Page 103 of Devil's Claim

“Oh, yes, you did.”

I’ll be damned if he didn’t smack his hand on the steering wheel. It would seem I’d crawled under his skin lighting a fire. Maybe I should fear his outburst, but I had to be honest with myself. No man had ever acted possessive around me, which had led me to believe not a single man would have fought for me if push came to shove.

This man, this brutal hunk of a man was willing to go the extra mile, destroying everything in the path of protecting me. In truth? I found that sexy as hell. The fact he was snorting like a bull was also adorable.

Not that I’d tell him that. His ego was already too big.

He took several deep breaths, now with both hands on the steering wheel. “I told you before. I won’t lose you.”

“I’m not that easily lost.”

“You’re making light of this.”

“No, I’m making fun of you.”

Another snap of his head, his eyes on fire with both rage and lust. Holy hell, a hot flash coursed through me like a tidal wave.I licked my lips and could instantly see that was the wrong thing to do. He puffed up, his nostrils flaring. I’d be damned if he didn’t curse in Spanish. I caught a few words that I’d heard before. Something about me being hardheaded and spoiled.

I’d show him spoiled.

“Watch the road, tough guy. You wouldn’t want a wreck to be the cause of my demise.” As he narrowed his eyes, I couldn’t help but allow myself a glance down his chest to his muscular legs. They certainly filled out a pair of fine linen trousers with no room to spare. My eyes drifted to the thick bulge between his legs, which was so not good for me to do.

My pussy immediately throbbed in response. I clenched my fists, whispering hate-filled words to myself. I couldn’t allow the man to break down my defenses through my lust.

“You are… the most difficult woman I’ve ever known,” he finally said between clenched teeth.

“I thought that’s exactly what you wanted in a partner.” Continuing to push him might result in the kind of argument I didn’t want, but the bratty girl inside was still in control.

“Not that way, Christine.”

“You’re stubborn as well. Pigheaded.” We were doing nothing more than exchanging barbs, but at least it gave me some sense of satisfaction. Plus, I was ensuring he knew I had my own set of boundaries.

“I am doing my job!”

A laugh bubbled to my lips and that certainly didn’t make him happy. However, even in his sullenness, he remained far too sexy. I shivered from the look he gave me. His breathingremained labored and I couldn’t help myself, studying his every reaction.

Seconds ticked by, the awkwardness between us ticking up the sexual tension.

“You can’t go off halfcocked anytime a man has a conversation with me and guess what, in the line of work I now find myself in, I will shake hands with men. I’ll be close to them in rooms and elevators. I might even be required to have lunch or God forbid dinner. That doesn’t mean the only thing on their mind is seducing me.”

“You obviously don’t know men very well.”

“Of course. I’m nothing but a naïve little girl. How could I forget.”

“Jesus Christ,” he huffed. “You’re definitely not a little girl. You are a voluptuous woman and every man we’ve come into contact with is envious of me. Did you not see the desire on their faces when you strutted through that restaurant? Did you not notice the hunger they had as you walked by?”

“First of all, I don’t strut,” I scoffed. Did he really say that? “It doesn’t matter, Kruz. I’m marrying you. Remember? I won’t be doing the hanky-panky with anyone else. My God. You’d likely take them out to the woodshed and use them for target practice.”

He narrowed his eyes, clearly not understanding my American slang. I wasn’t in the mood to clarify.

“Yes, you are marrying me. Until death do us part.”

“When you say it like that…” I fisted my hands. Goddamn, the man was infuriating.

The wave of silence was also annoying for me. Tension remained, our heated breaths fogging the windows. I almost laughed because we were both acting childish.

“Don’t you get it?” His voice held sheer exasperation. “Do you not see what you’ve done to me in a few days? All I think about is you. All I dream about is you. And all I want is your body cradled next to mine, your heart beating with mine, and your sweet lips kissing mine in the throes of electric passion. I not only want you in my life. I need you. Nothing and no one will ever stand in the way of what I want.” He hissed, rolling both hands around the steering wheel.

What did he just say?