“Um ...”

“There’s even a kitchen table in there. It looks sturdy.”

“Stop it, Malone.”

“Stop what?”

“You know what. And you can stop smirking, ya goddamn tease.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Would you prefer I grin broadly?”

“It would be a little more honest since you know exactly what you’re doing to me.”

“Not exactly.” Now she did grin broadly. “But I do have a general idea.” She walked toward him. “Would you really rather sit around this gorgeous hotel room that we’re not paying for, blaming yourself for something not your fault, and being miserable?” She pressed her hand to his chest and stroked it. “Or would you rather spend the rest of the day fucking me stupid?”

He sighed, big and loud. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? You don’t know what?”

“There’s a lot of things we should be doing. I mean, can’t this wait?”

Her hands dropped back to her hips, but now there was definitely some attitude. “Can it wait? I’m standing here naked—”

“Not completely.”

“—and you’d rather do some things rather than be with me?”

“It’s nothing personal. There’s just a lot going on.”

Her mouth dropped open, her feline sensibilities insulted. “Fine! You go do what you need to do.”

He watched her swipe up her clothes before she stormed away, adorable ass moving side to side. If she’d been in her animal form, he’d bet her tail would be twitching up a storm. Enjoying himself, Crush let her get as far as the hotel room door... .

Disgusted she’d bothered to give this bear the time of day and determined she’d never make that stupid mistake again, Cella snatched open the room door, only to have it shut again by big, clumsy bear hands!

“Do you mind?” she sniped, yanking the door open again.

“Yeah,” he said calmly, almost bored. “I do mind.” He slammed the door shut again.

“Well that’s too goddamn bad.” She pulled on the door, but he leaned his shoulder against it, arms wrapped around his chest, black-eyed gaze staring across the room. Then he sighed again, still sounding bored!

“Move!”

“I need you to calm down, ma’am.”

Ma’am? Did he just call me ma’am? “I don’t want to calm down. I want to leave.”

“Sorry, Ma’am.” Again with the ma’am? “I can’t allow that.”

“You can’t ... are you kidding me?”

“Ma’am”—he took her arm and pulled her away from the door—“why don’t you just go sit down until you’re calm, okay?”

“Get your hands off me!”

“Ma’am—”

“And stop calling me ‘ma’am’!”

“Yeah,” he said, pulling her around so that he stood behind her and had both her arms in his grasp. “I’m going to have to call this in.”

“Call ... what?”

“I tried to cut you a break, but you’re way out of control.” And then she felt it, against her wrists. Heard that distinctive sound.

Cold titanium cuffs.

“You’re handcuffing me?”

“It’s for your own safety, ma’am.” He made her walk forward until she hit the sofa, held her cuffed arms with one hand while pressing between her shoulder blades with the other until she was bent over, her ass hiked up by the seatback.

“You’re arresting me?”

“You didn’t give me much choice, ma’am. Now if you’ll just remain calm ...”

Cella bit her lip, having to fight not to laugh.

He crouched behind her, strong fingers sliding up the back of her calf.

“Shouldn’t a female officer be frisking me?” she asked, making sure to sound as haughty as possible.

“Don’t have time to wait for that, ma’am. I have to think of others’ safety first.”

“But I’m mostly naked ... what exactly do you think I’m hiding?”

“You’d be amazed what people can hide on their persons, ma’am.”

Cella’s eyes closed, the feel of the bear’s fingers slowly dragging up her inner thigh driving her wild.

“Especially women, ma’am.” His fingers brushed against her panties. “Women can smuggle all sorts of things around with them that could put everyone at risk.” He pressed his fingers right up against her pussy. “Mhmm. Yeah. Unfortunately, ma’am, we’ll have to get rid of these panties to ensure a proper pat-down. It’s for your own safety and mine,” he murmured, big fingers slowly dragging down her panties until he had them at her ankles. “Step out of them.”

Cella lifted one foot, then the other.

He leaned forward, the panties in his hand. “Now again, for your safety and mine, I’m going to have to ... go a little deeper. If you cause me any problems over that ...” He swung the panties by his forefinger. “I’ll have to gag you. Understand?”

Cella, already panting, could only nod.

“That’s good.” He dropped her underwear right in front of her so that she was forced to look at it, get the blatant threat of it. God, what a deliciously dirty bear she had to play with.

“Spread your legs, ma’am. Farther. Good.” He brought his body over the top of hers, trapping her between him and the couch. He pressed his mouth against her ear. “Just relax, ma’am. This will go much easier if you relax.”