a full thirty seconds later. “This means war. Be careful, dangerous man. I might best you.”

Two hours later and she’d done just that more than once, although I’d given her a decent run for her money. After returning from the bathroom, I was shocked to find her still in the chair, but with her head lolling in front of her.

The beauty was fast asleep.

I moved closer, inhaling her sweet essence as I’d done half the night. The fragrance suited her, exotic yet subtle. I tilted her forward from the hardback chair, gently wrapping one arm around her upper back while sliding my other arm under her legs. Given my muscle mass and huge frame, she felt tiny in my arms.

As soon as I had her nestled against my chest, her eyelids fluttered open. Whether or not she registered who was holding her I couldn’t decipher, but I was mesmerized by the soulful look in her eyes. What man wouldn’t be?

She wrapped her fingers around my shirt as she’d done before, nuzzling her head into the crook of my arm as I walked into her office. After positioning her on the highly uncomfortable-looking sofa, I covered her with the blanket, making a mental note to purchase a couple of soft ones.

A single moan left her lips and she rolled over to face the back of the couch. I stood right where I was for a full two minutes before flipping out the light and returning to where the cages were located. I sat down, resting my head against Jax’s cage. He snuffled in appreciation. This would be a restless night, but I’d certainly been forced to sleep in much worse conditions.

As I closed my eyes, visions of her returned to my mind.

I’d experienced every concept of danger possible in my life.

Or so I’d thought.

But being around a woman like Dr. McGregor made me realize she was perhaps the most dangerous creature of all.

CHAPTER 7

Mallory

“You’re so strong, so handsome.”

“You think so?” He nipped my earlobe before breathing into my ear. A sweep of tingles danced across every naked inch of skin.

“Mmm… Hmm… Definitely.” I rolled my hands over his shoulders, squeezing both until I felt a sticky substance. When I pulled my hands away, horror raced through me.

They were covered in blood.

I jerked back. “Beckett. What’s wrong?”

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