She’d rolled her eyes even as her fingers had toyed with her necklace. The half-moon necklace that he’d given Maria on her birthday. She’d loved that necklace. Worn it everywhere. Not you, bro. I’m eighteen. This is my chance to do what I want. I have to start college in a few weeks. I need this, okay?
She’d wanted her chance at freedom. He understood that. He’d even understood when she said—
You know what they’re like. They suffocate me. You.
They had. His parents had always kept tight tabs on their children. Because of who they were. Rich, powerful, one of the most influential families in Boston.
I’m eighteen now, and I can do what I want.
He’d just shook his head at her.
It’s not like I’ll really be alone anyway. A sly twist of her lips. She’d dropped the necklace and the charm fell back to her sternum. Frowned at him. My boyfriend’s gonna meet me on the trip. Trust me, if you come, you’ll only get in my way.
Only there hadn’t been a boyfriend. She’d just been telling him that story.
There’d just been Maria.
Then there’d been…nothing.
“I’ll kill you…”
Cadence’s eyes flew open at the low snarl. Her heart was racing, and battle-ready tension had slipped instantly through her whole body as adrenaline spiked her blood.
“I know what you did.”
She was reaching for the gun she’d placed on the nightstand when she realized the low snarl she heard was Kyle’s voice.
“I’ll kill you…”
Instead of grabbing the gun, she flipped on the lamp. A small pool of light spilled into the room, and she saw Kyle’s tense body.
He was on the floor. Chest bare, the blanket she’d given him shoved to the side. His eyes were closed and his body twisted, shaking.
Nightmare.
Apparently, Kyle killed people in his nightmares.
That’s a lot better than what happens to me.
Cadence slipped from the bed. Eased down onto her knees next to him. “Kyle, wake up.” She made sure to keep her voice low and soothing.
He didn’t wake up.
But his movements seemed to become even more frantic.
“I know,” Kyle growled. “You’ll pay.”
“Kyle, it’s just a dream.” Sweat covered his broad shoulders. Dampened his hair. “Wake up.” Her voice was louder.
When he still didn’t respond, Cadence reached out to him.
Mistake.
He grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. Kyle rolled, twisting their bodies, and when Cadence sucked in a sharp breath of surprise, she found herself flat on her back, with Kyle above her, holding her down with his body.
His fingers were chained around her wrists, pinning them to the floor.
His eyes were open. Blazing. On her.
“What the hell? Cadence?”
His lower body was pressed to hers, his legs between hers as his hips thrust against her.
She stared into his glittering eyes, too aware she only had on a thin pair of jogging pants and a loose T-shirt. Not sexy, but…
The clothes sure didn’t seem like very much protection right then.
“You were having a bad dream,” she told him. Why was her voice a whisper?
He blinked. Kyle seemed to realize exactly where he was and what he was doing.
But he didn’t let her go.
Did she want him to?
No.
His hold tightened on her wrists.
“You seemed upset.” Her voice was coming out far too husky. Seductive. She didn’t mean to sound that way. “I was trying to wake you up.”
“I’m up.”
Yes, he was. All of him. The hard ridge that pressed against the juncture of her thighs was growing longer, bigger, with every passing second.
He leaned closer toward her. “Why aren’t you telling me to get the hell away from you?”
Because…she had a few dark secrets of her own.
Rough, hard, wild. Pinned down by Kyle.
That wasn’t supposed to happen. Cadence licked her lips and tried to make her voice sound stronger. “Get the hell away from me.” Those were the words he wanted her to say.
Only she didn’t want to say them.
What she wanted to say…
Kiss me. Make me only feel you. Strip me. Make me scream.
That wasn’t what an FBI agent was supposed to say to her partner.
The things she wanted weren’t what she was supposed to feel.
“You don’t mean it.” He seemed surprised by her words. “I can tell.”
Her voice had been hungry with a need she’d denied for so long.
“But you said it, so I’ll f**king do it.”
He released her. His body slid away from hers.
She didn’t move at first. Just tried to calm her racing heartbeat and pretend she hadn’t been moments away from having sex with Kyle.
Hot, hard sex, right on the floor.
The way I like it.
Kyle didn’t know that. He thought she was restrained, too controlled.
She kept that mask on for a reason.
Cadence sucked in a deep breath. She could almost taste Kyle on her tongue.
No, she wanted to taste him.
She sat up, then hurried to her feet.
Kyle rose, much slower, and studied her with his head tilted to the side.
“I don’t know you as well as I thought.”
She’d tried to tell him that before.
His gaze went to the bed. To the rumpled covers, then back to the floor.
Cadence cleared her throat. “Do you always dream about killing someone?”
His shoulders tensed. Then he focused his attention back on her. “Do you always like it rough?”
“No.” Her control was back. She could play this. “I was worried about you.”
“You wanted me.”
Yes. “You had just woken up, Kyle. You were confused.” She turned away, glancing quickly at the clock on the nightstand. Four a.m. They could get a little more sleep. They needed more.
Before the hunting started again the next day.
“Tell yourself that if you want, Cadence. Tell yourself whatever you need to believe in order to get back to sleep.”
Her eyes narrowed. So much for helping him. Next time, he could suffer in his dreams.
She climbed back into the bed. Jerked her covers up to her chin. Tried to ignore the fact she still wanted him. Her br**sts were tight, aching, and need twisted through her.
There was a rustle beside the bed. The groan of wood. Kyle was lying back down.
Good.
She closed her eyes.
Her heartbeat wouldn’t slow down, and Cadence was far too conscious of every movement he made. Every whisper and slither of sound. Tomorrow night, she’d make absolutely certain they had separate rooms. This wouldn’t be happening again.