Deadly Beginnings by Jaycee Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

you.”
    She looked to the door and shivered, then nodded. “Thank you.”
    Kaitlyn reached for the lock, holding the key she’d pulled from her pocket.
    Jock held out his hand. “If you don’t mind?”
    Rolling her eyes, though silently relieved, she gave him the key and let him open the door. Her cabin was small, all open floor plan, so it didn’t take but seconds to make certain she was indeed safe here.
    He silently turned in a circle, studying the windows, then the roof, and finally shook his head.
    Kaitlyn set her art things on the table.
    The fall days were cooler and she shivered, realizing she’d need to start a fire.
    Jock opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.
    She waited.
    He closed his lips, the frown still in place.
    Kaitlyn walked up to him and he turned to her, gave her his undivided attention. Maybe that’s what it was with him.
    “Jock, you can go now.”
    He thrummed his fingers on his thigh. “I did have a great time today. More fun than I’ve had in a long, long time.”
    She smiled. “Me too.”
    “I don’t like leaving you here by yourself.”
    Kaitlyn cupped his jaw, running her fingers along the hard line, noting he had more dark stubble than he’d had when she’d met him by the lake.
    “I’ve a feeling you are a good man, Jock Kinncaid. I’d almost forgotten what those were like. Thank you for my art supplies. Thank you for lunch and for the hike and for a wonderful day.” She looked at his chest and swallowed. “Thank you for being my friend when I didn’t know how very badly I needed one.”
    His own hand held hers to his chest.
    His sigh ruffled the top of her hair. “Ah, Kaitie.”
    She looked up just as his head lowered. His other arm wrapped around her back, pulling her closer just as his lips met hers.
    The man kissed like he did everything else with her—he was clearly in charge, but yet, waiting on her.
    She leaned into him and felt the change in him instantly, the muscles beneath her hand tightening. Kaitlyn opened her mouth and ran her tongue along the seam of his lips.
    He made a noise in his throat and pulled her closer, his hand going from holding hers at his chest to skimming up her arm to cup the back of her head as he took over and deepened the kiss.
    The kiss warmed her, melting her stomach to flutters and summersaults even as tingles danced down her spine and over her skin.
    Jock kissed her open mouth, demanding yet waiting. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss him even better.
    Another growl.
    His arms tightened as he lifted her, still kissing her. She wrapped her legs around his trim waist and realized again how wide the man’s shoulders were.
    Her back hit the wall or the door, though his hands covered her spine. She gasped as his body pressed hers even more, breaking the kiss.
    He trailed kisses over her chin, her jaw, to her ear, where he kissed just beneath it. Kaitlyn shivered.
    “A soft spot. I love finding those,” he whispered, his mouth kissing and licking over her neck.
    Kaitlyn titled her head back against the door.
    Jock Kinncaid was a dangerous man. He made her feel. Feel more than she probably should.
    His mouth trailed lower to her collarbone, where the tip of his tongue burned along the curve. She shivered again.
    “Another one.”
    She’d never felt like this. Not ever before.
    She’d heard of women wanting. Simply wanting.
    A want that tempted.
    A want that burned.
    A want that could consume.
    One hand left her back, caressing softly beneath her sweater. When had he removed her sweater? She realized it was hanging by one arm. Her shirt was no match and she assumed he’d dive right in, or tug it from her pants.
    Instead, his hand simply caressed along her rib cage. Up and down, up and down, slow and easy from her waist to under her arm, grazing the side of her breast.
    He growled again and eased back. His eyes were a deep indigo, a muscle bunched in his jaw. “I should go.”
    “I should let