Tied - Part One by Ellen Callahan Read Free Book Online Page B

half the night teasing you,” he said, “I wanted to work you up into a frenzy before I kissed you. But I can’t wait.”
     
    “Oh.” I was all I was able to say before his mouth descended on mine.
     
    Instinct made me wrap my arms around his neck as his hands tightened around my waist. Heat enveloped me. Heat, and hunger, and electricity flowed through my veins together as his lips sealed over mine. I angled my jaw, granting him deeper access, and he groaned.
     
    Maybe I was lost - maybe I had no clue what I wanted, who I wanted, where I was going - but my body knew. I was on fire. His tongue slicked across my lower lip and sent tingles straight down to my toes.
     
    My fingers tightened around his collar and I moaned softly. I couldn’t help it. He was overwhelming all of my senses. My lips parted and the slow slide of his tongue along mine made me lift onto my toes and cling to him for dear life.
     
    His hands traveled up to cup my jaw, to tilt my head just where he wanted, to hold me where he wanted.
     
    I’d never felt so hot and desperate. I’d never felt so downright wanted. My own hands found there way to his jaw. I stroked his stubble with my thumbs, holding him there as he devoured me. Oh, God…
     
    I trembled with desire. It was too much. I was supposed to be avoiding such intense feelings, not inviting them. I abruptly pulled away, drawing a gasp from him. “Katherine.”
     
    My head sank against his chest, hiding my face. “What’s wrong?”
     
    I took a shaky breath, willing my heartbeat to slow down. Hearing his deep breaths weren’t helping matters - he sounded as winded as I felt.
     
    “Nothing,” I said.
     
    “No one ever means it when they say ‘nothing.’” I exhaled with a shudder. I couldn’t believe how badly I wanted him. My fingers trembled as the clasped together behind his neck - when had I reached for him again? He combed his fingers through my hair. “Yeah. I feel it, too, sweetheart.”
     
    “We’re roommates,” I said, reaching for the easiest answer, “I don’t want to complicate things. I’m the newest so if things got weird, I’d be the one to get the boot.”
     
    “Your sister would rip my nuts off if I tried to boot you out. What else?”
     
    “What do you mean?”
     
    “I want to know what else I’m working against if I’m going to have to actually work to seduce you.” I looked up at him with wide eyes. He wanted to seduce me? His grin was so cocky, I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or to hit him. “Well?”
     
    Do I tell him? I knew Alexa had mentioned to him that I didn’t drink but she didn’t tell him more than that. My businesses was my business. She was good about that much.
     
    I unhooked my fingers from behind his neck and reached into my pocket. Wordlessly, I pressed the chip into his hand.
     
    The amusement left his face when he looked at it. My heart sank. He’d lose interest, now. He’d leave me and go back to the bar, back to his good luck girls. Back to people who were more fun than me.
     
    His smile was grim, but he didn’t take off. He stuffed the chip back in my pocket and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Come on. Let’s get that hot chocolate.”
     
    ○●○●○●○●○
     
    The coffee shop we found was busy but relatively quiet. Indie rock that I didn’t recognized played over the speakers while a guitar player set up his equipment on a small stage in the corner.
     
    It reminded me of the one open mic I’d done with Alexa and how much fun it had been. And how afterward, Lockett had kissed me just below my ear and whispered, “I’d love to hear you sing for me sometime, sugar.”
     
    I’d gone home to Connecticut after that. The next time I’d seen him was the day I was moving in.
     
    “I have to try to get Alexa to perform with me again,” I said, breaking the silence that had descended over our table. “I really enjoyed it last time.” I thought you did, too .
     
    “Yeah,” he said