WickedSeduction by Tina Donahue Read Free Book Online Page A

she’d intrigued him. However, curiosity wasn’t the only
reason he wanted to know more. She’d touched Tor in a way no other woman had,
delighting him when she’d smiled at how his work could make her scars pretty.
Troubling him when she’d reacted so intensely at his suggestion that she pose
for a portrait.
    The panic on her face had been beyond obvious, answering at
least one question he’d had.
    Whoever had hurt her wasn’t behind bars. If the prick had
been, Marnie wouldn’t be terrified at the thought of her likeness being on the
wall.
    Was the goon in this city or another? Was he following her?
    Each time Tor had run past Alice’s Wonderland, he’d searched
the area for anyone who looked out of place. The only people he saw were
middle-aged or elderly shoppers, their faces red from the soupy air.
    Somehow, he had to bring up the subject with her tonight.
Not to pry but to see if Marnie needed protection. Tor would see she had as
much as she needed. All he had to do was give Dante a call. The cops here would
do anything for Dante…or for Tor, for that matter.
    Only, how to approach such a troubling subject with Marnie?
    Tor pondered the problem for most of the day and still lacked
a solution by the time he reached her door, ten minutes ahead of schedule. One
strap of his backpack hung over his shoulder, his art supplies inside. In his
other arm, he carried a large bag of goodies from the restaurant, his stomach
growling at the heavenly odors. There was boliche mechado for him, fricasé de
pollo for Marnie, tamal cubano for them to share, and to top everything off,
flan de caramelo for dessert.
    He knocked, eager to share his bounty, along with whatever
else Marnie allowed.
    If she was here.
    Despite his raps, seconds passed without her acknowledging
him. Maybe she was in the bathroom. He knocked again.
    “Tor?” Marnie asked through the door.
    She’d answered so quickly this time, he realized she’d been
there, on the other side, all along. Suddenly he noticed there was no peephole.
Given what he suspected she’d been through with an ex-boyfriend or ex-husband,
she should ask the building manager to install some security.
    “Yeah,” he said. “I’m a little early.”
    “That’s okay.” There were three metal clunks and a pause
before the door swung in.
    Tor stared, unable to help himself. She had on a touch of
mascara, clear gloss on her lips. Marnie’s hair looked and smelled freshly
washed, her apartment scented with soap and her perfume. She’d worn another
skirt tonight, one of those long jobs with lots of tiers, this one in a
beautiful Indian print, the orange, gold and green threads complementing her
coloring. Unlike her last skirt, the waistband of this one hung low, grazing
her navel, the hem reaching her ankles, swishing just above her bare feet. He
liked her long, slender toes.
    Her top, made of a stretchy green fabric, had a scoop neck,
sleeves long enough to cover the scars on her arm and ended approximately an
inch below her breasts, baring her torso, hugging her curves.
    Tor’s throat constricted with lust, heat pouring into his
needy cock. Thankfully, his jeans were too heavy for his damn rod to tent the
fly.
    Especially since Marnie just so happened to be looking in
that direction, before her attention inched up to his chest and the white knit
shirt he wore. Although Tor would have preferred a tank top in today’s heat, he
hadn’t wanted to appear too casual.
    “Hi.” Marnie lifted her face to his, her beautiful eyes
sparkling with pleasure, color rising in her cheeks.
    Damn. She looked good enough to eat. “Hey.” He
smiled.
    Marnie did too, at last glancing at the bag in his arm. Her
lids slipped down with the deep breath she took, her delicate nostrils flaring
slightly. “Wow, you smell good.”
    He laughed. “That’s the food, which you have beat by a mile.
You smell awesome and look even better.”
    Her blush deepened, though she didn’t seem embarrassed.