M. Donice Byrd - The Warner Saga by No Unspoken Promises Read Free Book Online Page B

terrible.”
    “Good, don’t drink it.”
    With a look of defiance, she quaffed the contents in two large gulps and gasped as her throat constricted and her breath seemed to disappear. “Dear heavens, I think it’s gone bad,” she rasped when she regained her voice.
    With a chuckle, he sniffed it then took a swallow. “No, that’s the way it’s supposed to taste.”
    “Surely not. Why would anyone drink that? It’s worse than pond water.”
                  “I don’t know that anyone really drinks for the taste,” he said shuffling the cards expertly and dealing them. “Ante up.”
    Meredith put in a button and picked up her cards. “Then why drink it?”
    Blake shook his head as he picked up his hand. “As much as you just drank, you’re going to know soon enough.”
    Meredith looked at the hand he dealt her and smiled as she placed them into some semblance of order.
    Sighing, he leaned his elbows on the table. “If you smile when you have a good hand, I’ll know not to bet against you.”
    “Oh,” she said trying to tamp down her grin.
    Meredith, sitting catty-corner to him, made an obvious attempt to look at his cards.
    “I’ll take two,” she said when he pulled his cards away.
    She set down the cards she didn’t want and picked up the new ones. She frowned and picked up her discarded cards.
    “You can’t do that,” he said thinking she didn’t understand the rules.
    “I think it’s only fair if I cheat,” she said smiling impishly at him. “You’ve probably played your whole life and this is my first time – that’s hardly fair. I’m just evening up the odds.”
    Blake sipped at his whiskey as mulled over her request. It went completely against his nature to give her an advantage even if it was her first time and they were only playing for buttons.
    “No,” he said.
    Her bottom lip trembled out into a pout and she looked at him with wide doe eyes. “Please?”
    “Criminy! If you keep that up, losing a card game will be the least of your troubles.”
    Meredith set her cards down and crossed her arms. “Did I not mention that I’m spoiled and I’m accustomed to getting my way?”
    He set down his cards and leaned towards her. “So am I.”
    She batted her eyes at him. “I’m told I’m adorable when I pout.”
    Blake understood the way this game worked. He had long ago mastered the art of flirtation.  He doubted any woman was born without the ability to manipulate men with a pout or a seductive smile.
    “You’re adorable when you’re not pouting, too,” he bantered, his eyes locking onto hers with a smoldering look.
    She fought the urge to smile. “No one can resist the power of the lip,” she said jutting her lower lip out again, tilting her head down and widening her eyes.
    Her pouty lower lip made him want to have his way with her more than it made him want to give her her way. All he could see were those kissable lips. Criminy, he just wanted to taste her and find out if she was a hellion in bed.
    “Is it working? Am I breaking your resolve?” she asked prettily.
    “Depends what resolve you want to break. That is indeed a powerful and dangerous weapon and if you don’t put it away, I’m going to kiss it away.”
    Even with her lip out, she smirked. “You’re going to give in. No one can resist for long.”
    Blake put his hands flat on the table and pushed himself up, leaning in towards her. “You’re right. I can’t resist.”
    With their eyes locked, he lightly bit her lip. Closing his eyes, he pressed his mouth to hers.
    “And here I thought I was going to take a break from women,” he murmured as he pulled away.
    Her eyes fluttered open. He noted the heightened color in her cheeks as she unabashedly stared at him, her eyes full of unspoken question.
    “What would your husband say?”
    “What husband?”
    Blake had slept with enough unhappily married women to know those were nearly always the words they spoke just before they gave