Nash: A Rough Romance Piper Stone (ebook reader for comics txt) 📖

placed him in dire straits, forcing him to leave his belongings. Who the hell knew what Dante’s men would do at this point. Burn the cabin down? Anger and fear nearly crushed down on my chest. What would happen to Reaper? I’d never felt so responsible or guilty in my life.

“Why don’t you let me give it a try?” I asked after breaking myself out of the haze of terror.

Our reflection in the mirror caught me off guard. He was so damn rugged, the personification of a mountain man on steroids, but I wanted to believe he had a tender side buried somewhere beneath the gruff exterior.

“You think you know what you’re doing?” he barked, although his eyes held a slight twinkle. He snaked his hand around mine, holding the stainless steel pair several inches away. For a few seconds, it was like he couldn’t trust me.

“You might be surprised. I had a brother. Remember?” After nodding, he allowed me to take the scissors into my hand, still grumbling as I gently turned him to face me. “You’re sure you want to do this?”

He studied me for a few seconds before answering, “You can’t hide forever or pretend you’re something you’re not.”

His words were more cathartic than he knew. As I began to cut away the longest portions, I tried not to react to the fact he’d removed his shirt or that his barrel chest and perfectly carved abs made me want to lick his stomach.

Concentrate. Just concentrate.

I also didn’t realize I was humming at first. When I caught myself, I recognized how utterly inappropriate it was on so many levels. Sucking in my breath, I could tell I’d pursed my lips.

“Don’t stop. That was beautiful,” he said in a tone of voice I hadn’t heard before.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just nervous.”

He cocked his head, forcing me to give him a hard glare.

“Stop moving. This is a dangerous implement.”

“I don’t think you have an aggressive bone in your body. Anyway, I like the sound of your voice.”

A warm flush crept up from my neck, the heat continuing to rise until my cheeks burned. I started the song over, nervous as a kitty-cat. While the danger we continued to face was a viable reason, my skittishness was all about the larger than life man standing in front of me.

So close.

Inches away.

His scent was one I would never forget, the look in his eyes forever burning into my soul. He refused to stop studying me as I finished cutting. There was so much electricity surging between us that I had difficulty breathing. He was far too good-looking, although I was eager to see him without a beard.

When I was finished, he rubbed his hand across his jaw before looking into the mirror. Then he opened the medicine cabinet, pulling out a razor and shaving cream.

I suddenly felt awkward and backed away.

“Stay,” he said in a commanding voice. “You’re going to do this.”

“Me?”

“You said you knew what you were doing.” He gave me a sideways glance in the mirror as he shook the can, spewing a handful of foam then lathering the heaping mound over his face.

I was so wet, my panties soaked from the desire racing through me. After dragging my tongue across my parched lips, I approached once again, my hand trembling as I grabbed the razor. When he snapped his hand around mine, I let out a slight yelp.

“Careful, little brat. You don’t want to cut me, now do you?”

I pushed us both directly under the light shining down from over the chipped mirror, giving him a hateful glare before slowly easing the razor down the side of his face. The sound as the steel blade cut through his coarse beard hair was incredibly sensual, forcing my nipples to ache. I turned on the water, rinsing the remnants away then started again. While my hand continued to tremble, I did everything I could to keep from nicking his face. His gorgeous face.

Rugged.

Handsome.

I was in some kind of la-la land, pretending this was a fantasy when it was nothing but a nightmare. I could no longer look him in the eyes or even dare catch a glimpse of his chiseled cheekbones. My actions became methodical, moving carefully from one side to the other. When I placed my finger under his chin, he issued a single growl.

“Stop being a baby,” I hissed.

“Hmmm… I haven’t forgotten the promise I made to you before the shit show began.”

“Promise?” I asked as I gently pulled the razor down one side.

“One hard spanking.”

I shot him a look, my hand firmly pressed against the razor. “You might want to rethink that.”

“Nope. I keep my promises, little brat.”

Everything about the man was unnerving and within seconds, I’d nicked him near his jugular. “Shit.”

He groaned as if the cut was deep, closing his eyes like a small child would do.

“Don’t be a baby.”

I wasn’t prepared for him to wrap his hand around my wrist, dragging me against the heat of his body. When he captured my mouth, immediately thrusting his tongue inside, I melted against him, feeling every hard muscle.

Then I came to my senses, shoving my hand against his chest and breaking the embrace. “Not so fast, cowboy. I’m not finished yet.”

“And I make the rules.” He snickered before letting me go, amusement dancing in his eyes. When he wiped a string of foaming lather from my face, he placed a dollop on my nose.

I wasn’t used to his playful side, had no way of knowing what to do with it. Perhaps he sensed my confusion, seconds later grabbing a towel and wiping my nose. A slight tension shifted between us making it difficult to breathe.

When I was finished and took a step away, I wasn’t prepared for the way he looked or how the simple yet provocative act made me feel. It had been more intimate than our incredible sexual encounter, forcing a heady round of embarrassment to rush in. I had to look away. I