Challenging the Center (Santa Fe Bobcats #6)(40)

“You did enjoy it, didn’t you?”

“So what if I did?” Unwilling to hear a lecture about how shallow she was or that she was an attention whore, Kat slid around him and started walking for the main road. “Sometimes it’s nice to cut loose and laugh at myself a little. Sorry if you don’t know how to enjoy life, but—”

Whatever she was going to say was cut off abruptly as he grabbed her elbow and pulled her back against his chest. She let out a soft breath of air as she landed hard against him.

“I know how to enjoy life.” His voice was darker than the night. His hand was warm as it crept under the polo shirt and splayed across her bare abdomen. His touch was exciting and a little daunting. “I’ve had a perfectly enjoyable, easygoing life up until now.” He nuzzled at her hair, her ear, the side of her neck. And his breath was hot on the sensitive skin just beneath her ear when he added, “You drive me insane.”

“Th-that’s not my problem,” she managed to get out as he sucked gently on the skin there, below her hairline. Her hands trembled when they reached up and cupped the back of his neck, silently encouraging him to continue. Her other hand wrapped around his arm at her torso. “If you’re a stick-in-the-mud—”

Michael chuckled. “Stick-in-the-mud. My friends would love that. I’ve never been a stick, that’s for sure. You just… bring out a different side in me.”

“The stick side?” she asked, gasping a little when he grazed his teeth over her skin at the place where her neck and shoulder connected. “Oh, you mean the mud side.”

“Brat.” His hand tightened at her stomach, fingertips grazing all over, electrifying her nerves. “I need to take you home.”

“Why, Michael, I know you paid for my company, but I’m not that kind of girl.” She fought to keep her voice light and almost Southern belle-like. But he made it so damn hard to concentrate when he did that to her…

“Get in the car, and don’t fight me on this. We’re going home.” His hand tightened just another second, and he nipped at her shoulder almost as a warning before letting her go and walking toward the front of the alley to the street.

“Don’t fight me on this,” she muttered under her breath. But when he half turned his head, almost as if he’d heard her, she hustled up and followed.



Michael knew what she was thinking. That he would bring her back to his place with him. That they’d pick up where they left off before she went to work. That he’d use the fact that he paid for her as an excuse to get her in his bed.

Kat’s eyes were wary as he unlocked his door, then opened it. And even more so when he motioned for her to come inside with him. But there was also anticipation. And no hesitation as she followed him in.

The second the door closed behind him, he was on her, cupping her face and kissing her deeply. Her arms immediately wrapped around him, pulling him tighter against her, pressing her own body against his.

He backed her up against the wall beside his door, hands roaming, moving down to cup her breasts, her hips, her ass until one knee rose and he caught her under the leg to hoist her up. She grunted as her back more fully hit the wall, but not in a pained way. Not from the way she attacked his mouth.

He nearly lost control when he felt her sweet core cradle his erection so perfectly. And that was when he knew it was time to stop. Stop before he took it too far.

He pulled his head back, breathing hard until his forehead met hers.

“Jesus, you know how to kiss, Manny.”

He laughed and maybe groaned a little. The movement rubbed his cock against her, only serving as punishment for letting it go this far.

“We have to stop.”

“We don’t have to stop,” she countered. “There’s a bed that way, over there, if memory serves. You could use your muscles to walk me thataway.”

“I could, but I won’t.”

Kat turned her head to the side, dislodging his resting place and making him thump his head against the wall. Damn. Fuck, that hurt.

“Why the hell not?”

“Because… becau— Stop wiggling. I’m going to drop you.”

“Good. Put me down, please.”

He let go of her but kept her caged within his arms against the wall. “Would you just listen to me?”

“Why?” She glared up at him. “I feel like this has all been some sort of sick lesson. ‘Look what happens when you don’t play by the rules, Kat. Some guy could have done a whole lot worse if he’d gotten you instead of me, Kat.’” Her lowered voice, clearly meant to emulate his, would have made him laugh if the accusation hadn’t slapped him in the face.

“You think I brought you in here, kissed you like that, and then stopped… because I’m teaching you a damn lesson?” Fearing his anger would spin, he heaved himself away from the wall and stalked off, only to turn back again. “Don’t… no. You know what? Not tonight.”

“Not tonight, what?” she challenged, because of course she would. Damn woman couldn’t let anything go.

“You wanna do this now?” He crowded her then, because he wanted to see if she’d cower back. Testing her, yeah. Testing himself too. Would he want to see her back down or face up?

She faced up, taking a small step into his space so that her breasts brushed his chest. “Yeah. I do.” The fire there in those dark eyes sent his blood thrumming.