LooseCorset by Christine Rains Read Free Book Online

be so difficult? He was a
good-looking guy. More than that. He was frakking gorgeous. He was intelligent,
geeky and the way he kissed—wow.
    Dean also lived six hours away. And he was already in love
with me. Stalking me online. Not good.
    What was I going to do?
    This was a moment I needed to talk to my best friend, but
Emily was ignoring my texts. My nerd paradise was crumbling around me. Gen Con
was meant to take me away from everyday life and drama. Not that this was an
everyday event for me, but it was no fantasy. Dean could be my dream man, but
how could I deal with him in the waking world where reality generally sucked?
    Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus walked into the bathroom,
giggling and chatting animatedly. Well, in the name of Love and Justice, I
promised myself not to do anything stupid. It’d be best to talk to Dean about
where he stood first before doing something rash.
    But look at the time! If I didn’t get to my next seminar
now, I might be late. Couldn’t have that.
    I crept along the crowded side of the food court and slipped
away. I wasn’t running from my problems. Nope. I had someplace to be. It wasn’t
cowardly at all. I paid for the ticket after all.
    I hated that I couldn’t convince myself of that during the
seminar and the next one after it, and the miniature painting workshop I had
scheduled at four. Every mini I painted looked like Dean. Even the half-orc
barbarian.
    Gathering my courage, I met the group for dinner. Dean
greeted me with a kiss. I melted against him, wanting to forget everything
Russell had told me. Why couldn’t things work out for once? Was that too much
to ask? If I could reprogram the Matrix, I’d have the perfect world.
     
    Emily didn’t show up for dinner. Nor was she replying to any
of my texts. Snidely Whiplash looked more ticked off than usual.
    When I stated I was going to check to see if Emily was in
our room, Dean immediately jumped up to go with me. Russell glared at me, but
what could I say? Maybe I’d get a chance to talk to Dean soon.
    “Are you going to tell me what’s been bothering you today?”
Dean caressed the back of my hand with his thumb. My flesh tingled and thoughts
of us doing it in the elevator sent my heart thumping harder.
    “Just worried about Emily.” That was true. Not the entire
truth, but it would have to do for now.
    Dean nodded and kissed my hand, holding the elevator door
open for me when we arrived at my hotel floor. His bedroom eyes were so sexy.
They gleamed when he gazed at me. How much he cared for me was obvious. Was I
an android not to fall at his feet and do anything he wanted?
    My head was so full, I barely noticed when we arrived at the
room. I slid in the card key and opened it. Emily, wearing a large Avengers
t-shirt and short shorts, sat on one of the beds painting her toenails. An
episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation droned quietly on the
television.
    “Hey.” Emily waved at us. “If you guys don’t mind, I need a
quiet night. I have to get my beauty sleep for tomorrow. So if you want to take
all that hot sex stuff to Dean’s room, I’d appreciate it.”
    My cheeks heated. I was never going to live down what Emily
heard going on in the bathroom earlier that day. Turning to Dean, I spoke
softly. “Do you mind if I have some time to hang out here a bit?”
    “Yeah, sure.” Dean kissed me, the picture of an
understanding boyfriend. He didn’t question me, ask me when I’d be done, or
tell me to text him every fifteen minutes. He let my hand go and walked to the
door, opening it.
    Before Dean could step through, Russell barged in. He
pointed a finger at Emily. “We’re talking right here and now.”
    “Go away. I’m not talking to you,” Emily snapped. She didn’t
look up from her toes.
    I glanced back and forth between the two of them. Russell
seemed really angry. It was difficult to judge how mad because his costume made
him seem insanely so.
    “We need to talk.” Russell gritted his teeth, and