Rough Edges Read Online Free PDF Page A

now and I haven’t groped you in your sleep. I’m not about to start now, considering how exhausted I am.”
    Her gray eyes darkened to a deep slate color. Her nostrils flared as she breathed in, and the tip of her tongue grazed across her bottom lip, leaving a wet trail he ached to taste.
    â€œIf exhaustion is the only thing making you mind your manners, then we have a problem,” she said. “I think I should get that hotel room.”
    â€œI’ll be good. My mother trained me to be completely civilized.” Or at least give one hell of a good performance. Not that Bella needed to know that part. Better she think he was a good lapdog, rather than the rabid pit bull straining at his chain in an effort to reach her.
    Bella wasn’t his type. He had to remember that, despite the fact that his body disagreed. She came from a different world than he did. She wasn’t the kind of woman who fit into his carefully planned future. There was nothing refined or genteel about her.
    Which only made him want her more.
    â€œFine,” she finally said in utter exhaustion. “Take me home. But if you so much as step one foot inside your guest room while I’m there, honey, I’ll break your kneecaps.”
    For some reason Victor couldn’t fathom, his cock twitched in excitement at her threat of violence.
    He grinned. “I’d like to see you try.”

Chapter Four
    B ella hated to admit it, but she liked Victor’s home.
    It was in a nice part of town. Safe, but not showy. The house was beautifully built, but not huge. She knew he could afford way more, but apparently felt no need to do so.
    Everything was done in calming neutral tones. The furnishings were of high quality, but didn’t have the ostentatiousness she’d come to expect from the ridiculously wealthy.
    There was no clutter or dust. No dishes in his sink. Everything about the place was appealing, all the way down to the large gun safe he’d installed where a wine cellar had previously been.
    â€œYour room is in here,” he said, opening a door on the opposite side of the house from the master suite. “The bathroom is stocked with all the basics. If you need anything else, just ask.”
    The guest room was done in soothing greens and blues. One step onto the soft carpet made her worry that she might sink in all the way to the foundation. A giant bed sat in the center of the space, its covers turned down on one corner in welcome. She wanted to sink into its pillowy depths so bad, she nearly groaned in need.
    â€œThis is beautiful. Thank you.” She turned in time to catch him staring at her. “What?”
    â€œJust adjusting to the idea of you being in my home.”
    Now she felt like a charity case. “I really don’t want to intrude. I’ll just call a cab to take me to work.” She was in the act of dialing her cell phone when he covered her hand with his.
    â€œI didn’t mean that in a bad way. I’m glad you’re here.”
    â€œWhy in the world does an inconvenience make you glad?”
    â€œI like knowing you’re safe. When you’re under my roof, I can be certain that’s the case.”
    She didn’t know what to say to that. She wasn’t used to men worrying about her—not even the ones who knew and understood what she did for a living. They all knew she could take care of herself, which made her wonder if Victor thought less of her abilities, or if he simply cared more.
    â€œYou know I can take care of myself,” she reminded him.
    â€œBetter than almost anyone I know,” he agreed. “But someone is out to hurt you, and no one is invulnerable to a bullet from a well-trained sniper. Not even you.”
    The idea gave her pause, and sent a trail of apprehension snaking up her spine. She felt the need to hide, like she used to do when Dan came at her and the fear set in. It took an effort of will to shrug off the need