Instinctive by Cathryn Fox Read Free Book Online Page B

surrounding them. A hush fell over the sidewalk. The mother physically retreated, even the child stopped whimpering in his presence.
    Jaclyn strived for normalcy. “We had an accident.”
    He stepped toward her to peer over her shoulder, and she was certain she heard him inhale. She took a quick moment to wonder if he liked her new jasmine-vanilla perfume.

    He inched closer. His nearness made her breathless, and the earthy scent beneath the clean smell of soap made her feel a little wild and wicked. When bewitching green cat eyes turned back to hers, Jaclyn faltered, her legs turning to overcooked noodles beneath her. Warmth flooded her system as one large hand circled her waist to support her, preventing her from escaping, which, ultimately, would have been the smart thing to do. Too bad common sense wasn’t ruling her actions at this particular moment.
    At first contact, sexual energy swirled throughout her body and exploded her senses. As life surged in her veins, she became hyperaware of the way her flesh began to itch and burn. She clawed discreetly at herself, scratching her arms as though she were trying to shed a layer, to crawl out of her skin.
    His brow furrowed in concern, and a lock of dark hair fell over one eye. She fought the sudden urge to flick it back.
    “Are you okay?” he asked, meshing her body to his.
    She nodded and tried not to think about the powerful tingling sensation rushing its way through her bloodstream as her flesh connected with his in such a personal way.
    As though he could read her every thought, feel her every desire, the corner of his mouth twitched. His smile was slow, inviting. “Then why are you turning red?”
    Jesus, she hadn’t even realized she’d stopped breathing. She inhaled and filled her oxygen-deprived lungs with the aromatic country air. She waved one hand in front of her face, fanning herself.
    “Heat,” she managed to get out, and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear as she righted herself and escaped the enticing
circle of his arms. She watched the way Mr. Testosterone carefully tracked her every movement, studying her intimately as she took a tiny step back. The hungry look he sent her way had her body quivering almost uncontrollably. As her body shifted into overdrive, foreign emotions and sensations ripped through her and practically rendered her speechless.
    With remarkable success she managed to form a coherent sentence and answer the unasked question still lingering on his lips. “I spend most of my days in an air-conditioned building. I’m not used to prolonged exposure to sunshine. I think I’m prone to sunstroke,” she rambled on. God, was that her voice? She hardly recognized that deep, desirous tone.
    A flurry of emotions passed over his face. “I see,” he said slowly, deliberately, as though tasting the electrically charged air around them.
    She perused his sensuous mouth while lust sizzled between them. As his primal essence overwhelmed her, she spent one agonizing minute considering how that sexy mouth would feel on her skin, between her legs. Oh hell.
    “Then we should get you inside before you pass out.” A bad-boy grin curled his mouth as his warm breath brushed over her skin, eliciting a shiver from deep within her core. Jesus, he had to be the sexiest man she’d ever encountered. “I’m not quite up on my CPR,” he confessed.
    Desire slammed into her as she visualized herself lying horizontal while he pressed his mouth to hers. She placed her hand over her stomach, where need gathered in a ball. It was a need unlike anything she’d ever felt before.

    Oh God, she really needed to pull herself together before she dragged him into the nearest alleyway and had her wicked way with him. Lord knows she was trying to be a good girl, but his body called out to her in ways that even she couldn’t understand.
    He turned his attention to the child and spoke in a calming voice, reassuring her that she’d have a brand-new ice cream