Forbidden by Pat Warren Read Free Book Online Page A

He saw the awakening
     in her eyes and wondered if she’d deny it. “As I said before, something’s happening here, something I hadn’t planned on. I
     want you more than I can ever remember wantinga woman before. I’m not sure why that is.” His puzzled frown was genuine.
    She needed some distance, some time to regroup. Rising, she walked to the railing, hoping he’d attribute her shakiness to
     the rocking boat. “A challenge, Adam? Am I a challenge to you?”
    “You mean the poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks, on the way up in politics, going after the wealthy debutante?” Shaking
     his head, he rose to join her. “You’ll soon discover I don’t give a damn about money, though I can appreciate what it can
     buy. And I wouldn’t care if you were the scrubwoman in my apartment building.”
    His face was close to hers again, close enough that she could feel the heat from his powerful body. “Adam, I—”
    “You’re different from anyone I’ve known, Liz. You look cool, controlled, almost detached. But that kiss told quite another
     story.” He took hold of her upper arms. “Let’s see if it was a fluke.”
    He kissed her again, and it was better than the last time. He tasted her momentary resistance and then the relaxing that hinted
     of surrender. And his own frustration. He tugged her closer, felt her begin to yield more completely. The skin of her bare
     arms warmed as her blood heated. As his was heating, boiling.
    With her back to the railing, he trapped her hips between his strong thighs. A soft moan escaped her as his tongue traced
     her lips. He dipped his head to trail his hungry mouth along her throat as his unsteady hands molded her lower body to his
     heated arousal.
    Needs too long denied swam to the surface as Liz’s fingers curled into the soft cotton of his shirt. Desire licked at her
     like the suddenly strong waves thrashing against their drifting boat. Steeped in an unfamiliar sensation, she felt herself
     losing ground.
    A chilling sea spray splashed along Adam’s face, cooling him in more ways than one, and he loosened his hold. Hetook a step back, breathing hard. “Tell me again, Liz, how you don’t want me.”
    But he felt no satisfaction at the vulnerable look in her eyes. Swearing under his breath, he walked to the wheel and turned
     on the engine.
    It was time to go back. Past time.

CHAPTER 3
    Adam rubbed the back of his neck. It had been a grueling three weeks of campaigning up and down the Northern California coast,
     giving speeches, eating endless rubber chicken dinners, shaking hands, smiling. Always smiling. He swung the Datsun onto the
     off ramp and headed for his San Francisco office.
    All this was necessary, he knew, but it was the part he hated. He’d taken a leave of absence from his own practice to run
     for office, and he was anxious to get busy with new and bigger cases. Of course, he had to be elected first. Getting elected
     meant convincing people all over the state that he was the man for the job.
    On this late afternoon, he had his doubts.
    He wanted a hot shower, a cold beer, a good meal, and… and he wanted to be with Liz Townsend.
    Damn, he was spending more and more time thinking about her. Since their boat ride he’d seen her briefly twice, once for a
     drink at Dobson’s, an old downtown San Diegorestaurant, and then at the opening of an art gallery where Molly had had a showing. Yet the kisses that they’d shared had
     him awake nights, sweating, remembering. And here he was, going to his campaign headquarters instead of to his hotel room
     because Fitz had told him that several San Diego aides had come up to help the less experienced volunteers at the north California
     office.
    The man has it bad, he told himself as he turned onto Market Street and spotted a sedan pulling out of a space near his building.
     Quickly he parked, scowled at his image in the mirror as he ran a hand through his windblown hair, and hurried toward the