Seduction by the Book by Linda Conrad Read Free Book Online

kerosene lantern back with him. Being able to see his expression and his steel-blue eyes was not helping her feel any less nervous.
    She lifted her foot toward him before remembering her new toenail polish. It was too late now.
    â€œI tried to wash the cut while I was waiting for you to come back,” she said with a shaky voice.
    He turned her foot in his warm hands and stared down at her toes. “What color is that? Blue?” It felt so strange, having him touching her bare foot that way.
    She’d hoped that he would never have to see her little girly choice of polish. How embarrassing. She should be wearing her athletic shoes, like she nearly always did.
    â€œMy sister sent it to me. I was just messing around tonight while I waited out the storm. It’s not my usual color. I—”
    â€œI like it on you,” he interrupted with a raspy chuckle. “It’s fresh and full of energy. Just like you.”
    â€œOh.” Annie was totally overwhelmed by the heat she’d seen in his eyes.
    Nick still had hold of her foot. Suddenly she realized what was happening. She was aroused by having him touch her bare skin. And if she didn’t miss her guess, Nick was aroused as well. Jeez. Now what?
    â€œThe cut doesn’t look too deep,” he told her as he studied it. “Do you think you washed all the glass out?”
    â€œI’m pretty sure.”
    He raised his eyes to question her and she was immediately struck dumb by his nearness. His face wasmere inches from her own. If she just leaned forward slightly, she could kiss those full lips. She could reach out and pull him in for the pleasure of it.
    Her imagination began to run away with her and ripples of some unnamed sensation ran down her spine as he began to bandage her feet. It was too intense and she closed her eyes so he wouldn’t guess what she was thinking.
    Â 
    Nick had to bite the inside of his cheek in order to get through bandaging Annie’s wound. It was all he could do not to ravish her right there in the bathroom.
    It had been easy to see that she wanted him. If not because of the sexy bedroom way she’d been staring at his lips, then because of the way her nipples had peaked against the thin material of her T-shirt as he tended to her wound.
    Obviously, she wasn’t wearing a bra. But then, he remembered that she’d been in her silky shorty pajamas when the roof had caved in. Of course she wouldn’t wear a bra to bed. And he hadn’t retrieved any underwear for her on their way out of her suite.
    Knowing that was driving him crazy. He didn’t want to stare at her chest. It had been tough enough before when she’d felt his arousal against her back. Good Lord. Male anatomy was such a pain sometimes.
    It was a huge relief to finally have her bandaged and safe and sound on the sofa in his office. Now he had to find something to do to keep them both occupied through the rest of this storm.
    He absolutely refused to give in to his body’s demands. He was a much better man than that.
    â€œDo you want to try to get some sleep? That sofa is fairly comfortable,” he asked with too much force.
    â€œAre you kidding? Who could sleep with all the excitement of the hurricane?”
    â€œHopefully, we’ve had the last of the exciting events for this storm.”
    â€œAre you going to sleep?”
    He shook his head. “No.” Exasperated and enchanted with her all at the same time, he gave in to the situation and leaned back against the edge of his desk. “I guess we should keep each other company while we wait it out.”
    He’d wanted it to be easier. He’d wanted her asleep so his libido would let him off the hook. But nothing about Annie ever seemed easy. Passionate, sensual and so full of life an aura of energy fairly shimmered around her.
    â€œI’ve heard of hurricane parties. Maybe we could have one of those.”
    â€œHmm. Depends on your