Page 50 of Bad Moon Rising
She squinted up at the finger hovering over her face for an instant before survival instinct kicked her into high drive. She sprang forward to attack the man standing above her. Her head throbbed with the rapid movement, but her drive to protect herself superseded pain. No weapon handy. That left her with a direct attack.
After a solid hand-to-chin thrust, she threw her body at the man to catch him by surprise and knock him off balance. He grunted but didn’t fall over. He also didn’t back up. He tried to say something, but she kicked to land a foot into his stomach. However, he turned such that she caught his side. When she managed to get to her knees, he caught her arms and locked them together behind her back, then threw himself on top of her. Outweighed and trapped, she stilled, her head finally clearing from sleep.
“It’s Roman. Do you remember who I am?” he asked. “Roman. The one whose name is on your wrist.”
Shit.
She’d attacked. Roman. Bad move.
“Get off me.”Can’t breathe.She sucked to draw in air, but the miniscule amount of oxygen tugged inward wasn’t enough.
He didn’t budge. “Tell me you haven’t done a rewind and lost your memory.”
“You surprised me.” She wiggled for some breathing space, which he didn’t give.
“Prove to me you remember who I am and who you are.” His face was so close to hers, she could feel the heat of each breath that came out of him.
“Excuse me for having some PTSD from being abducted.” She sucked in her cheeks and glared. “I overreacted. I’m sorry, but you surprised me.”
He blinked. “Did you think I would kill you in your sleep?”
Now he was pissed because his honor was offended.
She shook her head. “No. You promised. I believe you.”
“Helping you figure out who the hell you are is a real pain in the ass.” His gaze dipped to her lips, which were in line with his. His eyes went opaque, glazed. She sensed a desperation in him.
Her breath caught, and her pulse pounded in her ears. When he made no move, she said, “If you’re not taking us tothatlevel, get off me. I can’t handle getting hot and worked up with no relief in sight.”
“Are you going to try to attack me again?”
“You poked me in the face.”
“Worked to wake you up.” A smile tilted up his mouth, which transformed him. It made him devastatingly handsome and almost playful. If she weren’t careful, she’d fall for him like this. “Note to self: Nova isn’t a morning person.”
“What’s so funny?” she asked, entirely unsure what the smile meant other than it was distracting. He didn’t have to be so good-looking or sexy. And he didn’t have to have that look on his face, the one that said he was a predator who’d be delighted to eat her. In a good way. The way that would have her screaming pleasure.
“You.”
“What about me?”
He pushed up and off her. His clean-shaven face and fresh-looking dark T-shirt made his eyes look an even more brilliant blue. “Few people catch me by surprise, but you? I have no clue what to expect next. You chin jabbed me. I mean, damn.”
“Didn’t do a good enough job. If you were actually a contract killer, I’d be dead. Because my jab sucked. I need to work on my attack strategy.”
“If I were an assassin, you’d be dead. I wouldn’t wake you up. I’d kill you while asleep. It’s easier.”
“Valid point unless you like your victim to struggle.” She sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Why do you think that contact killer didn’t outright kill me? Bugs the hell out of me. Makes no sense.”
Everything about him stilled. He dragged both hands over his face. “There’s something bigger than us going on. Someone wiped your memories before they sent you to me, which means whatever was in there must have been so important it had to disappear. Why didn’t they put a bullet in your brain? Why keep you alive? This whole thing is a mystery mind-fuck that’s making me nuts.”
She whispered, “I’m glad you’re here. Sorry I attacked you.”
“I swear to you again, although this is going to hurt me, I won’t…I’m going to prove to them you’re not a threat. It’s a way out.” He gritted his teeth. Even though he was seated, his body wobbled as if about to fall over. “Fuck, it hurts.”
“What’s wrong? It’s doing it again to you, isn’t it? You want me to try—”
“No,” he interrupted. “I’ll get a grip on it.”
