9781616503369 by Sondrae Bennett Read Free Book Online

were going to sit down, eat and talk. Nothing more. He looked at her lips. Well, maybe a little more. But he drew the line at kissing. His fingers tightened on Julie’s waist.
    Okay, maybe a bit more than kissing, but the line was there. A very definite line. Somewhere. He’d know it when he saw it. As long as he kept his wits about him. Easier said than done around Julie, but he had to succeed. There was no other choice if he wanted forever.
    “Come on, wobbly. Time to eat.” He didn’t give her a chance to move, swinging her into his arms. But he enjoyed her squeak and the way she clung to his shoulders.
    Carrying her to the kitchenette, he sat her on the counter with reluctance. He liked holding her.
    He leaned down and kissed her nose.
    “You missed again,” she whispered.
    “Again?”
    “Yeah, yesterday you were going for my foot. I liked that miss more.” The grin spreading over her face made him feel special. As if they had their own private joke.
    “I never miss.” He leaned in close, placing his hands on either side of her hips, caging her. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
    Tilting his head to the left, he bypassed her mouth and trailed his lips down her cheek to the juncture of her neck. Placing his mouth over the spot where her neck met her shoulder, he sucked hard, letting the edge of his teeth scrape her delicate skin.
    Her body shuffled closer, and her head fell back. Brendan closed his eyes on a groan. Her breasts pressed against his chest. The scent of strawberries was stronger against her neck, and he drew it in like a starving man as he ran his hands from her thighs around her back to pull her tight against him. When she wrapped her legs around his waist, the scent of her arousal floated up to join in the blend. Julie and sex fused together into a heady combination.
    Slow. He was supposed to be taking things one step at a time. Skimming his lips down her throat, he placed a quick nip at her collarbone before moving away.
    They stared at each other in silence for a full minute, their deep breathing the only sound in the room. Sexual tension buzzed between them until the air was thick with emotion.
    “You are such a tease.” Julie broke the silence, cutting through the tension around them and bringing a smile to his face.
    “Me? Woman, I’m just trying to get to the pizza, but you keep throwing yourself at me and I get all distracted.”
    “Woman? You so did not call me woman.” He leaned in close again, placing a quick kiss against her lips, but backing away before either of them could deepen it.
    “God, you are too cute.” Without moving from between her legs–because there was no way he was giving up such prime real estate–Brendan reached over and flipped open the pizza box. He took out a slice and handed it to her.
    “Aren’t you a little close?” she asked as he stood with his own slice.
    “I’m comfortable.”
    “Well, I’m not. Scoot back a bit.” She shoved his shoulder, and he took a reluctant step back.
    “Fine, but don’t think I won’t be back there soon.” He winked, causing her to roll her eyes and shake her head.
    * * * *
    The man was so damn cocky. Julie watched him take another bite of pizza, his sharp teeth cutting through the cheese with ease. She wished she had fangs. She probably had cheesy strings all over her face. A quick swipe over her mouth assured her she wasn’t a complete mess.
    Still, as the bready pizza soaked up some of the alcohol in her system, everything that had occurred since his arrival sharpened in her memory. Oh God, she’d thrown herself at Brendan. Worse, he had rejected her!
    This couldn’t be happening. Maybe she had run her car off the road earlier and was even now in a hospital bed having a coma-induced nightmare.
    “Why do you look so horrified, baby?” His sharp eyes were fastened on her face. She strove for a nonchalant look, having no idea if she succeeded.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just