Night Huntress 02.5 - Happily Never After by Jeaniene Frost Read Free Book Online Page A

night after almost kissing him, Isa had berated herself for hours about the stupidity of getting involved with some pseudo-magician whacko—albeit a smolderingly sexy one—when she still had to find her brother and get out of marrying a career criminal. Yet here she was now, getting all starry-eyed over something as benign as Chance's feet, for crying out loud.
     
    That was it. She was getting a vibrator. Clearly she was in need of sexual healing, and right now a battery-operated device had the least amount of complications.
     
    The timer on her oven went off. Chance turned around with a graceful spin and then lifted out a pan of wonderful-smelling bread. Isa's mouth watered even though she'd just taken a bite of food.
     
    "You'd make a great chef," she said once she'd swallowed. "Ever think of leaving the honor-bound, criminal-interrogating hypnotist society to try your hand at that?"
     
    Chance sliced her a steaming piece of bread, an odd smile on his face. "I can never leave the society I'm part of, Isabella. Once you become a member, you stay that way forever."
     
    "Then I hope they have a hell of a retirement plan," she quipped.
     
    That made Chance grin, highlighting the dimple on his chin. "The best there is , I assure you."
     
    He took the stool next to Isa , but didn't bother getting himself a plate. Isa gestured with her fork at all the food spread out in front of her.
     
    "Are you going to eat anything?"
     
    His lips were parted, so Isa could see his tongue flick out to caress the tops of his teeth.
     
    "Later."
     
    There was something in the purr of that single word that made Isa suddenly lose her appetite. Her appetite for food, to be more specific. Another appetite reared its long-neglected head and began screeching to be satisfied.
     
    Chance reached out, gently brushing her hair back from her face. His hand was cool against her cheek, like silk made into flesh. Isa drew in a breath, noting with curious detachment that it was uneven. Funny, the more she stared into Chance's eyes, the more she became convinced they were turning green.
     
    "Back away, Chance. We need to keep things professional between us."
     
    She made herself say it, because even if it wasn't true, it made sense to utter those words. Chance was practically a stranger, and a peculiar one at that. So what if she was drawn to him in ways she'd never felt before? So what if he fascinated her with his unusual mix of courtliness and utter disregard for the law? Getting Frazier back safely was her top priority, period. That meant canoodling with a local crime boss who thought she was going to marry him, not making out with an out-of-town hypnotist who might get killed with his next act.
     
    Chance leaned closer, so that the breath from his words fell directly on her lips.
     
    "You don't want to."
     
    Boy, was he right about that. Keep things professional? Hardly. All Isa wanted to do now was press her mouth against his and rake her tongue inside until she couldn't taste anything but him.
     
    Chance's nostrils flared. He closed his eyes and took in a deep, slow breath.
     
    Isa closed her eyes as well. If she tilted her head even the slightest way in either direction, his lips would brush hers. Chance was that close to her. Yet she couldn't do it, and she instinctively knew it was what he was waiting for.
     
    "Why are you fighting this so hard?" he whispered.
     
    The question startled Isa into opening her eyes and sitting back, putting a safer distance between them. She ran a trembling hand through the same part of her hair Chance had smoothed away moments before.
     
    "Because I want it too much."
     
    Her honesty surprised her more than his question had. Chance took in another deep breath, his eyes still closed, and then he leaned back as well. Now there were a few feet of distance between them. Isa couldn't help but feel disappointed, even though it was her own fault.
     
    Chance opened his eyes. They didn't look green-tinged