Pan's Conquest (Entangled Covet) by Aubrie Dionne Read Free Book Online Page B

and he pulled her up as though she was a feather. She linked her arm in his, and it felt like it belonged there.
    Tread carefully, Syrinx. You’re in a danger zone with this one.
    He walked with her to her door. “Thank you for all of your help with my garden.”
    “It’s the least I could do for such a valued customer.” Guilt panged her chest. He was more than a valued customer , wasn’t he? More importantly: did she want him to be?
    Parker slid his hand in hers. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “We should do this again sometime. You know, have a little more fun next time. Maybe go to some lecture on metaphysics.”
    Syrinx laughed. “Or maybe just do something normal—like bowling, mini-golf or ice cream.”
    “I’d like that very much.”
    He leaned in, and Syrinx’s heart sped. She licked her dry lips. Was he going to kiss her? He stopped inches away from her face as if some invisible barrier between them held him back. He raised an eyebrow as if asking her permission.
    Syrinx longed to close the distance and feel what his perfectly sculpted lips felt like against hers. But that would lead in only one direction—the direction she’d already chosen not to go. A direction she’d never gone before. Parker was a customer, she was a goddess of chastity, and that was it.
    “I’ll contact you regarding the status of your order in the morning.” Her words fell like cold, hard stones between them. She turned to unlock the door.
    Parker grabbed her arm gently and pulled her around. Before she could react, he leaned down and kissed her. As his need grew, his mouth opened, and he ran his tongue along her bottom lip, asking for entry.
    He tasted of mint and woodsy pine, everything that reminded her of the forest she’d left behind. Wild abandon surged up inside her, making her crazy with want. She kissed him back, opening her mouth to meet his tongue with her own. He brought his arms around her, one hand traveling up her back to cup her neck in his hands, and the other tightening around her waist.
    A wave of heat swept through her, burning away her reason and logic. She couldn’t get enough of him: his wild scent, his warm lips, his hard body. Every nerve within her screamed that this was right.
    But it wasn’t. The kiss went against her entire identity, everything she thought she was. Syrinx shook off the fog of desire and broke the kiss.
    She pulled away, her back against the door.
    Parker breathed heavily and opened his eyes. His face changed from ecstasy to horror. “I’m sorry. It just happened.”
    “Don’t be sorry.” Syrinx raised her hand to put distance between them as much for herself as for him. Every nerve still screamed for his embrace. “I must get back to my work.” She composed herself and adopted her well-practiced perfunctory tone. “I had a wonderful time, Parker. Thank you.”
    “Thank you, Ms. Rain.”
    “Sylvia. If I’m going to call you by your first name, then you should do the same.”
    He smiled. “Sylvia it is.”
    Before she could respond, he turned and walked back to his car, whistling a carefree tune. Syrinx fumbled with the key in her hot, sweaty hand as his sleek black Jaguar drove away.
    …
    Pan drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. His blood felt like it was on fire, and his pulse throbbed with desire. Syrinx tasted like sweet roses fresh from the countryside. Her mouth was soft, warm, and inviting. She wanted him. That much was true as Aletheia’s scrolls. Now all he had to do was get through her shield of reason, her stringent vow of celibacy.
    After she pulled away, he knew he had to bide his time and build their relationship. Boy, was it hard to control himself. If he hadn’t walked away when he did, he’d be all over her by now, slipping off that little floral dress.
    Pan pulled into his massive garage and parked beside his spare Jaguar—a silver model he didn’t like as much as his black one, but dreamed up all the same to keep