Nik tilted his head down, rubbing it against her hand. His eyes still closed, she could just watch him. He had the longest black lashes she’d ever seen on a man. And his hair wasn’t black but a deep, rich brown that felt incredible against her hand. Not really knowing why, Angie dragged her fingers through his hair… and Nik purred back in response. A low one, from deep down in his gut.

Startled, she snatched her hand back. Two weeks ago she’d been arguing with the rodeo clown about how she didn’t like to be touched in public. She finally admitted she didn’t like him touching her. Now here she sat, running her hands through her kidnapper’s hair in front of God and everybody.

Have I lost my fuckin’ mind?

***

Nik’s eyes snapped opened to find her staring at him like he’d done something to her. When, in fact, she was the one twisting him around her very well-manicured finger. Many women had touched him before this one and many would after he got her skinny ass out of his house, but no one had ever made him lose himself like that before. And this one had done it with a simple touch.

She scrambled to her feet, “We… uh… better get back. The clothes… ya know.”

True, her ten grand worth of clothes were in the back of his pick-up, but he really needed a moment to… uh… compose himself.

“Are you coming?”

Well, that’s a loaded question.

He tossed the keys at her. “I’ll be right there. Gotta clean up all this stuff.”

She nodded and practically sprinted back to the car. He, however, willed his poor dick to behave.

Why did this suddenly feel ten times more dangerous than when he thought an entire clan of hyenas were out to kill her?

Chapter Four

“Did you buy her a pony, too?”

“Don’t start, Reena.”

“I mean, exactly what is wrong with you? Has all rational thought left you to blow that kind of money on some woman that you don’t even know?”

Nik wouldn’t look at his cousin. Instead he buried his head into the couch cushions.

“Well? Answer me!”

“I think she’s cute,” he mumbled sadly into the expensive leather.

“Oh, good Lord!” Reena launched herself onto Nik’s back, batting his head around with her hands. Funny, it never hurt this much when they were tigers. “Have I taught you nothing?”

“Stop doing that. Now.”

She grabbed hold of his T-shirt and pulled. “Send her ass back.”

With a sigh, Nik sat up, knocking his cousin off his back. When she hit the floor, he barely glanced at her. “I can’t. I’m supposed to protect her.”

“Just cause they’re afraid to transport her. Send her in the jet.”

Nik found himself suddenly interested in his bookshelves.Maybe he should get new ones.

“Nikolai Vorislav, them dogs don’t know about the goddamn jet, do they?”

“It’s none of their business.”

“They left her here because they had no other way of safely gettin’ her back to wherever the hell those dogs roam. But if we can take her ourselves…”

“She’s stayin’. And I’m not discussing this anymore.”

“The woman hit you with a toilet.”

“She was scared. I almost think she regrets it now.”

“You think she regrets it. I think the heifer’s crazy.”

Nik sighed again. “Yeah. But damn if she don’t look good in a sheet.”

“I’m leavin’,” Reena stood, clearly disgusted by her cousin. “The boys will be home from their daddies’ soon and you’re starting to piss me off.”

Reena took several steps away from him and spun around. “And just so we’re clear, you’re turning into your daddy.”

Fangs burst from Nik’s mouth, “I am not turning into my daddy.”

Reena folded her arms in front of her chest, “Did you care that Alek and Ban didn’t see her naked?”

Nik glared at his cousin, but didn’t answer.

Reena chuckled, “Too late.”

***

Angie sat on the floor of the bedroom that was now her temporary home. Shopping bags surrounded her and she went through each one, pulling out and meticulously folding each item. It gave her hands something to do while she silently beat herself up. What the hell had possessed her to rub the man’s forehead?

She wasn’t like Miki and Sara. Though they hid it well, both craved affection and love. Angie craved occasional sex and not to get the shit annoyed out of her. Otherwise, she happily co-existed with herself. She didn’t even have a pet. The only full-time companions she needed were her two best friends, but even they went home at night.

Angie carefully folded a gold tank top and laid it on the pile. She shook her head.

Why the hell am I unpacking? Getting comfortable?

Sara wouldn’t get comfortable. Sara would have gotten drunk and beaten the brothers within an inch of their lives. Miki would have…well, Miki would have dug an underground tunnel, extricated herself a safe distance, and then blown the house up.

Neither of them would be unpacking clothes after a little shopping spree with their kidnapper.

Wow. She really was a girl. Could she be any more girly? Any more dull? Any more dangerously weak and stupid and female?

“Hey, darlin’.” That came from the balcony of her room. Without missing a beat, Angie grabbed one of the baseballs she’d purchased from the sports store, crouched, turned, and pitched it.