RELENTLESS by Helenkay Dimon Page A

before he could call out, he stretched out and reached for the knife under the pillow. A new habit he’d picked up thanks to hanging around Davis. The man was an expert knife thrower, with Pax a close second.
    But Ben wasn’t thinking about either of them now. Jocelyn stood in the small space. The dark hallway cast her in shadows but Ben could make out the tiny T-shirt that didn’t even reach the top of her shorts. A sliver of smoking-hot skin peeked out, giving him a look at her stomach. Vibrant red hair fell over those breasts.
    He was a dead man.
    “Can I come in?” she asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
    He couldn’t find his voice, so he nodded as he sat up again. He’d been thinking about her, letting his anger fester, only seconds ago. Now he saw her standing there, curling her bare toes into the carpet as she waited for permission to walk in.
    His brain misfired. Every intelligent argument raced out of his head and took most of the blood up there with them.
    She walked over and didn’t stop until her knees tapped against his jeans. She stood so close he had to lean back to see her face when he looked up.
    She smoothed a hand over his cheek and scratched her thumb over his stubble. “I wanted company.”
    No way was he going to survive this. The urge to wrap his arms around her legs and drag her down to the mattress swamped him.
    He had to swallow twice before any words came out. “Now is probably not a good time to talk.”
    Hell, he couldn’t even think. Seeing her, smelling her, having her so close he could touch her made his lower half pound with need.
    That thumb skimmed over his bottom lip and she gave him a small smile. “Good.”
    Before he could mentally recite the alphabet or come up with mundane conversation, she lowered her head and her hair cascaded around her. It brushed over his cheek as she dipped in close and captured his mouth with hers.
    There was nothing subtle about that kiss. She held the back of his neck and kept him close as her lips moved over his. When she lifted her head, he sat up straighter and brought her back down to him again.
    His hands slid up the outsides of her bare thighs. Her skin warmed under his fingertips and his head pounded as he outlined the lean muscle running up her legs. Smooth and silky, as sexy as he’d fantasized she’d be.
    She broke off the kiss and stared down at him with half-closed eyes. “Let me stay.”
    The request shot through him and his erection strained against the back of his zipper. He should be a gentleman and tell her about adrenaline in the after-rush of violence and how it sometimes hit like desire. How they should wait.
    He should have but he was too busy dragging her down onto his lap.
    Her knees fell to either side of his hips and her arms wrapped around his neck. As if reading his mind, she spoke up. “I know what I’m doing.”
    “Then tell me.” His hands roamed up her back, slipping under the edge of the slim shirt and caressing the bare skin underneath.
    “Being with you.” She leaned in and kissed his chin, trailing a line to his throat.
    He moved his head to give her access, but he had to ask, “Why?”
    That hot mouth licked around his ear. “Do you want me, Ben?”
    He shifted her on his lap until his erection pressed against her. The move had him groaning. “Do you have to ask?”
    “I waited.” She kissed his nose. “I tried to hold back.” Then the space under each eye. “I don’t want to wait anymore.” She ended with her mouth hovering over his.
    “Be sure.” He balanced his forehead against hers as he fought to hold on to his control. “I want you so much it will kill me to stop.”
    He felt pressure against his shoulders and let his body fall. He dropped back against the bed, loving the way she asked for what she wanted. No games. No male/female garbage.
    She straddled him with her palms pressed against the mattress on either side of his head. “I won’t want you to stop.”
    The kisses got