Free Seducing the Boss (The Pulse Series) by Mari Carr

the nightstand for you.”
    Kellan appeared amused by her discomfiture. “Who was it?”
    She could lie and pretend she hadn’t read the text—something Kellan would see through in a New York minute—or she could just answer the question.
    “Veronica. I’m not sure, but I think it might have been a booty call…or text, as it were.”
    “Oh.” He didn’t seem enticed by the invitation.
    “Do I know Veronica?” she asked.
    Kellan shook his head. “No.”
    The short answer left Sara with too many questions. Given the sudden stiffness in his shoulders, she figured she should just let it go. But it appeared she’d left the wise Sara who played things safe at the bar last night.
    Sinking down on the bed next to him, she opened the can of worms. “Why don’t you want to get married?”
    That was totally not the question she’d intended to ask, so—like Kellan—she was sort of shocked by it. She’d meant to ask who Veronica was, what she meant to him, if he thought it could become something serious.
    “’Til death do us part is a damn long time, Scrubs.”
    “Be serious.”
    “I am,” he insisted. “Why can’t you understand that marriage isn’t for everyone? There are lots of different lifestyle options out there. Women who don’t want kids. Men who want to marry other men. And people who simply don’t want to get married at all. Look at my life. I’m living the dream here. Good job, great house and friends, and the option to spend my nights alone or”—he pointed to her—“to spend them with a beautiful woman who talks too much and asks way too many questions.”
    Sara could get used to hearing she was beautiful. Her ex had never been one to throw around a lot of compliments, whereas Kellan had no problem telling her she looked pretty. She’d never considered herself the type of person who needed someone’s praise or approval, but it felt damn good to hear it just the same.
    “So,” she said, leaning close enough that her breasts brushed against Kellan’s arm, “Are you sure you don’t want to cut our weekend short to take Veronica up on her offer? I could always just leave now.” She’d cut off his dick if he said yes.
    “You don’t have a car.”
    “I have the Uber app on my phone.” She moved away, pretending to look around the room for her cell.
    Kellan reached out to capture her wrist at lightning speed. “You aren’t going anywhere.”
    His deep-voiced assertion had her going damp in seconds. God, she needed to get a grip on her hormones.
    “I can leave any time I want.” She wasn’t sure why she felt compelled to argue this point. She sure as hell didn’t intend to leave. He’d promised her another night, a few more fantasies, and given his track record, at least half a dozen more orgasms.
    “Get back in bed, Sara.” Damn him and that demanding tone.
    She crawled next to him, far too pleased that he’d chosen her over Veronica. If she took a few minutes to think about that, she would probably pick up her phone and call the damn cab. Her emotions were traveling down dark and dangerous paths.
    Instead, Kellan rendered her brainless with that sexy, hungry look that told her shit was about to get real.
    He growled at the T-shirt, tugging it over her head. “What part of ‘naked’ are you struggling with this weekend?”
    She rolled to her back, trying to drag him over her, without responding. Sara had never considered herself a sexual person, but there was something about Kellan that had her body humming constantly. One look or sexy comment and she was ready to roll.
    Kellan caged her beneath him.
    She lifted her face, her eyes drifting closed as his lips touched hers. A girl could get seriously addicted to Kellan’s kisses. They were deadly to her self-control, poison to that tiny part of her that insisted she keep her feelings for him in check.
    If this weekend had stayed just about sex, it would be easier. But he was chiseling away at the wall around her heart. She