01 Winters Thaw by Jayne Rylon, Mari Carr Read Free Book Online

had. “Are you sure you want to get married, Sienna? Seems to me you may be better suited for life in a convent.”
    “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping my sexual encounters private and with someone that I love.”
    “Josh was your first, wasn’t he?” He knew the answer. There weren’t too many subjects Jade considered off-limits and she’d filled in that blank on Daniel’s third day on the ranch.
    Sienna glanced around the room, unwilling to look him in the eye. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”
    “And you’ve never been with anyone else?”
    She shook her head, still refusing to face him.
    “What a waste.”
    Her gaze flew to his. “It’s not a waste. It’s beautiful, romantic. We’re in love. Who says I have to sleep with a million different men just to have a full life?”
    “I’m not suggesting you go out and screw half the men in Compton Pass. But aren’t you curious? Don’t you ever wonder what it would be like to take another man to your bed?”
    Sienna started to rise, but Daniel caught her hand.
    “This conversation is way too personal. You’re crossing a line, Daniel.”
    “No. I haven’t even started to cross it yet. But I will.” He tightened his grip on her wrist, though the action wasn’t necessary. She wasn’t trying to get away anymore. “It’s like you’re frozen in ice, Sienna. You’ve surrounded yourself with a thick, cold wall hoping it will preserve all the things you think you want and keep you safe from the unknown.”
    She didn’t respond, though he felt the slightest tremor in her hand.
    “You’re so focused on the end result, you’re stifling yourself. Have you ever said to hell with anything? Ever done something crazy without worrying about the consequences?”
    “That would be stupid, reckless,” she whispered.
    “Yeah, it would.” He leaned closer, drawing her near enough that he could feel the heat of her breath on his face. “Be reckless,” he dared her. “Just once. Right now.”
    She didn’t move, didn’t reject him as he closed the distance between them and kissed her. He kept the touch light at first, gentling her as he would a skittish horse. Her lips gradually softened beneath his. He lifted his hand to her face, cupping her smooth cheek with his palm before running his fingers through her long hair.
    Sienna’s name suited her. There was a fiery red fighting to be released from the muted brown she used to bury her true nature.
    She responded slowly but surely. Turning her head slightly, she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Her lips parted and he accepted her silent invitation, his tongue meeting hers halfway. She tasted so damn sweet.
    Her hands returned to his bare shoulders, her fingers gripping the muscles in a much sexier massage. It took all the strength in his body not to push her down on the mattress, to cover her body with his and show her the true meaning of recklessness. But he wouldn’t—couldn’t—do it. She wasn’t ready to accept his offer. And if he was a good guy, he wouldn’t make it. She had a boyfriend.
    He started to break the connection, but Sienna beat him to it. She rose quickly, moving backward until she hit the wall. “Shit. I can’t… We shouldn’t have—”
    He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “It’s okay, Sienna.”
    “No. It’s not. I don’t cheat on my boyfriend. This is wrong.”
    He couldn’t argue with that. He’d been an ass to push her. “I’m sorry. I promise it won’t happen again.” He prayed to God he could keep that vow. Problem was he still longed to kiss her. Badly.
    She studied his face and he suspected she was searching for deceit.
    “I mean it, Sienna. I won’t touch you again until you ask me to.”
    “I’ll never ask for that.” Her voice was shaky.
    He was tempted to call her on the lie. She’d ask. He’d make damn sure she did, but until then…
    He remained silent.
    She looked toward the door, anxious for an escape. “I