Heart Melter by Sophia Knightly Read Free Book Online Page A

turned his gaze away from temptation and cleared his throat.
    Fluffing her hair, Natasha leaned back and closed her eyes. “Ahhh,” she sighed pleasurably, “the leather feels wonderful against my skin. I didn’t sleep very well last night.” She lowered her chin and watched him through her long lashes, her blue eyes as soft as velvet. Her mouth parted and she licked her plush lower lip as her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. Entranced, he watched the tiny pulse beat at the hollow of her throat.
    Was she trying to drive him crazy? When they’d boarded the plane earlier, Ian had sat across from her, but after she’d settled Evita in her kennel, she’d joined him on the divan. Seated close beside him, Natasha smelled like fresh roses. He inhaled deeply, sorely tempted to wind his hand in her lustrous hair and pull her on top of him for slow, deep kisses.
    “That looks comfortable.” Natasha indicated the two reclining seats down the aisle covered by white down comforters. She stretched and arched her back, and the first button of her blouse strained between her round breasts. He willed it to pop open when he saw the outline of her nipples through the thin silk. “I think I’ll stretch my legs and nap there later,” she said, gazing at him with a dreamy smile.
    “Be my guest.” He couldn’t control the strain in his voice, taunted by an image of Natasha nestled beneath the comforter, her supple curves naked, sweet nipples wet and pink from his greedy kisses. Hot desire inflamed his groin, making him irritable and frustrated at the strong physical power she had over him. Clamping down his jaw, Ian opened his briefcase and forced sensual images of Tasha firmly out of his mind…and memory.
    “Are you going to work now?” she asked, sounding disappointed.
    “Aye, I need to prepare for tomorrow’s meetings.” He pulled his laptop out and turned it on.
    “Oh.” She grew silent and watched him with curious eyes.
    “What?” he said at last.
    “You haven’t asked me any questions about…you know. My situation.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth and waited.
    “I heard enough from Ranald,” he said tight-lipped.
    One graceful brow lifted. “Maybe you should hear it from me.”
    “Not now. I can’t discuss it without wanting to throttle you. What were you thinking getting involved with a shady nightclub owner with connections to a crime syndicate?” Ian shook his head in disgust.
    She sucked in an outraged breath and glared at him, blue eyes sparking. “I didn’t know he was a shady nightclub owner with connections to a crime syndicate!”
    “You were naïve and reckless to date the scunner ,” he said curtly.
    Natasha’s chin shot up with high indignation. She opened her mouth to retort, but shut it when the flight attendant approached with their drinks and dinner trays.
    When Lori left, Natasha said, “I had no idea Tony had ties to the mob. It came as a total surprise. I also didn’t know he was murdered. I thought his death had been an accident.”
    Her revelation slammed into his gut. “Murdered? I didn’t know that part.”
    “Well you do now, and for your information, I stopped dating him way before it happened,” she huffed. “That’s all I care to talk about. Let’s eat.”
    “Fine,” he grunted, spreading the white cloth napkin on his lap.
    “Fine,” she repeated, taking a long swig of wine. Natasha buttered a piece of crusty roll and chewed it slowly. Ian watched her dip a chunk of meaty lobster in drawn butter and relish every bite. Her lips glistened as she finished both lobster tails, focused on her meal, not Ian
    She might not want to talk about it anymore, but one thing was certain. He would make damn sure Maggie and Ranald didn’t let Tasha out of their sight while she was in Glenhaven. Her situation was even grimmer than he’d suspected.
    They ate in weighty silence and when they finished, Natasha took off her boots and snuggled under the comforter