Kraven Read online

“Why didn’t you go to your grandfather for help?”

  Heat warmed her cheeks. “I tried. He doesn’t like Dusti and she doesn’t like him. We only met him a couple times when we were kids but for whatever reason, they didn’t get along. He offered me a home, but not her. I told him to kiss my ass when he said he didn’t want me bring her.” She snorted. “As if I’d dump her into a foster home just so he’d put a roof over my head and pay for my schooling.” Her shoulders straightened. “I may regret some things, but never that. My sister is everything to me.”

  “Why go see him now if he was such an ass?”

  She hated to admit the truth, but at least it easier with Kraven being a stranger. “He’s rich and dying. I make good money but Los Angeles is expensive. My lifestyle isn’t cheap. I thought if I talked Dusti into coming with me that she could make peace with the tough old bastard and he’d leave us some money in his will. She won’t live with me, and I don’t push the issue because in my line of work, it’s really better if she doesn’t. I help when she allows it but she rarely takes a dime from me. You should see where she lives.” Bat grimaced. “It’s not the best neighborhood. I’m always terrified I’m going to get a call saying she was mugged, raped, or murdered. The money is for her.”

  His gaze drifted over her tailored suit dress. “Maybe if you didn’t waste money on your expensive clothes you could help your sister out more.”

  His sneer wasn’t missed and Bat found him totally offensive. “For your information, I have an image to uphold. My fashion expense is a necessary evil of my job. Besides, it’s the living expenses that kill me every month. I’ve made enemies in my line of work, and I have to live in a high-rise building that costs a small fortune. Security is tight there. Thankfully my law firm supplies bodyguards for me when I leave home.”

  That made Kraven’s jaw drop. “You really have bodyguards?”

  She sighed, resenting having to explain it to him. “People like someone to blame when a court case doesn’t go the way they wanted it to. Win or lose, someone isn’t happy. Either the family of someone a client allegedly harmed in some way, or even my clients themselves. Some families view me as helping to free someone they feel deserved to go to prison, and on the flip side, my clients aren’t thrilled if they get sentenced. See where I’m going with this? I have a target on my back either way.”

  “Why would you do that job?”

  She wondered that often too but refused to admit it. “I made a really good impression this year with the partners and I’ve made a name for myself.”

  “It sounds as if you’re an egotistical person looking to suck up as much fame and fortune as you can.” He pointedly glared at her fingers. “I’m surprised you’re not wearing some expensive rock, married to some rich asshole.”

  “I don’t like you,” she snapped. “I earn my own way in life. I don’t need someone to do that for me, and I’m not for sale.”

  “Sounds like you are…to anyone with enough cash to pay you to get them off.”

  “I’m not a prostitute.” She choked on rage. “Listen, you little prick. I’m an attorney. That’s totally different.”

  He lunged again. She tensed when his hands gripped her. He didn’t jerk her off her feet this time, but spun her around in his arms. His body bent forward, one arm locked around her waist, his weight forcing her to bend. His groin pressed hard against her ass.

  “Be prepared for me to prove you wrong if you call me a name like that one again.”

  She clawed at his hand, her nails digging into his skin, but he didn’t let her go. His hot breath fanned across her neck when he chuckled.

  “Let me go, you buffoon!”

  “You should know I’m not small, despite you crushing my dick in the crash while you were clinging to it. Need a reminder? I’m willing to prove I’m not a little prick.”

  “I’ll scream.”

  “Go ahead. Who’s going to save you?” His other hand released her arm to grip her jaw, forcing her to look at him. Their lips nearly touched. “This is the last warning you’re going to get, you little hellion. Keep insulting me and I’m going to get even.”

  Her heart raced. His voice did things to her when he spoke in that gruff, rough tone. His eyes were so blue and intense that she couldn’t look away from them. They had to be the most fascinating things she’d ever seen. They nearly glowed from the blueness of them.

  “I bet you earned a lot of spankings as a kid.” He licked his lips, his tongue slowly sliding across the full bottom one more so than the top. “Maybe you need another one. I’m not your father though. I won’t leave your clothes on and it won’t have the same effect if I put my hands on your ass.”

  For once, Bat was speechless.

  “Here’s what’s going to happen. You are going to stop insulting me. I’m getting fed up with it. It’s starting to piss me off, between you threatening to rip my nuts off and implying I’m dickless. You don’t want that. I’m not one of those pathetic men who will allow you to continue to lash out with that vicious little tongue of yours—unless you’re on your knees and my pants are open.”

  She couldn’t believe he’d said that to her. She found her voice. “I’d bite it off.”

  His expression tightened. “I believe you would. Now believe me when I tell you I’m going to whip your ass with my palm until you beg me to stop if you don’t learn some manners. Are we clear?”

  Bat heard the sincerity in his threat. She swallowed hard. The guy would really spank her. Literally spank her. It was a scary concept.

  His features softened. “Easy.” He inhaled and softly cursed. “I’m making you afraid of me.” He lifted up until they were both straightened but he kept his arm locked around her waist to hold her in place. “A little fear of me is good but I don’t want you terrified. I’d never really hurt you, but don’t think I won’t redden your ass. Do you want to know what I’d do then?”

  She shook her head. “No. Let me go.”

  “I’d kiss it and make it better.” The color of his eyes seemed to turn a little lighter and brighter, shimmery. “And I’d want to kiss other things once I started at your ass.” He released her chin, ran his palm down the front of her shirt, through the valley of her breasts, and hesitated just over her waist. His hand was heavy and hot against her thin skirt at her lower stomach. “Do you understand? Don’t bait me, because we’ll fight or fuck. That’s how I deal with aggression. Only one of those two you’d enjoy.” He suddenly released her. “Don’t push me.”

  Bat stumbled away, trembled from head to toe. She refused to look at him while she tried to regain control of emotions that ranged from fear to arousal. It was the guy’s sexy voice—and the fact that she now had a mental image of him kissing where he’d implied.

  She hadn’t gotten laid in over a year. The last one-night stand she’d had left her feeling cold and disgusted. She suspected that wouldn’t be a problem with Kraven.

  Kraven had to take deep breathes and put distance between him and Bat.

  He was attracted to her, and it pissed him off. She was mouthy, rude, disrespectful, and everything he usually didn’t find appealing in a woman. The worst thing of all though—she was Decker Filmore’s granddaughter.

  He reached down and adjusted his stiff dick. It seemed to have a mind of its own and became hard every time he got too close to her.

  She did smell good. It might have something to do with the fact that he’d had to carry her over his shoulder for miles. Their scents had mingled and he’d been breathing her in all day. It had also been a while since he’d touched a woman. Her name had been Violet…and that error in judgment had almost gotten him killed.

  The memory of what happened with Violet helped manage his libido. He’d learned his lesson. Women with any association to Decker Filmore couldn’t be trusted. The long-legged beauty from Decker’s clan had come on to him strongly when they’d met the summer before. He’d fallen for it hook, line, and sinker. He’d even broken his rule of never taking