Thorneless (Rose of Thorne Series) by Mia Michelle Read Free Book Online Page A

in mine and leads me to the waiting car.
    Never letting go of my hand, he gently caresses my fingers as he quietly stares out the window beside him. Something about him is so different tonight. The ride to the event is unexpectedly short.  When we pull up to the tall old building, there’s a massive crowd of people standing near the front entrance. Lucas slides out of the car first and holds tightly onto my hand as I step out onto the red-carpeted entry.  Flashes of light flood the air around us as he pulls me close to him and leads me down the long press walk.  Since he’s usually a VIP attendee, I have grown accustomed to him being photographed while we’re at these kinds of affairs.  He had always laughed when I ducked to the side allowing him to pose for these pictures alone, but tonight he doesn’t do that. Instead of allowing me to walk off, I’m startled when he keeps me close into his side and holds me there. The cameras come to life all around us and photographers urge us to look their way. My body stiffens and I try to follow their direction because I certainly don’t want to embarrass Lucas. I feel his hand as it rubs my hip gently and tries to urge me to relax. When I dare glance up at him, Lucas smiles down adoringly and I can’t ignore how his stare affects me.
    Ever since the first time I’d met him, I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt for him.  His flirtatious and fun personality draws me in along with his Greek God body and gorgeous face. A woman would have to be crazy and blind to not be attracted to that. But Lucas is quite the free spirit and is not the ‘settle down white picket fence and house full of kids’ kind of guy.  He loved beautiful women and what those beautiful women could do for him—if you get my drift. It doesn’t matter where we were; women flocked to him wherever we went.  It‘s obvious that many of the women at these events had more than graced his bed a few times over the years.  It is no secret Mr. Lucas Alexi Drake is quite the international playboy, but he’s now my boss and best friend.  That “best friend” had me starting to feel things that I’m not sure about.  I guess it proves that even I’m not resistant to his powerful charms. The problem is . . . I have to be.

    Lucas
    She is so fucking gorgeous!  
    Seeing her tonight in that red dress is my complete and utter undoing.  Hell, even seeing her crying hysterically in pajama bottoms on the floor of an elevator is sexy as fucking hell. I’ve been with plenty of women in my life, but let me tell you, she puts them all to shame.  Never, not once, have I ever felt one ounce of feeling for any woman. That is, until her. This is an emotion that I’m not used to having and, well, I’ll admit, it scares the shit out of me.
    At the moment, I swear I want to rip my business associates throats out at the way they’re checking her out. Maybe I shouldn’t have picked such a sexy dress for her to wear after all. Perhaps she has a sweater she can wear over it tonight?  When I make introductions, I possessively hold her close to me. I want these bastards to know she’s MINE, even if she doesn’t realize that yet.
    Tonight I couldn’t let go o f her hand.  It was as if it was as natural as breathing to be touching her.  The entire ride to the event, I couldn’t help but savor the silky feel of her warm skin.  Her close proximity always makes me fight to control my desires.  For five months I’ve held back, but after tonight . . . well, let’s just say I don’t plan on fighting it for much longer.
    When I laid eyes on her almost a year ago, I thought I’d literally seen an angel.  I smile as I remember her hitting the hood of my car and the rush of panic I had felt. There was no way I could’ve prepared myself for what I saw when I reached her. Eyes the color of the clearest sea opened to take me in, and I’ve never been the same since.  I had no problem with the ladies, but at that moment,