Page 116 of Criminally Yours

Adrenaline made his body feel too big for his skin.

His entire being pulsed.

First, that prick in the pub touched Millie, and then Finshaw dragged her away. If Bear hadn’t joined him, he’d have beaten the bastard to death.

He couldn’t protect Millie. He wanted to possess her and prevent anyone from getting near her. She said she loved him, and then he’d nearly lost her.

The more she seized his heart, the more his darkness needed out.

Sex might let it out, but the needs in his fantasies were intense.

Even now, he was scared to show that side for fear of ruining everything when they were still so early into their rekindling.

His pulse was rapid, and he curled his hands into fists. He wanted to kill the pub dickhead and Finshaw, but not as much as he wished Hugo and Randolph dead. Exercise had helped before.

It was all he had.

Millie touched his shoulder. “Strike, talk to me.”

“I can’t.” He jerked away.

He witnessed her face fall in the reflection of the glass door.

He’d hurt her again.

“I’m going to do a security check and have a session in the gym.”

“No,” she lashed out. “You can’t run away from this. Explain what’s happening in your head.”

“I need to be away from you, from everything.”

Half an hour later, he was in the gym.

It didn’t matter how heavy the weights were or how many muscle-tearing reps he did, he couldn’t clear the anger, the panic at what could have happened to her.

“Fuck,” Millie whispered.

He locked eyes with her.

She leaned against the doorway, staring at him as he hung from a chin-up bar.

She followed a drop of sweat as it ran down his bare chest to where his gym shorts rested precariously on his hips. Her summer dress clung to her.

Blood roared in his ears as his temperature rose. One of the straps slipped down, and he felt the need to ambush her and shred her dress.

He gripped the bar and pulled himself up, his muscles rippling with each drag of his body.

She licked her lips slowly. Fire blistered her gaze and seared him in its wake.

His skin glistened from pushing his body to the extreme. His abs tightened every time he pulled himself to the bar. It was his turn to perform for her, though he couldn’t have her without breaking everything they already had.

“You like what you see?” he asked breathlessly.

She dragged her eyes down his body again, eye-fucking every part of him. “You’re exceptional, beautiful, sexy as hell, and the most caring person I’ve met. But you still won’t show me all of you.”

“You’d never want anything to do with me again if I did.”

She stepped closer. “How many times do I have to tell you I want every part of you? I need it.”