AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That was too easy, and she didn’t trust him.
“I won’t turn you in.” Marnie wondered what she could say to make him believe her. Finally, she thought if anything could get him to trust her, it would be the truth.
“My sister and I may look alike, but we’re complete opposites,” she said, pleading her case. “Our dad died when we were babies. Rebecca blamed our mom for not being home, even though she had to work a couple of jobs to make ends meet. When our mother had a stroke, Bec went off and did all the stuff Bec usually does. Party. Drink. Drugs. Sex. Not that I’ve ever judged her, of course. It’s her life. I personally think prostitution should be legal. Society never judges a man who sleeps with hundreds of women, but a woman who has sex with a hundred men is always judged.”
“I don’t care about the prostitution. I cared about the blackmail.”
“Fair. After my mom’s stroke, we found out she had undiagnosed diabetes that caused heart and blood vessel damage. Actually, I think she knew about the diabetes but didn’t have health insurance so she didn’t do anything about it. Including telling me and Bec. I ended up with her massive medical bills, still paying through the nose for top-of-the-line care.”
He frowned but didn’t say anything. She took it as a sign to keep talking.
“Bec is in Vail right now, with a client. She left another client’s cat at her place, as well as a hamster that died, to go off enjoying her life and getting paid a ridiculous amount of money. Thanks for getting the cat.”
He walked around to where she sat. Slowly, as if not to spook her, he raised a hand and ran his fingers down her cheek. Down her neck, to her pulse fluttering wildly. He wrapped his hand around her throat, not adding pressure, but making sure she felt vulnerable. Marnie couldn’t help it as her gaze fell to his mouth. His lips were full and sensual. And she had the crazy urge to lean forward and kiss him.
What the hell?
Surely, she wasn’t lusting for this jerk. But maybe? An ache started in her pussy and she shifted a little to help ease the ache. Damn it. The hand around her throat turned her on, so what did this mean? Did she like a little pain with her pleasure? How could she not have known this about herself?
“I’m an asshole,” he murmured, stepping closer so their mouths were nothing but a whisper apart.
“I think we’ve already established that,” she breathed, trying to calm her racing heart.
His hot breath fanned across her face, smelling vaguely of mint and of coffee. “Don’t run.”
“I won’t.”
“Yes, you will. But … I promise from now on, I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Forgive me for not believing you.”
His thumb brushed over her pulse point, back and forth. A featherlike touch that caused her heart to flutter fiercely. She thought he was going to kiss her. All he had to do was lean a little closer.
Did she want him to kiss her? Wasn’t this absurd attraction she felt for him nothing more than Stockholm syndrome?
Before she could think about it further, he claimed her lips, and her world was shaken to its foundation.
Chapter Seven
He tasted of sex and sin. He was a horrible man who had kidnapped her. Had bullied and intimidated her. So, what the hell was she doing, and why the hell did she like it so much? No, not like, craved. His lips devoured her own, warm, soft, and yet unyielding. He slipped his tongue inside and she was almost overpowered by her senses. Dark, rich … he was so damn addictive. Slowly, she pressed herself into him and slid her arms around his neck, holding on as the spark ignited into a flame.
Reece slid one hand around the back of her neck and the other gripped her hip, holding her in place. Molding her body to his. They moved against one another tentatively at first, but quickly gave way under the insistence of passion. Of all-consuming need flaring to life. She could taste their shared breaths. Could feel their hearts beating in perfect synchronicity. For a moment, time stood still. It was him and her, and nothing else as the world faded away.
This was madness, and yet it was everything.
She abruptly pulled back and he slowly opened his eyes. They stared at one another, his gaze unyielding. It scared her. He scared her. She pulled away, breathing hard as she fought to get her emotions under control. She couldn’t allow him to seduce her, so in a flash, she shoved him hard and then turned and ran for the door, throwing it open and sprinting outside. Using the element of surprise, she ran for the wilderness. Her head start wasn’t much, but she had to do something. A moment later, he was hot on her heels. He managed to tackle her, spinning at the last moment so he didn’t crush her as they landed on the hard ground.
“I told you not to run,” he snapped, staring down at her.
“You knew I’d run,” she panted.
That flame between them erupted into a damn volcano. He flipped them around and leaned down, kissing her again. Grinding his hips into hers. Need filled her and she kissed him back, accepting this desire she had for him. But she didn’t want him to think she was Bec. That she took money for sex. She wanted him to want her as Marnie.
“What’s my name?” she asked, panting against his mouth.
He hesitated, his gaze roving over her face. For a moment, indecision flashed through his eyes, but it was so fleeting she wondered if she’d seen it or if it was her imagination.
“Rebecca.”
