Free Pippa's Fantasy by Donna Gallagher Page B

did not—could not—miss the look of shock that appeared in her eyes, and he was angered by it. In response, Rook pulled her closer to him, roughly dragging her body up against his. Hell, is dancing with me that horrible, after all the ways she let me touch her the other night? The bitter thought caught in his mind.
    Rook didn’t care what she was saying—watching her lips and mouth move as she spoke just made him want to kiss her. He had to taste her. If he could just feel those lips against his, maybe he would regain some coherent thought. She was bewitching him, filling him with need. Nothing else in the world was of concern to him. Just the feel of this woman, her warmth, her smell, invaded his very soul. It was all too much. He could not control his cravings for her need. Rook knew he was gripping her too roughly, but he was fighting for control.

Chapter Thirteen
     
     
     
    Rook’s hurtful words tore at Pippa’s already damaged heart. Not only does he hate me, but he thinks I’m some sort of slut. The thought, as it raced through her mind, nearly caused her knees to buckle as agony tore through her chest. Rook’s slightly painful grip on her was the only reason Pippa managed to not crumple to the floor.
    To top off the whole painful interlude, the moment Rook had laid his hands on her, her traitorous body had gone into lust overdrive. There was no way he could not feel her hard nipples poke at him, not with the way he had her pressed hard to his chest. She could feel the beat of his heart against her breast, could feel her body soften, moisten in readiness for him. She was mortified. She had to get away from him, now. Gain some distance from him before she made a fool of herself…again.
    So Pippa focused on his accusation and how best to reply.
    “Rookie, I am well aware of Brodie’s expectations, now that I am officially a member of the Jets staff. You have no reason to fret over Gareth’s virtue. I have no intention of doing anything that would jeopardise either of our careers. So you can go back to whomever it was you were chatting up.” Pippa was relieved that she sounded much calmer than she was actually feeling, even referring to Rook by the nickname from his youth.
    Although she did notice that she hadn’t struggled to break away from his grip yet, even though she knew she should.
    She watched, horrified, but excited when, as if in slow motion, Rook lowered his head towards her.
    Was he about to kiss her?
    Would she just let him take her that way in front of everyone?
    Giving in to the lust about to claim her, she let herself draw nearer to him, their lips all but touching. Pippa could feel the heat from Rook’s breath. His mouth was so close she could almost taste him, feel his tongue against her own.
    “Hey, guys, are you okay? Funny, Rook, but it looked to me as though you were either about to hit Pipsqueak or kiss her,” Riley said, not even a trace of humour apparent in his voice. He physically stepped in between Pippa and Rook, pushing their bodies apart, breaking Rook’s hold on her.
    Rook glared at Riley. Riley, holding his ground, glared back. Pippa held her breath—she wasn’t sure if the men were about to come to blows or not, but she could almost feel the testosterone surging around her.
    “What have I done?” Her words were lost in the surrounding noise of the club as she watched on in sheer horror at just the thought that she could be the reason that these two friends—Riley and his teenage hero—were about to come to blows, knowing she only had herself to blame for this drama unfolding in front of her, in such a public arena.
    The moment seemed to last forever, but finally Rook abruptly turned and walked away, without saying a word.
    Pippa burst into tears.
     
    * * * *
     
    Riley had insisted on escorting Pippa and Cassie home. “So, you going to tell me what that was all about, what’s going on with you and Rook?” he asked, the minute he set foot in Pippa and