The Truth About Cats & Dogs by Lori Foster, Kristine Rolofson, Caroline Burnes Read Free Book Online Page B

that.
    He enjoyed good health and business success, so he’d never needed to take life too seriously. But bless her heart, Sadie hadn’t been given that choice.
    As he’d told her, she was a sweetheart. Petite and shy and loving. Determined and smart, but so withdrawn. He wanted to bring her out of her shell. He wanted to watch her laugh.
    He wanted to get her naked and feel her softnesseverywhere, and he wanted to hear her scream with a mind-blowing orgasm.
    Yeah, he wanted that most of all.
    â€œBuck?” Her voice was tentative, confused.
    He sniffed his way up to her ear, brushed his nose across the downy hair at her temple. “Yeah?” he whispered, feeling more aroused by the second.
    She cleared her throat, very stiff and still. “What are you doing?”
    â€œSmelling you.” He leaned back to see her face. “You smell good enough to eat.”
    A rush of scarlet filled her cheeks. “I, uh…”
    â€œI don’t mean right this second. We’ll save that for later.”
    She looked ready to faint, prompting him to chuckle. He fingered the high neckline of her cardigan. “Aren’t you too warm in this?”
    â€œNo.” She clutched the neck together in a protective gesture.
    â€œYou sure?” Slowly, using the same care he’d shown with Tish, Buck pried her fingers loose. “It’s comfortable in here, Sadie.” Her top two buttons were undone, so he let his fingers drop to the third button, right above her breasts. It slid free. “I’m only wearing a towel and I’m not cold.” Just the opposite, in fact.
    Her eyes were wide and slightly dazed, her breath low and uneven.
    When he finished undoing all the buttons, heurged her to her feet and carefully pried the sweater off her shoulders. She was so fine-boned and fragile, he took extra care with her. Standing by her made him feel like a great ox.
    She stared at him with wary apprehension and what he could have sworn was hopefulness.
    He dropped her sweater over the back of her chair. “Okay?”
    Practically panting, she licked her lips, blinked twice and nodded. Her breasts rose and fell beneath the pink blouse.
    So damn sweet. He cupped her face. “Can I ask you something really personal?”
    She stared at his mouth. “What?”
    â€œWhen was the last time someone kissed you silly?” He waited, wondering if it’d been a week, a month, or longer. She seemed very unsure of herself and what he had planned.
    On stiff legs, Sadie took a tiny step closer to him, then another. With incredible caution, she lifted her hands and let them touch his chest. Her fingers spread out, tangling in his chest hair, while her thumbs rubbed small inquisitive circles on his skin.
    It drove him wild.
    With her attention on her hands, all he could see was the top of her head. “Look at me, Sadie.”
    She did, tipping her head way back. Her lips parted.
    â€œAnswer my question.”
    Her expression was shy, embarrassed, resigned. She lifted one delicate shoulder and sighed out her reply, “Never.”
    â€œNever?” Disbelief made his voice sharper than he’d intended.
    She shook her head and admitted with a grimace, “I’ve never dated. Never had a boyfriend. Never…done any of that stuff.”
    Conflicting emotions raged through Buck. Tenderness was at the forefront, so strong it nearly choked him. Damn, but he wanted to pull her onto his lap and cherish her.
    Lust ran a close second. He was only a man, and knowing that no one had done anything with her before him turned him on. He’d be her first in every way, and there were so many things he could show her, teach her, let her experience.
    Pity was there, too, because no woman should have been so ignored. He wished like hell that he’d forced his way over sooner, instead of letting her remain alone for so long. He’d stupidly wasted three months.
    Behind everything