Free HannasHaven by Lorna Jean Roberts Page A

It
wasn’t cold enough to wear the heavy, fleecy night attire, let alone the two
t-shirts she wore underneath. But they gave her a needed sense of protection.
Not because she was scared or worried Marcus might try something.
    No, she was worried she’d jump on him .
    She’d never felt sexually attracted to anyone. Certainly not
Dan. The few times they’d slept together confirmed that. There’d been nothing.
Nada. No interest at all.
    With Marcus, it was the complete opposite. She constantly
burned. And although she wanted him—Lord, that was an understatement—she knew
it would be a mistake. The extra clothing was juvenile. But she’d lost the
fight over the sleeping arrangements. He’d simply ended the argument by pulling
out a pair of handcuffs and telling her he’d cuff them together if she didn’t
do as he’d told her.
    Damn, she got all shivery when he spoke that way. His voice
dark, demanding. She should protest his domineering ways. But that was hard to
do when that was part of what she found so attractive.
    She had just lost Dan. Even though she hadn’t loved him, he
was her mate and she shouldn’t be wanting another so soon. She’d just have to
stay strong. Right? Right.
    “Hanna,” Marcus called. “You’ve been in there long enough.
You need your rest. I won’t touch you. Well, not unless you ask me to.”
    Her knees weakened at the sensual promise in his voice.
    Taking a deep breath, she found the courage she needed to
open the bathroom door and walk into his bedroom. He sat up in bed, his chest
bare, showing off his sculpted muscles—smooth, clean, delicious. Hanna slammed
her mouth shut.
    The pillows she’d placed down the center of the bed were now
behind his back. Marcus peered up from his tablet, his gaze judicious as it
wandered over her body. She blushed, swearing she saw his lips twitch. But if
he’d been about to smile he quickly managed to get it under control.
    “Cold, Hanna?” he asked.
    “Y-yes.”
    “Better hop under the covers then, hadn’t you?” He whisked
back the bedding and she wondered for one brief, insane moment whether he was
naked beneath the sheets.
    Surely not.
    Except now she couldn’t stop thinking about him naked.
Images raced through her mind, tumbling without end.
    “Hanna. Hanna.” His voice finally infiltrated her thoughts.
“Get into bed. I promise I’ll stay on my side like a good boy.” When she didn’t
move, he frowned. “Now, Hanna. I won’t be happy if I have to get up and haul
you in here.”
    She quickly obeyed the command. As soon as she was under the
covers he turned back to his tablet. Immediately Hanna fidgeted.
    Hot and overwhelmed, sweat coated her skin. She rolled onto
her side away from him. More naughty, naked images flitted through her head. She
prayed he couldn’t smell her arousal.
    “Hanna.”
    “Hmm?” she murmured, not turning. She didn’t want to see him
looking all serious and sexy as he worked. It was too much, more than one woman
could be expected to resist.
    “Either you take some of your bedclothes off or I will,” he
ordered.
    “I’m fine,” she replied. Take off her safety net? Was he
mad?
    “You’re overheating. You’ll make yourself sick.”
    “I’m fine. This is how I always sleep.”
    He sighed, the sound filled with exasperation. “I don’t know
why I bother to warn you. I should just do it.”
    She yelped as he flipped her and ripped the pajama top from
her, buttons flying everywhere.
    “Marcus!” She struggled to get free of him.
    “You’re too hot and too stubborn to do anything about it.
What did you think? That I was going to force you to have sex with me?” he growled.
    “You wouldn’t have to force me.” She slammed her hand over
her mouth. She couldn’t believe she let that slip out.
    His eyes flashed amber. “Good to know,” he crooned. “Take
the pants off,” he ordered.
    She opened her mouth to tell him what she thought of that
idea, but the words got caught in her