Reckless by Maya Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

belong to anyone.”
    She closed her eyes but not before he saw the renewal of moisture.
    His chest heavy and aching, he picked her up again and carried her into the bedroom.
    She didn’t stir as he undressed her then tucked her carefully into bed.
    For a long moment he stood at her side, staring down at her in confusion. She spoke of belonging to him, of wanting to belong to him, as though she held deeper feelings, beyond a crush or sexual attraction.
    Had he gotten her intentions wrong all along? Was the brazen, sex-kitten act just a cover-up for deep-seeded insecurities? Okay obviously the sex-kitten act was a farce.
    She saved herself for you.
    If it were any other woman, he’d read a lot into that fact, but with Nikki, he’d never been sure of anything. She moved too fast, made his head spin and generally kept him in a state of befuddlement.

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    What if she did want more? What if it wasn’t all a game? What if he’d fucked it all up before he realized he’d even had a chance?
    He lowered his head and kissed her temple, letting his lips linger there for a long moment.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “So damn sorry.”
    After touching her cheek one last time, he turned and walked out of the bedroom toward the living room. He’d crash on the couch, and then tomorrow he’d find out what the hell had prompted tonight’s uncharacteristic drunken binge.
    Even though he had a bad feeling he knew.
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    Reckless

Chapter Six
    Nikki woke to a pounding head and a tongue that was dry and swollen, sticking to the roof of her mouth like fly paper. She was naked. In her bed.
    Shame crowded into her mind until she wanted to scream. So much for not being her mother’s daughter.
    She fought to try and remember what happened last night. She remembered drinking too much and having to force herself to swallow the nasty crap. The rest of the evening was fuzzy, though she did remember being pulled off the bar by a guy she’d never seen before.
    Fear took hold. Please, please don’t let her have had a one night stand with him.
    She scrambled out of bed, inspecting it for signs that she hadn’t been alone in it. Her stomach lurched as she hurriedly dressed, and she had to breathe deeply to keep from having to hang her head over a toilet.
    She brushed her teeth then doused her face with water until some of the cobwebs cleared. Then she ventured out of her bedroom, afraid of what she might find in the living room.
    When she saw J.T. sitting on the couch, TV remote in hand, she sagged in relief. No matter what he might think of her, he wouldn’t have allowed anything to happen to her.
    He turned to stare at her, his expression indecipherable. Unable to hold his gaze, she ducked and headed for the kitchen.
    “Oh no you don’t,” J.T. said as he strode after her.
    He touched her shoulder then let his fingers slide over her skin before turning her around to face him.
    “How are you feeling?” he asked, though his expression told her he knew damn well how she felt.
    “Like shit,” she said bluntly.

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    He nodded. “I’m not surprised. That was one hell of a drunk you threw last night.
    Want to tell me what’s going on?”
    She almost laughed. Would have if it wouldn’t have split her head wide open. She shrugged indifferently. “Nothing’s going on. Just decided to give the public what they expect.”
    His eyes glittered dangerously. “And what do they expect, Nikki?”
    She shrugged again, and his hand tightened on her shoulder. She was pissing him off.
    Not that it was anything new.
    “Drunken whore. Like mother, like daughter.” She would have shrugged again, but his grip prevented her.
    He cursed under his breath, but the words still stung her ears. “You’re not a whore or a drunk, Nikki. Why the fuck would you want people to think you are?”
    She lifted a brow and stared straight back at him. “What else