Читать книгу The Unexpected Millionaire - Сьюзен Мэллери, Susan Mallery - Страница 6

“I don’t get it,” Willow said. “I’m not your type.”

“You said that before. How do you know?”

“I’m not anyone’s type.”

Kane shook his head. “I don’t believe that.”

“It’s true. I have the sad, painful romantic history to prove it. I’m the best friend, the one guys confide in.”

“I don’t confide in anyone,” he told her.

“You should. It’s very healthy. Sharing problems make them seem more manageable.”

“You know this how?”

“I read it in a magazine somewhere. You can learn a lot from magazines.”

His dark gaze never left her face. “Go back to bed. I’ll take you home in the morning.”

No! She didn’t want to be sent to bed like a child. “But then where will you sleep?”

“You’re in the guest room. I still have my own bed.”

“See, that was flirting. I was flirting. Wouldn’t it be nice if you just went with it?”

He moved so fast, he was like a human blur. One second he was several feet away and the next he was right in front of her, one hand on her waist, the other wrapped around her hair. He eased forward that last inch, so they were touching everywhere.

She had the feeling he was trying to intimidate her and it would have worked, except she couldn’t seem to be afraid of him.

“You won’t hurt me,” she whispered.

“Your faith is foolish and misplaced. You don’t know what I’ll do.”

He bent his head and claimed her with a hard, demanding kiss. He pushed into her mouth and stroked her tongue, then sucked on her lower lip.

She wrapped one arm around his neck and gave as good as she got, stealing into his mouth and dueling right back. She felt him stiffen with surprise. He pulled her hard against him and she went willingly. The hand holding her hair tightened, drawing her head back.

He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes.

“I am dark and dangerous and I don’t play the games you know,” he said. “I’m not anyone you want to get involved with. I’m not nice, I don’t call the next day and I’m never interested in more than a single night. You can’t fix me, reform me, heal me or change me. You are so far out of your league, you don’t know enough to run scared, but you should. Trust me on that.”

His words made her tremble.

“I can’t be afraid of you,” she told him again.

“Why the hell not?”

She smiled and rubbed her index finger against his lower lip. “I’ll agree that you’re tough and you probably scare other people, but Kane, you rescued me and kittens and you were nice to my mom and my sister and when you put me to bed, you didn’t even think about taking advantage of me. What’s not to like?”

He closed his eyes and groaned. She had a feeling the sound wasn’t about being turned on.

He opened his eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“You’re just about irresistible.”

She sighed. “That’s a new one. Can you say it again?”

He backed her up until she was trapped between him and the wall. She felt his body—and his arousal—pressing against her.

“I want you,” he said in a low growl. “I want you naked and begging and desperate. I want to bury myself inside of you until you forget who you are. But you’re a fool if you take me up on that. This is not a fun trip to the dark side. If you expect anything of me, you will be hurt. I’m going to walk away, Willow. I can walk away now or later. It’s your choice.”

She saw the truth reflected in his eyes. Once again the sensible part of her brain pointed out that the guest room was the best option. Only Willow had never met anyone like Kane before and she was unlikely to ever again. He claimed to be incredibly tough and maybe he was, but she had a feeling there was more to him than he wanted her to see.

Walk away? Not possible. Maybe he would hurt her, but maybe he wouldn’t. She was willing to take the risk. She had to. There was something about him that called to her.

Besides, the guy could make her quiver with just a look.

“For a man so intent on insisting he doesn’t care, you’re going out of your way to warn me off,” she said. “Maybe you should stop talking and kiss me instead.”

“Willow.”

“See? You’re doing it again. I understand the rules, I’m willing to play by them and you’re still talking. You know what? I think it’s all an act. I don’t think you have any real intention of doing anything at all. I think—”

He grabbed her and kissed her. There were no preliminaries, just him wrapping his arms around her as he claimed her mouth with his own. He kissed her deeply, passionately, with no pause for breath or social niceties. He took, sweeping past her lips to stroke her tongue, circling her, claiming her. His possessive acts thrilled her and she freed her arms so she could hang on for the ride.

There was no fear, she thought as her body heated and her muscles lost their ability to support her. However much he threatened, he still held her gently. His hands moved up and down her back, exploring her, touching her, but there was nothing harsh about the contact.

She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned into him. His body supported hers. The combination of hard muscles and warmth thrilled her. She tilted her head and closed her lips around his tongue so she could suck.

He stiffened, then took a step back and stared at her. There was shock, pleasure and need in his eyes—an irresistible combination.

“I don’t scare easily,” she said with a shrug.

He shook his head, then bent down, gathered her in his arms and carried her down the hall.

They moved into a bedroom illuminated by a single lamp on a nightstand. Here the design was totally masculine with large pieces of dark furniture lining the walls. The bed could sleep twenty, and suited Kane completely.

He set her on the mattress and looked at her.

She felt the challenge of his gaze and refused to look away—even when he began unfastening the shirt he wore. When he’d removed that, he pulled off a T-shirt, exposing his bare chest.

Her breath caught. He was as muscled as she’d first thought, but there were also scars…dozens of them. Small irregular circles and long, jagged lines. Scars from surgeries and from wounds that made her ache inside.

What had happened to this man? Who had hurt him and why?

But there was no time for questions. He pulled off his loafers, then his socks. Trousers quickly followed, along with dark briefs.

And then he was naked. Beautiful and hard and ready. His body should be immortalized in marble, she thought. A master should sculpt him. Not that Kane would ever agree to pose.

He put his hands on his hips and stared at her. “You can still run,” he told her.

“Not with my ankle.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I do. And I’m not going anywhere.”

He took a step toward the bed, then stopped. “Dammit, Willow,” he began.

She pulled her sweater up and over her head, then tossed it onto the floor. “So what, exactly, does a girl have to do to get your attention?”

He made a sound in his throat that was part growl, part groan. Then he was on the bed, on top of her, rolling with her so that she ended up sprawled across him. He tangled one hand in her hair and claimed her with a kiss that made her toes curl.

She parted for him, welcomed him. Their tongues danced. He stroked her bare back, his fingers moving slowly over her skin. When he reached the waistband of her jeans, he slipped his hands over the curve of her rear and squeezed.

She could feel his arousal pressing into his stomach. Her skin was hot and hungry for his touch. She wanted his hands everywhere, touching her, taking her, claiming her.

He shifted so she was on her back. His dark eyes stared into hers.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered before reaching behind her to unfasten her bra.

His words delighted her, but they weren’t nearly as thrilling as his mouth on her bare breast. One moment there was fabric, then a whisper of cool air followed by the warm, wet sensation of lips and tongue.