A Weekend Temptation by Krista Caley Read Free Book Online Page B

“Does the food really taste this good, or is it eating outside?”
    “I’ve never been so hungry.”
    His gaze speared into her skin, fiery hot. No doubt about it. He wasn’t talking about food. She licked her bottom lip. No man had ever watched her like that or sent her pulse pounding with his wandering foot.
    Joel took her hand in his, brought it to his mouth, and gently nipped her palm until Ava bit back a moan. She forgot her fear as heavy desire replaced it, demanding she surrender.
    As he continued to nibble her palm, she sighed out his name, glad she came. Her attraction to him had grown. Now it felt alive, like a force of nature.
    “You’re not eating your breakfast.” He smiled a knowing smile that went straight to her head like a glass of wine. “How about we snorkel after…”
    She knew what he asked, without asking. Her heart pounded, her body trembled. She felt too hot and out of control. She’d never felt this way with any man. Dangerous. Primal. On edge.
    She needed more air. More space and room to get used to such a demanding lust.
    What if her sister was wrong? What if this was more than just lust? What if she’d never felt this way because she was falling in love?
    That thought dumped ice water over her heated body.
    Why had no other man been able to make her feel like this? She reeled at how he’d been able to drug her so completely. Such power over her. She’d never felt such an inferno of passion exploding within her.
    That was it. Of course, what she felt was brand new, and she needed time to desensitize her body. Because feeling so much passion was like running her hand over an open flame. Maybe the more they touched, the easier it would be. Or maybe she’d be incinerated, and all that would be left of her would be soot and ashes.
    “Snorkeling first,” she choked out, her throat tight.
    “What?”
    She cleared her throat and tried her best to offer a soft smile. “Can we snorkel first?”
    His eyes frosted for a blink as he registered her rejection, then went impassive. Walls were back up. Had she imagined the brief flash of emotion? He composed himself so quickly, as if touching her wasn’t like stroking lighting.
    Whereas she was the complete opposite when he touched her. She knew now, she would change once she surrendered her body. And to him she was just another lover in a line of many. A pleasure to sample on the road to making some other woman his wife.
    “You want to snorkel first. We’ll snorkel first. Then I take you to my bed.” He nodded. “I know why you’re delaying our love making.”
    Her heart squeezed, her stomach sank. Did he guess she was bad in bed from her kisses? Were they too tame?
    “You do?” she asked.
    “Yes, you want to delay until both of us can’t take it. You know it will be hotter, crazier, if we wait. You’re right, it will be.”
    Her stomach clenched. She snapped her bacon in two. “No. We shouldn’t wait. No more waiting.” She gripped the edge of her chair with clammy palms. This could get stronger, more frenzied? As long as it didn’t lead to love.
    Maybe she shouldn’t have come and settled for one of the harmless men her sister had set her up with. But she knew she’d never be able to give herself to one of them. She’d never have felt strong enough with her thoughts stuck on Joel.
    Was she making this into a bigger deal than it was because of her limited experience? She had to trust her sister. Why would Bethany lead her in the wrong direction? She never had before.
    “I’ll be back,” Joel said, and she watched him leave.
    A few moments later, Joel came toward her. With the snorkel gear in one hand, he grabbed her by the waist and tugged her from the table into his arms. His mouth hovered over hers, his warm, sweet breath feathering over her lips.
    His dark hair was glossy and wild this morning, making him look untamed and gorgeous. His cologne drugged her and drew her closer to his sensual mouth. Everything about him made