“We have a history, but—”

“And you decided the best way to handle that history was to go after a former Clemson linebacker in the alley? Do I have that right?”

“If you give a bully an inch...”

“That’s only true when you’re twelve!”

Before she could concede his point, he stalked toward her. “If you had problems with Jonah, you should have come to me.”

Suddenly, she was as hot as he. “I handle my own problems.”

“By damn, not any longer. I’m either going to fire your ass or... or...” He seemed to be having difficulty coming up with something more dire, even though getting fired was at the top of her personal dire list. “Or... spank it.”

“You’re not serious.”

He actually seemed to ponder. “Yeah,” he said thoughtfully. “I guess I am.” One of his long arms whipped out, snaked her waist, lifted her off her feet, and dragged her to the couch. Seconds later, he turned her upside down over his lap.

She blinked.

His palm came down hard on the fleshiest part of her rear. All the blood rushed to her head. “Ow! Oh, my god! You are kidding me!”

Another smack. “Does this feel like I’m kidding?” Whack.

“It feels like you’ve lost your mind.”

“Never felt saner.” Whack. Whack.

“This is wrong in so many ways. I don’t even know where to start. Ouch! Yes, I do know! I’m calling my lawyer.”

“You don’t have a lawyer.” Another smack. “Besides, don’t you read? Rough sex is the rage these days.”

“Only between consenting adults! Stop it! Do I look like I’m consenting?”

“If you weren’t, I’d be on my ass right now.”

True. She was hardly helpless. She let another smack land, then gritted her teeth. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You worry about yourself.”

Another whap. And then his hand stalled. His palm curled around the sting. Lingered. Rubbed.

“Cooper Graham! You are feeling me up.”

“I’m sure I’m not.” His hand slid between her legs, cupping her through the denim, and his voice held a husky edge that made her weak with lust. First she’d engaged in playground behavior, and now she’d let herself be turned on by caveman theatrics. She was hopeless. And, despite all the lectures she’d given herself, she didn’t care. “My mistake,” she said, her voice as raspy as his.

He slipped his hand under her Bears jersey and traced his thumb up the bumps of her spine. He stalled at her bra. “You have too many clothes on...”

She didn’t know whether he helped her or she levered herself up, but within seconds, she was on his lap, straddling him, her knees sinking into the couch cushions on either side of his thighs.