Free Treasure Tides (The Coins) by Deniece Greene Page B

fu-”
Natie watched as, in the next instant, he grabbed Becki, jerked her
tightly against his body, and planted a lip-lock on her sister like she had
only seen in the movies.
And then, wonder of wonders, Becki was
kissing him right back. Natie grinned. Something had been skipped
over during their girl-talk earlier today; something along the lines of,
‘Natie, I’ve met the most gorgeous guy. He was at my house this
morning, and man-o-man is he a good kisser.’ Oh, yes, something had
definitely been left out of their earlier conversation.
“Hi, I’m Sean. Are you ok?” the tall one with blue eyes asked.
He
had accidently bumped into her when she stopped so abruptly and was
now bending down to look at her as if she were a little china doll.
Tingles zipped over her skin where he touched her arm.
“I’m Natie, Becki’s sister.” Nodding toward Becki and her mystery
man, Natie asked, “Who is kissing her?”
“That is my boss, Royce. They, uh, met earlier,” Sean said with a
grin.
“I guess so,” Natie smiled up, way up, at him. He stood over six feet
tall, a giant compared to her. “So,” she ventured, “do you want to grab a
latte? It looks like they may be a while.”
* * * *
     
    CHAPTER THREE
Royce’s arms wrapped around her like steal bands. His hands trailed
softly down her back, following the line of her spine.
    “Don’t cry,” he lifted his lips long enough to whisper, and then his
lips were firmly planted on hers once again. Instinctively she burrowed
closer, her arms finding their way around his waist.
Momentarily
forgetting that they were in a public garden, he allowed one hand to
venture lower as he pressed her more tightly against him.
    Becki gradually surfaced. Her anger pushing its way past the pleasure
of being wrapped in Royce’s arms gave her the strength to wrench her
lips from his.
    “Stop manhandling me,” she snarled. “I thought you were leaving
town? Gee, I must have misunderstood what you said,” she mocked,
grabbing his hands to move them from her ass. “I must admit though, I
was somewhat surprised to see you here. I thought for a minute that--”
she stopped abruptly.
    Royce had allowed her to reposition his hands more appropriately at
her waist, but he was not willing to let her go entirely. Not until-- well-at least not right now.
    “You thought--” he prompted, continuing to nibble at her neck;
trailing kisses from her ear, to her shoulder, and back. Trying to keep his
hands respectably wrapped around her waist was not easy, but after all,
they were standing in a public park.
“I stopped thinking at ‘ hell no’.”
    Royce abruptly stopped his assault, and lifted his head to make eye
contact with Becki. He immediately felt like a heel. This was the second
time today he had been responsible for her tear-filled eyes.
“I’m sor--” Royce began.
“I’ve got to say,” Becki jumped in, unwilling to listen to his apology,
“it cleared things up pretty quickly for me.”
    Swiping a hand quickly across the corner of her eye, she brushed away
the single tear that had dared to escape before continuing, “So now, if
you will get your hands off of me, I’ll be on my way,” she concluded,
trying to wiggle her way out of his arms.
“I didn’t mean it like--” he tried again to explain.
    “The hell you didn’t! This is bullshit! At the risk of repeating
myself… which I hate to do, get your hands off me you --”
“I’m getting very tired of your name-calling,” Royce warned, pulling
her off the pathway and into one of the garden rooms. “We will discuss
this like adults.”
“Whatever. I’m getting very tired of your pawing me,” Becki mocked,
“so why don’t you just let me go .” Becki pushed harder against his chest.
Her heart did not want to leave, but they had already been over this
once; he didn’t have time for her. God, would this day ever end?
“Stop squirming or you’re going to be embarrassed when I throw you
over my