Take This Man by Nona Raines Read Free Book Online Page B

told him.
    She
smirked as she glanced at the unrumpled bed, remembering how she’d been afraid
of what might happen if Adam placed her there. Apparently, the chairs and floor
weren’t any less dangerous. No matter the place, no matter the time, it was
Adam who was dangerous.
    Mr.
Danger frowned. “I was serious when I said I didn’t come here to fuck you,” he
told her. “I don’t have any rubbers with me.”
    Elyse
shrugged. “We’ll make do.”
    His
eyes narrowed. “Are you on birth control?”
    “No.
Had no reason to be.” Shit . Elyse wanted to take back the words as soon
as they were out of her mouth. Shit, shit, shit. Now he knew she hadn’t been
with anyone for a while. She’d tried dating for a time, but between work,
school, and her general lack of interest, things hadn’t panned out.
    If
Adam was pleased to know she’d been celibate lately, he had the grace not to
show it.
    “What
about you?” she asked. If he had the right to ask questions, then so did she.
    “Am
I on birth control?” he deadpanned, his eyebrows lifting.
    “You
know what I mean.”
    “There’s
been one person since…” his voice trailed off. “But we’re not together anymore.”
    One
person. Elyse was torn between jealousy and surprise. Only one? Was the
relationship serious enough to exclude others? Or did it mean Adam had as much
trouble getting over her as she had in getting over him?
    She
thrust the question aside. “I think we can manage without condoms—there’s
plenty else we can do. We’ve already proven that, haven’t we?”
    “What
about dinner?” Adam asked.
    She
smiled as she strolled over to him and began unbuttoning his shirt. “Haven’t
you ever heard of room service?”
    ****
    They
never did get around to ordering room service.
    Elyse
felt the bedclothes move and heard the rustle of clothing. She opened her eyes.
It was still dark.
    A
pair of lips found her temple. “I have to go,” Adam whispered. “Got a full day
of work ahead of me.”
    “Uhh,”
Elyse groaned. She moved her head to find his lips and they kissed hungrily.
    Adam
broke the kiss. His fingers traced her collarbone. “Elyse. What happens now?”
    What
indeed? She had no idea. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” she joked.
    He
sat on the edge of the bed, scooping his arms under her and lifting her close. “I
want more.”
    So
did she, even knowing how disastrous it would be. She was too muddleheaded,
though, to voice her desires or her doubts.
    “Have
dinner with me tonight.” He smiled against her forehead. “This time we really
will eat, I swear. I can pick you up at seven.”
    “Seven?”
she murmured, stalling for time while her brain scrambled for the correct
response.
    “We
have things we need to talk about.”
    Talk?
Since when did Adam ever want to talk about anything?
    When
they were a couple, Elyse had worked hard to get him to share his feelings, to
no avail. He always complained that touchy-feely stuff was for pussies and
wimps.
    “Not
a good time?” he asked, misunderstanding her reluctance. “What’s good for you,
then?”
    “Let’s
meet someplace,” Elyse suggested. “It’s safer. If you show up here, we might
get distracted again…” She smoothed the bedclothes to indicate what she meant.
    “You
don’t trust me?” There was a definite edge to his voice.
    “Maybe
I’m the one who can’t be trusted,” she said, not sure if she was joking or dead
serious.
    Adam
appeared to take it as a joke. He smiled again. “How about Romeo’s? Seven o’clock?”
    “Not
Romeo’s,” she answered quickly. Romeo’s Italian Restaurant used to be one of “their”
places. Too many memories, too much meaning.
    The
smile vanished from his face. “All right. There’s a new place on Second Street
that’s decent. Hanover’s.”
    “Hanover’s,”
she repeated. “Seven o’clock. All right.”
    “Will
you be there, Elyse?” She heard the tension in his voice.
    Anger
sparked, rousing her from