AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’d rather be alive. If I’m sharing your bed, I’d like to enjoy the experience.”
“You can’t stay here.”
“My bed is full of rats. Your bed is full of you. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make the right choice.”
“I don’t want you here.”
“Yes, you do.” He looked so damn smug that it made her fists itch to strike out. “You want me here because you love me.”
“Argh!” She stomped over to the window as she fought the urge to scream loudly.
“Don’t even think about trying to get out through the windows,” Harry said. “I spent time jamming them when I first got here.”
She eyed her mobile phone, which was sitting on the desk.
“Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters?” He grinned, like this was the best entertainment he’d ever had. “That’s about your only option, seeing as the sole cop within miles is busy locking up your roommates.”
Man, sometimes it seriously sucked to live in a small town.
“Fine,” she ground through a clenched jaw. “We can talk. What do you want to talk about?”
His eyes narrowed. “Change first. There’s no way you want to sleep in that.”
“I said we can talk. I didn’t say we had to be in bed to do it.”
“We’re talking in bed. Where I can make sure you don’t run. Where I can hold you while we talk about some heavy stuff. So get changed, or go to bed dressed as a dominatrix. It’s up to you. But that doesn’t look comfortable to sleep in.”
Harry watched as each of Magenta’s emotions worked their way across her face. Anger. Anxiety. Lust. Longing. Fear. Pain. Anger again. Oh yeah, lots of anger. He made sure to guard his crotch while he watched her think. She was a spitfire, one that could go off in his direction at any minute. She was also sexy as hell in the head-to-toe leather she was sporting. Some guys he knew had a leather fetish. They dreamed of women in leather. Harry had always thought it stemmed fr
om too much time watching Xena: Warrior Princess in their formative years. Seeing Magenta in her form-fitting dress that looked as smooth as butter, he changed his opinion. Leather—good. He almost purred at the sight. Leather really good.
“Stop looking at me like that, you perv.” Magenta placed her hands on her hips and scowled. It only enhanced the dominatrix vibe.
“I like the leather look on you.” He caught her eyes, daring her to look away. “I like any look on you.”
Her cheeks flushed and she licked her lips. He liked that. A lot.
“You’ve got two minutes to get changed, then we go to bed with you dressed like that.”
She didn’t move a muscle. Harry could have sworn she was trying to pierce holes through his skull with her eyes. Cute.
“Okay, time’s up.” He lazily stood, noticing that Magenta tensed. She was going to attack. That was not going to happen.
As quick as lightning, he bent over, thrust a shoulder in her stomach and scooped her up. Ten seconds later, he dumped a cursing Magenta in the middle of her bed and landed beside her. He rolled her to her side as she kicked and shouted. He wrapped an arm around her, pinning her arms to her sides and holding her tight, at the same time throwing a heavy leg over hers. She was immobilised, her back tucked tight against his front. He nuzzled her neck, knowing full well if he put any distance between their heads she’d use hers as a weapon. And Harry was fond of his nose the way it was.
“I am going to hurt you,” Magenta said. The words vibrated with anger. “As soon as I’m free, you are going to be in so much pain.”
“Better make sure I never let you go, then.” He kissed her neck, making her growl in frustration.
“If you think this is the way to get me to talk, then you’re insane. The last thing I want to do is have a heart-to-heart with you. You can hold me here all you like, Harry, but we are not talking.”
“Fine, we’ll snuggle instead.” He wriggled closer to her, feeling her tense even more. “I like snuggling. I can snuggle all night.”
They lay like that, in silence, Harry listening to Magenta huff and puff in annoyance, while the sun disappeared and darkness filled the sky. Magenta’s bedroom was bathed in shadows. Harry hoped the darkness would work in his favour, the way it had in the mine.
Hours passed as he waited for the most stubborn woman he’d ever met to let go of her anger. It was a long wait. At last he felt her body relax against him. He gave it another few minutes before he spoke.
“Why did you cut me out of your life when you were thirteen, Magenta?” His voice was soft and intimate. A whisper between lovers.
