Slow Fever by Cait London Read Free Book Online Page A

steel flashing up at him. “Tell me first—do you have that woman living with you now or not? And is it your baby?”
    “Interested in me?” he asked, challenging her as he took her hand, laced her fingers with his and led her the few steps to the dance floor.
    “I’m older and I’m wiser. I don’t want to sit on the backof your motorcycle now. And you weren’t invited here, and just how much of my life did you tell your girlfriend?”
    “Put your hands on me like you did on Brody and you’ll find out more than you want to know,” he murmured. His hand sought the curved indentation of her waist and hip to draw her close. For just an instant, his fingers dug in slightly to the soft curve, claiming her.
    Michael breathed unevenly, stunned by his first experience to make certain this woman was his.
    “Brody’s back injury needs a good stroking treatment to relax—I’m not explaining anything to you.”
    “‘Stroking?”’ Michael repeated her term darkly, unfamiliar with the emotions storming him. The word brought the image of lovemaking slapping at him.
    “Soothing him. It’s a technique in Swedish massage.” Her breath caught as his arm slid around her, holding her close against him.
    She recognized that whipcord strength, moving too quickly for her to resist. He’d acted like that at the infamous bucking bull incident. His thigh pressed between hers, leading into a dance step, and Kylie tensed, moving stiffly to his direction. “The Women’s Council should have changed the rules that men always lead in dancing, too.”
    “Good luck with that one,” Michael murmured against her temple. He paused in a turn, and the movement took her off balance, leaning against him. He held her there to prove his point, that he could easily control her body, while there was little chance of her supporting his larger one. “There are just some things a man does better. That irks you, doesn’t it? Here, you lead.”
    He stood still in her arms, waiting, and when Kylie pushed against him, he remained rock-solid. A smile lurked at his beautiful mouth as he tugged her against him again.
    Michael rested his cheek against the soft froth of her hair,inhaling her scent as they danced. He’d never answered questions before, but Kylie was important to him. He gave her what he could: “It’s not my baby. But Mary Ann needed me.”
    Kylie sniffed in elegant disdain, her body tense against his. “Mr. Good Guy. Or are you her ex-lover?”
    He smiled at that slight nick of jealousy, and the aloof angle of her chin, proof that he didn’t fall in the “I just don’t care” zone. Kylie’s emotions toward him had always run to the hot and hotter side. “She’s a friend. Most women trust me.”
    “They shouldn’t.” Kylie leaned back to look up at him, her eyes searching his expression. “I don’t know what my mother saw in you. No wonder you’re a Cull. If the married men or the single ones associate too much with you, they’ll be paying a high price with their wives and the women in their family. That’s how it is here in Freedom Valley—a male Cull could contaminate a whole good barrel. I wouldn’t be dancing with you now, but you’re not above telling everyone about my—”
    “Blackberry wine party? The plastic wrap?” As her eyes darkened and her mouth tightened, he waited for her to sulk.
    “Worse. I’m afraid you’ll say something about my need for—”
    “Sex? No. I don’t remember anything about your mentioning sex.” The hell he didn’t; it only kept him sleepless and in a permanently hardened condition after dreaming of her soft body against his. Her needs weren’t for discussion, images of her curved body tossed dark and sweet upon his mind. Then Michael bent his head and kissed her slowly, thoroughly tasting all the dark, earthy, exciting nuances that were Kylie. “Ready to go home?” he askedagainst her hot cheek and tried to keep his body from hardening as she quivered within his