Dangerous to Know by Dawn Ryder Read Free Book Online Page A

barrier.”
    He pressed a firm kiss against her mouth, sealing her reply beneath his lips. She’d never enjoyed kisses so much. Mercer’s tasted good. She should have been able to push him back but she just didn’t want to. She reached for him, the need he’d unleashed last night rising up as if it had never cooled. Her clit began to pulse and she felt as if her vagina was empty. She gripped his shirt, pulling him closer as desire tightened every one of her muscles. His kiss turned harder, pressing her to open her mouth. When she did, his tongue swept over her lower lip before thrusting inside to stroke hers.
    Harley let out a screech, sending Mercer back a step. He grasped her around her waist and lifted her before she realized he was moving. She ended up behind him before he recognized the sound was coming from the parrot.
    â€œHow long have you been out of the service?” she asked.
    â€œNot long—” His features tightened, as if he’d responded without considering his words. His eyes narrowed for a scant second before he shrugged. “I guess it shows.”
    â€œYeah.” Harley was throwing a fit inside the back of the car. “I need to get him home. Parrots can’t see in the dark, so he’s going to get wigged out by the fading light.”
    Mercer captured her forearm in a solid grip. He pulled her closer, so close his body heat wrapped around her again. With the sun setting, it was warm and inviting. One glance into his dark eyes sent heat spiking through her at the hunger glittering in the dark orbs.
    â€œDinner,” he insisted in a husky tone. “One hour.”
    â€œUm—”
    He pressed a quick kiss over her protest. Just a short taste of what she craved before she was free and he was striding across the half-empty parking lot, yelling back that her only other option was to chicken out.
    Oh hell.
    *   *   *
    â€œI’ll tell him I’m tired.”
    Harley only stared at her as she paced in front of his cage.
    â€œI’ll tell him…”
    The doorbell rang, startling her.
    â€œYou’re early.”
    She spoke while opening the door, which was a good thing because coherent thinking became impossible—instantly. Mercer had changed back into his black leather. The man embodied the animal she’d labeled him last night and it excited the hell out of her.
    And there went all ideas of chickening out. Heat was zipping along her veins, making her bold.
    â€œYour hour started in the parking lot, not when you got home, honey.” His tone sent a shiver down her spine because it was edged with a demand she recalled very clearly from his kiss.
    She’d be an idiot to go out with him, it went against every rule of safe dating, but her body just didn’t give a rat’s ass. Her nipples contracted, making her sorry she’d slipped into a soft jersey top.
    He held up a leather jacket. “Come on … are you really worried about me turning into a psycho?”
    â€œI should be.” But she wasn’t. It was time to enjoy the moment and leave the regrets for tomorrow.
    He chuckled and curled one finger, beckoning her forward. “I already told you my name, baby, and besides, your parrot likes me.”
    â€œNo he doesn’t. Harley only likes one person on the face of this planet. The rest of us exist to serve him.”
    One dark eyebrow rose. “I’ll just have to work on stroking him the right way.”
    He held the jacket up for her to slip her arms into the sleeves. It was heavy and pressed against her hard nipples, sending little zips of awareness across her chest. She fumbled the zipper before succeeding in pulling it up to her neck; all she could think about was his hands stroking her.
    â€œOr maybe I’ll demonstrate my skill on you and you can recommend me to the bird.”
    He curled his fingers around her wrist and tugged her toward him. She ran into the