A Persistant Attraction Read Online Free PDF Page A

urge to retreat. She didn’t want him to know how much he intimidated her.
    “I am here, but not for the reason you so rudely assumed.” She felt hot and restless, not at all in control of herself. She wanted to look away before he noticed the deep flush on her cheeks, but she couldn’t. He was too damned beautiful.
    “You’ve come to my house unchaperoned and wearing…” He paused and looked up and down her body, stopping when his gaze reached her thighs which were clearly delineated in the tight breeches. “A most interesting costume.” Amanda forced herself to concentrate on the anger she knew his assumption warranted, not the strange sensations he stirred in her. “I need to speak to you about a serious and private matter.”

    He smiled again, looking even more predatory. “There are many things I’d love to help you with.” He reached out to caress her cheek.
    She pushed him away and stepped to the side, praying he couldn’t see her trembling.
    “I thought I could trust you to behave like a gentleman. Obviously, I was mistaken.” As she turned to leave, tears threatened to spill from her eyes. He’d been her only hope. Now she would have to face the threat alone.
    Before she exited the room, he grabbed her arm. She pulled free and ran toward the front door.

Chapter Three
    Rhys ran after Amanda. He wasn’t letting her go until he knew why she’d come. As much as his clouded mind wanted to believe she’d finally succumbed to his sensual lure, he knew better.
    He reached her as she started down the steps to the street. He caught her waist and pulled her against him.
    Once she caught her breath, she began to struggle. “Let me go.”
    “You’re not leaving until you tell me why you came.” He fought to ignore the delicious sensations coursing through his body as she writhed against him, rubbing her tight, barely covered derrière against his thighs.
    “You are in no condition to help me,” she snarled.
    “Stop this before we draw unwanted attention. I’m not letting you go until you agree to talk to me.”
    He watched as she glanced from side to side, likely looking to see if they had attracted onlookers. Eventually, her struggles ceased. “Fine. If you promise not to touch me again, I’ll come inside and talk to you.”
    “You ask much considering how you are dressed, but nevertheless, I won’t touch you even if you beg me too.”
    “You needn’t worry about that.”
    “Ever so confident, are we?” he asked, before turning to go back into his house.
    She followed him into his study and eyed him closely as he sank into a leather chair.
    “Can you possibly be sober enough to comprehend what I’m saying?” He cursed his stupidity. If only he’d known she was coming, he never would have drunk so much. What had made him want to lose himself in the bottle anyway? The answer nagged at his consciousness, but he couldn’t quite catch it. His mind was filled with base urges that made him want to use Amanda’s body in a way no man should.

    Why did she look so angry? Oh, right, she’d asked him a question. What was it?
    Sober. Was he sober? No, definitely not. Maybe he could fake it. He sat up straighter.
    “Get on with your story. I’m tired of waiting.” She looked ready to murder him, but the rapid rise and fall of her chest had him mesmerized.
    “I would ask Aunt Claire for help, but as you probably know, she’s been in poor health recently. I refuse to endanger Elise. Mark and Cassandra have enough to think about, and they are too far away. You were the only other person I could think of.” She said the last sentence as if the very idea of speaking to him disgusted her.
    “I’m sorry you are faced with such an odious option. I’m still waiting to hear what this problem is.” He stood and leaned over his desk to grab the whiskey decanter. “Would you like some?”
    “No thanks. I prefer not to dull my senses when I’m near you.”
    “No, you mustn’t give an evil rake a