Free Hunger's Mate by A. C. Arthur Page B

involuntarily, calculated the distance between her and the door, even though she’d already decided not to run from him. Running from one man was enough, still she knew that sometimes it was the only answer.
    â€œI’m not here to hurt you, if that’s what you’re asking,” he replied, his voice going softer, his intense gaze pinning her to that spot.
    â€œI don’t want you here at all,” she managed to say even though her body would readily contradict that statement. Luckily for her he didn’t have some type of communication method with her breasts that now ached for his touch, her center that pulsated with the memory of his hands being there.
    â€œI think you do,” he said, continuing to move forward.
    There was nowhere for her to go and her feet wouldn’t move anyway.
    â€œI think,” he repeated as he stood directly in front of her now. Not touching her but close enough that she could smell his cologne, his aftershave, and another scent that she didn’t think she’d ever smelled before. She liked it, very much, whatever it was.
    â€œI think that you want me here. I think you want me more than you’re willing to admit.”
    â€œWell, I think you’re an arrogant ass,” she snapped back, squeezing her thighs together tightly to stem the heat pooling there.
    â€œThat’s fair,” he conceded, moving even closer to her, his breath whispering over her forehead as he looked down into her eyes. “And speaking of asses…”
    He was so close Jewel thought she could lick him if she wanted to, that spot right on his neck just above the collar of his shirt. Yet, no part of him actually touched her until his hand snaked around behind her to cup her bottom, squeezing thoroughly.
    She gasped, both at the surprise and at the spikes of heat that soared through her so quickly she thought she might literally faint. What was it about him that made her react this way? It had been years since she’d even thought about sex. She hadn’t even used those female toys she’d purchased when she thought it was something she needed to maintain in her life. Her fear was that Larry had completely turned her off men forevermore. And yet, here was a man, whose mere presence threatened to turn her into a puddle of heated desire.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be here,” was all she managed to whisper in response. “You shouldn’t be here in Sedona, not now.”
    Her head shook. “Oh, god, not now.”
    But he was here and he was moving closer, pressing her back against the wall, both his hands on her bottom now, pulling her close so that her breasts rubbed against his broad chest, her juncture pressing just beneath the obvious length of his arousal.
    â€œLook at me,” he directed and when she hesitated, he said it again. “Jewel, look at me.”
    She tilted her head until she was once again trapped in the darkest, greenest gaze she could ever have imagined.
    â€œI’m here right now, for you. Let me help you,” he implored.
    Help her with what? The burgeoning need ripping through her body like a torrential storm?
    â€œI don’t need—” she began to say.
    â€œI need,” was his rough reply before his lips crashed down over hers. His teeth nibbling along her bottom lip just before his tongue thrust deep inside, inciting and suckling hers.
    Jewel wanted to resist. She wanted to pull away, slap his face, and declare she’d kick his ass if he ever tried such a stunt again. But she couldn’t. All she could do was wrap her arms tightly around his neck, come up on her tiptoes a bit, and fall into that kiss like the proverbial moth to his scorching hot flame.
    She returned his kiss hungrily, loving the taste of his tongue against hers. It was like that unnamable scent he had, only sweeter and she suckled as if it were tops on the dessert list. When she thought he would lift her and wrap her legs