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The heat in her cheeks grew, and she felt an uncontrollable urge to scream something at him again.
“Go on, I dare you,” he taunted.
“You don’t want to keep annoying me,” Bailey said through her teeth. “The last person to do that was my brother, and he couldn’t walk upright for days after.”
He laughed at her, a loud, head-thrown-back laugh. After admiring the deep sound as it rolled through his large body, she lost it. Years of bottling up her feelings were finally finding an outlet. Heat filled her face, her head felt strange, and suddenly she was grabbing his arm, just like Beau had taught her to. She dropped her shoulder into his stomach, then flipped him. She nearly did it too, but too late she realized he knew the move, and had countered. Seconds later she was flat on her back with him on top of her. He let her down gently, so there was no pain, but she was still breathless.
“Nice try.” He breathed the words against her neck.
Bailey wasn’t done yet. She went limp, then tried another move; surprise gave her the edge, and she got him off her, but he grabbed her wrist as she got to her feet, and swung his legs, bringing her back down on top of him.
“You’re good,” he said. “What belt?”
“No belt,” she wheezed. Bailey pressed a hand to his chest and tried to lever herself upright. The feel of all that muscle beneath her was good, but she didn’t need good, she needed to reclaim her sanity. What the hell had she been thinking, trying those moves on Joe of all people?
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I could have hurt you if you hadn’t known what I was doing.”
His hands gripped her waist and held her still.
“I know a few moves, and you’re a lot smaller than me, so I was able to counter. Nice to know you can take care of yourself, though. Who taught you?”
“My brother.” Bailey felt the hardness of Joe’s body pressed into hers. “He spent four years living in Boston before heading to Paris.”
“Why didn’t you get any belts?”
She shook her head. “Let me up now, Joe.”
“Why not?” he said, ignoring her words.
“Because my grandfather didn’t want me hurt, so I studied with my brother in his home until he left. I practice as often as I can when I have the space.”
Bailey closed her eyes as he ran a finger down her cheek.
“This grandfather. Did he control all of your life?”
Her eyes shot open. “H-how d-do you know that?”
“A wild guess.”
Bailey felt his eyes roam her face and settle on her lips.
“Let me up.” Bailey whispered the words, but there was no force behind them; instead it sounded like she was begging him for something else.
“I like having you here.” He cupped her neck and eased her closer. “Really like it.”
He kissed her again, slow and sweet. Her hands dug into the muscles at his shoulder as he took it deeper. There was nothing gentle about it, it was possession, and branding, and heaven help her, she wanted that. Wanted to brand him right back.
She felt his fingers under her clothes, touching her ribs, leaving heat wherever they went. It was bliss, her body aching for more. His weight moved, and then the hand was on her breast, rubbing the hard bud of her nipple through the satin cup of her bra.
Joe stopped suddenly. Seconds later he was on his feet, and dragging Bailey to hers.
“Hi.”
Bailey made herself turn to face the woman who was entering the room with Jack Trainer. She had long auburn hair, and stunning, soft hazel eyes. Her skin was creamy, with a scattering of freckles, and she looked pretty in a denim skirt and cream off-the-shoulder top.
Dear God, had they seen her lying on top of Joe?
“Hey, Angie, you’re back.”
