A Dark Kiss of Rapture Read Online Free PDF Page A

few centuries now. He usually laid
‘em where he found ‘em, and that worked for everyone. If he’d
hooked up with the bartender, it likely would have gone down right
there at the club, in the back somewhere, quick and dirty. Waiting
for Kim was excruciating, because it gave her time to have second
thoughts. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if she changed her mind.
She’d made him want her. Now no one else was going to do.
    Raze moved into the bedroom and plugged his
iPod into the docking station, his tension easing a little as
Hinder drifted out of the speaker. Feeling confined by his clothes,
he began pulling them off. His shirt went first, followed by his
boots, then his jeans and boxer briefs. He was tossing his clothes
over the back of a bedroom chair when he heard the knock out in the
living area.
    The surge of lust that hit him affected the
steadiness of the first step he took. Then it perversely
strengthened his stride. His purpose and focus narrowed to his
body’s need for the woman on the other side of the door. It was a
base and elemental craving, purely physical, but a part of him was
distantly aware that it was her bold yet easygoing personality that
had tipped the scales enough to tempt him to this madness. She was
all wrong for him. So wrong. But he knew when he pushed inside her
it was going to feel so damn right.
    He pulled the door open. His breath hissed
on a sharp inhale at the sight of Kim on his doorstep, dressed in a
fitted white tank top and worn jeans that hugged her like a lover.
She’d let her hair down, freeing the riotous mass of inky curls to
tumble around her slender shoulders and halfway down her back. Her
feet were bared by jeweled sandals, revealing toenails that were
painted black and big toes decorated with white flowers and swirls.
Gold hoops hung from her ears, replacing the diamond studs she’d
worn before. He was flattered she’d given thought to how she looked
for him.
    Presently, however, she seemed focused on
looking at him.
    “Wow,” she breathed. “Part of my mind is
saying I should be freaking out that you’re answering the door
naked. Another part is thinking: Holy shit, did I get lucky or
what? Don’t turn out to be crazy, please. I really need this right
now.”
    The raging need inside him quieted. The soft
plea in Kim’s voice and the momentary shadow of pain in her
beautiful eyes altered the dynamic of his approach. He caught her
gently by the elbow and tugged her in. When she cleared the door,
he released it to shut by itself and he lowered his mouth to
hers.
    Swallowing her gasp, Raze slipped his arms
around her, stroking his hands up her spine and molding her slender
body to his. Her duffle bag hit the floor and her hands came up,
one holding the back of his head while the other cupped his
cheek.
    The tender, encompassing nature of the
embrace startled him even as it soothed the ragged edges of his
volatile mood. He lifted her feet from the floor, tilting his head
to get a deeper seal. His tongue stroked into her mouth, finding
the taste of cinnamon and her own natural sweetness. He groaned,
ravenous for her, but unwilling to devour. He’d thought he needed
hard and fast. She’d thought she needed that, too. They’d both been
wrong.
    She caught his lower lip between her teeth
and tugged, her lips soft and wet, her tongue a velvet lash. He
wanted those lips and tongue all over his body. Her hands, too.
They were strong and sure, confident. Her moan vibrated against
him, luring his fangs to descend.
    Not ready for that, Raze set her down
reluctantly, his gaze locked with hers. She was flushed and
beautiful, her eyes clear and open, yet tinged with sadness. As he
watched, tears welled and slipped off her bottom lashes.
    “Oh, shit,” she whispered, releasing him to
swipe at her cheeks. “I asked you not to be crazy and then I get
weepy over a kiss. I swear I’m not mental.”
    “It’s okay.”
    “You like picking up teary, emotional
women?”
    “You