Page 38 of Viper

She curled her fingers around his wrist. Her gaze tracked his wide, muscled torso. His hips were almost at eye level, and the thick outline of his cock pressed against the material of his underwear. “Kinda,” she wheezed.

He frowned and sat on the edge of the bed, his hand dropping to her thigh. Her hand followed and rested on top of his. “Do you want ibuprofen? Something else?”

“It’s not that kind of pain,” she said with a chuckle.

The tension left his face, but he frowned in confusion. “You’re gonna have to tell me what you need, honey. I’m not a mind reader.”

She lifted her fingers to toy with a lock of her now-dry hair and lowered her gaze. Doubt crept in like an unwanted guest. It was one thing to fantasize about being whisked off her feet and another to ask for it.

“Paige,” he growled. One knuckle curled under her chin. “Level with me, babe. What’s going on?” His eyes ensnared hers, big and intrusive in the way only Troy “Viper” Evans could make so damn hot.

She shifted, unable to avoid his gaze. “Well, I had something in mind, but I’m not exactly keen on getting turned down.”

“I’ll never say no to you.”

Her jaw popped open. “Um, excuse me, sir. You already did.”

“That was then. This is now.”

“And what’s different about now?” she said, hedging.

“Now I know what I’m willing to risk.”

The air squeezed from her throat. A fuzzy feeling swelled in her gut. The need to move closer, to touch him, to test his words, almost overcame her.

He kept his knuckle in place. “I want you, Paige. Don’t ever fucking doubt it.”

She laughed. The sound too light for the moment.

His mouth slanted with disapproval.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “but you said you couldn’t read my mind, and you just did.”

This time, he laughed. His even, white teeth flashed at her with satisfaction. “Good. I need less practice than I thought.”

She rose onto her knees with a grin. “I think you might need a lot.”

He seized her hips and lifted her to straddle his lap. He moved her so easily and effortlessly, she gasped. Her hands flew to his shoulders, then coasted over the muscle there to the back of his neck.

God, she loved being handled by him.

His palms settled on her hips, his fingers nearly enclosing the circumference of her waist. “You’ve been through a lot, Paige. Especially today. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her belly squeezed. She stiffened but refused to let her face fall with disappointment. “I told you I didn’t want to get turned down,” she said with an uncertain laugh. “Lucky for you, I’ve got thick skin.”

“I’m not turning you down.” His tone was hard and insistent. He rocked his jaw back and forth. “You called me in here for a reason.”

“Mmm,” she admitted dryly.

“You’re horny.”

A blush hit her cheeks. “Well, you don’t need to say it like that!”

“Baby, I’m not complaining.” He rolled over, gently sprawling her on her back.

The room spun and her breath hitched.

His face tensed. He spread his hands on either side of her body, boxing her in. “You okay?”