After a moment''s hesitation, Vespera picked up thepel pin and popped off the cap


    eses mowed as she studied the sharp point, then shifted her gaze to Dominic, who was still fast asleep in bed,


    She gave him a slow once-over, head to toe, calcting the best ce to strike.


    Top of the foot? No, 100 is what it she identally crippled him?


    Besides, all those spots were under the nket. She''d have to lift the covers, inll up a sleeve or pant leg and that just felt creepy.


    in the end, her eyes sented on the only area still exposed besides his face and neck-his hand.


    the feet down and gently lifted L


    after inspecting his long, sculpted fingers, she settled on the index finger, holding


    it stealy with one hand while slowly bringing the pin closer with the other


    Doman''s pebrow pitched.


    Just before the needle touched the skin, Vespera paused, ncing down at his handsome, sleeping face. Her voice came out soft, almost apologetic


    p, they


    Mr. Beid, I''m not trying to stab you on purpose-It''s just that you''re sleeping way too deeply. My grandma used to say that if someone can''t be woken up, i might be stuck in a nightmare


    "And the only way to break it is to draw a little blood. Sorry, it''ll hurt a little. I''m gonna count to three One two..three-"


    "There," the needle shot forward, but it hit nothing


    The finger she''d been holding slipped tree, and before she could react, her hand was caught. Fingers slid between hers, threading through and locking their hands together.


    Vespera panicked and tried to pull away. Then, suddenly, she was yanked downward.


    still bent over,


    she lost herbnce and fell straight onto him. Her chestnded square on his, his warm, im torso pressing tightly against hers...


    Eyes wide, she gasped and scrambled to push herself off. One hand was braced against his chest-still catching the needle. In the rush to sit up, the pin jabbed into


    hum


    "weapon-wielding" hand was caught, too.


    She tumbled right back down onto his chest again.


    ut was thest straw. She shouted for him to let go, but when he didn''t, she tried


    to stab his hand. That was when he lost his patience.


    ithaswift taction, be flipped her over and pinned her beneath him. His voice, low and gravelly, biushed her ear. "Are you dead set on bleeding me dry?"


    His eyes opened slowly, still hazy with sleep-soft, half-lidded, andzy. Wespera''s bean was pounding like crazy. What kind of ridiculous position was this?


    Her whole body was rense, and her face was heating up uncontrobly. "Mr. Reid, could you let go of me first? need to get up."


    Hayes darted left and right deliberately avoiding his face.


    Eyecontact right now? That was a recipe for disaster.


    "Let you up in you can stab me a couple more times?" Dominic asked, still caught on the sensationof her softness pressed against him when she tell


    His gaze wandered to her strodes, pale neck, the natural flush of her lips, and the slightly messy strands of hair tanned out across his pillow, ling the space with a light, intoxicating, str


    His breathhatched. The air between them siddenly felt too hot. His palm moved gently against hers, fingertips wearing wane, damp with tension.


    The thickened with something unspoken-damperous, intimate.


    "I''m not stabbing you anymore. Here, take the needle."


    between hers again. Their hands gew


    Vesperatused the pinaside, her heart thudding so loudly it felt like it might crack her chest open. "Their No needle. You''re safe now. Can I get up, please?" Dominostared at her a moment longer, then finally released


    Vegeta scramdded all the bed


    Her knees wollded, her hair was a mess, her palins wen tingling, and her bncepletely gone. She nearly toppled right back onto the mattress Dominic''s gaze instinctively followed the curve of her back, the way her body moved and his bath caught again.


    Wither Back still to him, Vespera took a second to fix her hair and clothes, then tamed around, forcing her voice into something resembling calm.


    "Mr. Reid, now that you''re awake, I''ll lirad backtomutile.


    Tat the message from Fown, she''d wait for him toe out. There was no way


    she was sticking and another second.


    Waking him up had been seriously tramole


    "Not sost," Dominie said, pping her.


    Vesperaeluctantly tumed back, her voice a little weak. "Yes? Is there anything


    else?


    "You stabbed me "Don


    Domque pulled his shirt back slightly to show her.


    Vespera stared at the tury spot of blood on his chest. She stared for along moment, then said tly, "Sorry."


    "you think soury is gonna cut (r?" Dominic''s voice dropped-low,cool, and unreadable.