Hold Me by Lucianne Rivers Read Free Book Online

simple gesture of respect. As she sat, her mouth came close enough to kiss, and her eyes held his attention. A unique light sparkled in their depths, as if she could read his thoughts. And was the same expression of longing on his face?
    He broke away and served the stew, needing to put his hands on something besides Jane. This was temporary insanity bred out of lust, nothing more. He sat opposite her and tried to eat. She sipped the stew from a spoon and made an appreciative hum deep in her throat. Awkward silence settled between them. He didn’t imagine her to be the silent type.
    “I won’t tell anyone, you know,” she said, sounding earnest. “About you.”
    He stilled.
    He wanted to believe her.
    Then she looked at him. Vulnerability, need, uncertainty—all passed over her beautiful face. She shook her head as if hoping to deny what was clearly there.
    Leaning across the table, he took her hand in his, slowly, so as not to scare her. He was crossing a line, the one that separated hearts, not just bodies. Trusting Jane Caldwell might be the biggest leap of faith he’d made in years. He held his breath until her fingers softened then returned his touch. Her eyes shimmered with moisture. She’d been through a hell of a lot recently. Her palm felt warm under his, her smooth fingers caressing in an almost subconscious invitation for more.
    His body responded, standing at attention. He trusted her enough. That was going to have to do for now. She pulled away, stood, put her dish in the sink, and rinsed it. He hesitated, then rose and stood behind her, turning off the faucet. She was crying now, her shoulders shaking.
    He turned her to face him. Tears slipped down her cheeks and dripped onto her shirt. She wouldn’t look at him, but he forced her to. With his thumb, he brushed the moisture from her face, her lips. Her breath caught. He tipped her head up so their eyes met.
    Then he kissed her, gently at first, wanting to soothe all that pain, that loss, needing to stoke the banked fire behind the hurt. Her soft lips molded to his, opening, letting him in. The slide of her tongue sent streaks of heat to his groin. He tugged on her lip with his teeth, pulling her mouth open to him. She tasted sweet and spicy. Deepening the kiss, he pulled her hips towards his, stroking her tongue, preparing her for what he wanted. What they both wanted, he hoped.
    Lowering his mouth to her hot, damp neck, he kissed her just under her ear. He brushed her hair back, tangling it through his fingers, the strands soft, sleek, and warm. Her breasts pressed against his chest and she arched herself into him. Dying to touch her, he slid his hand over the smooth fabric of her blouse and cupped one of her breasts in his palm. She hummed in delight. Drawing back so he could watch her face, he stroked her. A thin bra was no barrier to the erect nipple begging for his caress. He caught the peak between his thumb and forefinger and massaged it gently.
    With her neck arched back and hair cascading into the sink, she offered him both breasts, and he wasn’t about to refuse. Undoing several buttons of her blouse, he bared her bra to the warm, kitchen air. Her cleavage was dewy with sweat. Anchoring his hands to her hips, he bent between her breasts. Wanting more, he slid his hands into the cups of her bra and eased them out. Generous and pert, the dark pink areola begged to be tasted, and she groaned when he obliged, her eyes wide.
    She was all salt and soap. He laved the tips of her nipples with a fevered tongue, while beneath his thighs, her hips strained and rocked. Bringing his mouth back to hers, he dropped his hand to the juncture of her thighs. She was hot and damp through the denim of her jeans. She whimpered, pushing toward his fingers. He groaned and rested his forehead against her brow, loving how their breath mingled in warm puffs. Pressing her mouth against his, she nipped at his lower lip, eliciting another unguarded growl. Her hands were