Consumed by a Stranger (Craved Series #4) by Hazel Kelly Read Free Book Online Page B

Jack. His posture was relaxed but
unaggressive, I couldn’t help but laugh at his jokes, and as far as I could
tell, he hadn't even noticed how attractive our waitress was. 
     
    So
basically, the pressure was off because he was clearly already impressed by me.
And if what he was saying was an accurate reflection of what he was thinking,
then he craved me more than any man ever had before. 
     
    And
it was thrilling. It reminded me of the moment you realize the popular guy in
your high school class with the great hair actually knows your name and your
heart skips a beat. 
     
    …Right
before he asks you about some other girl. 
     
    Of
course, I desperately wanted to believe Jack’s feelings were genuine, but I
didn't see how I had anything he could want. He certainly wasn't after me for
my small apartment or my credit card debt. 
     
    He’d
been emphatic about loving my body, but I had all the same parts as everyone else.
Therefore, the only conclusion I could draw was that he’d either picked up a
parasite from drinking some bad water in Thailand or he actually liked me for
me. 
     
    Just
me. 
     
    I
watched him from across the table as he looked out over the city. The sight of
his strong jaw was enough to make me wet. And I knew he was a good guy, but how
could I be sure he wouldn't hurt me? 
     
    It’s
not like I could just travel the world with him. And I couldn’t expect him to
move to Seattle.
     
    I
mean, I know he said he wanted me a bunch of times, but his flattery didn’t change
the fact that everything was up in the air. 
     
    And
obviously I wanted him, too, but I was used to wanting things I couldn’t have.
I wanted better skin and a firmer butt and a bigger bank balance and a self-cleaning
apartment. But wanting and having were two different things, and I wasn't sure
if wanting was enough these days. 
     
    Life
just wasn't that easy or straightforward. 
     
    Not
for me anyway.
     
    I
was relieved when he said he didn't need me though. It felt weird to have that
reaction to something that might put another woman off, but I wasn't interested
in being needed by a single other person. The demands my parents put on me were
more than enough. 
     
    If
I were ever going to be stuck with someone besides them long term, I hoped it
would be based purely on pleasure, not on the horrible feeling of inescapable
obligation. I had enough of that in my life. 
     
    No,
I didn't want to be needed. Just wanted. And yet, I never believed that would
really happen for me so the fact that Jack was sitting in front of me telling
me he wanted me was completely unreal. 
     
    And
so was the flatbread.
     
    "I
didn't think it could be this good," I said, grabbing another piece with a
huge hunk of blue cheese on it. I wasn't sure if blue cheese was a strategic
date move since I was already planning on kissing him all over, but the starter
was too good to pass up so I figured I’d just have to drink enough wine to take
care of it.
     
    "Try
the crab cakes," he said, sliding them in my direction.
     
    I
picked up my fork and sank the edge into the crab cake closest to me. "How
do they compare to the ones you're used to eating?"
     
    "They're
different," he said, "But still tasty."
     
    The
sweet crab meat melted on my tongue, the seasoning making my mouth smile from
the inside out. "Agreed."
     
    "I
wonder why no one eats crab cake sandwiches," he said. "I'm sure
they're better for you than burgers."
     
    "I
think they do, but it's called the Filet o' Fish."
     
    He
shook his head. "Yeah, but I bet the Filet o' Crab would be even more
delicious."
     
    "You'd
have to include the sweet chili sauce."
     
    "Of
course," he said, topping up my wine. 
     
    "So
what is it that you want, Jack?" I asked, deciding to put the pressure on him
for a change. “More specifically.”
     
    "In
a woman?"
     
    "Yeah."
     
    "I
want a woman who makes me laugh and has a gorgeous smile."
     
    I
waited for him to go on, but he didn't. "Is that