Awakened in August (Spring River Valley Book 8) by Clarice Wynter Read Free Book Online

hand.
    “Come inside.”
    The familiar tightness gripped his chest again, and this time he welcomed it.
     
    *
     
    A very small voice in the back of Lydia’s mind warned her this was a mistake. She ignored it. The moment Riley stepped over the threshold of her little cabin, her ability to reason fled.
    In the small room, with the bed only steps away and his broad shoulders within arms’ reach, she was putty. All her determination to keep her wits about her in his presence fled. Avoiding him since the kiss by the waterfall yesterday morning had been hell, and she was done with it. What good was protecting her heart if she had to force herself not to feel?
    She wanted him, and she couldn’t pretend she didn’t.
    “I’m sorry about—”
    A finger against his lips silenced his apology. He was here. That was all she needed. She stepped up to him and put her arms around his neck. When she drew him toward her for a kiss, she felt him shiver.
    Their lips met in a frenzy, a battle that left them both breathless. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, reveling in the sensual slide of her thin dress between them. All he had to do was turn around and take a step, and they were next to the bed. He lowered her onto the narrow mattress, not breaking the kiss that had her heart jack-hammering.
    “It’s…been a while since I—”
    “You’ll do fine,” she cut him off again, and dragged his body over hers. In a second she was moaning his name as he slipped a hand up under the hem of her shift and found the tiny panties she wore to sleep. She gasped when he tugged at the waistband and slid his fingers beneath the thin cotton. Arching toward his touch, she helped him slide them off.
    “Riley, take off your clothes.”
    “Hmm…you’re always ordering me to strip.”
    “Are you complaining?”
    “God, no.” He complied with her request, his hands moving with more skill than she’d expected. Maybe it had been a while, but he hadn’t forgotten any of the moves.
    “I don’t have a condom with me,” he said before joining her in the bed. Their legs tangled, and he gathered her to him, planting kisses above the plunging neckline of her dress.
    “We’ll get some tomorrow. I’m on the pill.” She met his gaze. “Stop now if that’s not okay.”
    “It’s fine. It’s great.” He filled his hands with her hips and moved above her. Her breath caught, and she held it while he entered her, afraid if she let out a sound, even one of satisfaction, that she’d realize this was all a dream.
    “Is this okay? Did I—”
    “It’s good,” she whispered as she began to move beneath him. “It’s so good.”
    “Lydia…” He sighed against her ear, sending an electric current through her body that triggered a climax she hadn’t expected. She shuddered with it, shocked by how ready she’d been, and clutched him while her muscles contracted to the staccato of her heartbeat.
    His lips spread in a smile she could feel. “I guess I’m not so rusty after all.”
    “No,” she whispered, her eyes drifting closed in ecstasy. “You’ve still got it, counselor. I just hope you can hold up under cross-examination.”
    “I’ll have to wing it without my briefs…”
    Before she could laugh at his response, he kissed her, silencing any rebuttal and stilling all her thoughts. Only this moment mattered, how she felt and the way he touched her. All of her worries faded replaced by sensations she hadn’t felt in ages. How could she doubt what her body knew was right?
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Lydia woke with the weight of Riley’s arm across her hip. She smiled and rolled over, careful to avoid falling off the small bed. Sharing the twin mattress certainly made for a romantic night, but not a very comfortable morning.
    “Hey, it’s time for meditation class,” she whispered, brushing tousled hair from his forehead. At the moment, he looked nothing like an aspiring corporate lawyer.  Gianna’s remark about