Free Tangled Hearts by Barbara McMahon Page B

actually took a step closer before she caught herself.
    “I’m not cold. I thought the fire had warmed the place up,” he returned. “Are you cold?”
    She was hotter than billy blue blazes, but it had nothing to do with the fire in the fireplace. The blame could be squarely laid at his feet. She glanced down. Even his feet were bare.
    Closing her eyes, Brianna took a deep breath. Opening them again, she forced her gaze to meet his. Ignoring the tempting expanse of male flesh only a few feet away was nothing short of miraculous. She was proud of herself.
    “I’m not hot, but I am wearing more clothes than you.” Blast! She had not meant for her voice to crack.
    He looked at her oddly. “I was waiting my turn in the bathroom. I’ll take a quick shower. There’s not much for breakfast. Oatmeal, maybe?”
    “That’s fine.”
    “Are you all right?”
    “Yes, why?” She couldn’t breathe. How long could a person live without breathing?
    “You look as if you’re in a trance or something.”
    “I’m just looking you in the eye.”
    He frowned.
    Sighing in defeat, Brianna let her gaze roam over the decidedly masculine body that stood before her. Slowly she licked her lips and stepped closer.
    “You know, Jake, you probably should go get that shower now,” she said, reaching out to touch his biceps. His skin was warm and taut. Lightly she skimmed her fingertip down his arm, feeling its silky texture change to the light roughness where darker hair covered his forearm.
    “Yeah.” But he didn’t move. Then he did. Only to step closer, draw her up against that wide, enticing chest and lower his mouth to hers.
    His scratchy beard abraded her softer cheeks, but she didn’t care. She welcomed him, reaching for him. Her heart rate increased a hundredfold.
    Brianna encircled his shoulders, her fingers, palms, arms, rubbing against the bare flesh that tantalized her so. Relishing in the sensations, she wanted the embrace to never end.
    His mouth made love to hers as never before. He demanded and offered, took and returned. His hands cupped her head, holding her where he wanted her as he sipped from her lips, plunged again and again into the sweetness that waited for him.
    When he lifted his head, Brianna wanted to rush outside and plunge into the nearest snow bank to cool the blazing heat that threatened to consume her. Her lips were warm—the air cooled them. Her body was hot—nothing cooled it. Locking her gaze with his, she refused to release him. Her arms had a mind of their own.
    “I’ve got to take a shower,” he said, his hands brushing through her soft hair. His eyes were distracted as he watched the silken locks drift over and over between his fingers as he continued to comb through.
    “I’ll make breakfast.”
    He smiled down at her, his eyes dark and shadowy. Nodding slowly, he lowered his head again. This time the kisses were feathery light. Just a touch of his lips against hers. Not nearly enough to assuage the burning need that threatened to overwhelm her.
    Brianna stood on tiptoes to increase contact. He smiled against her, his lips moving over hers, yet denying her the full satisfaction she sought.
    Remembering too late her own admonitions of only a few minutes ago, she pulled away. Clearing her throat, she tried for a reasonable tone. Shimmering waves of excitement tingled through her. Reasonable was not at all how she felt.
    “Go.” She stepped around him and stared at the coffee, trying to drag her raging emotions under some semblance of control. She'd never make it through the weekend if she didn’t maintain some decorum.
    Though who wanted decorum when they could have Jake served up practically naked first thing in the morning?
    It was like playing house, she decided a little later as the sound of the shower ended.
    They had never even spent the night together before this weekend. Now they were living together. Not in the full sense of the word, but close enough to know how it would