A Silken Thread Read Online Free PDF Page A

to watch. But loneliness was never an issue. She had met Brian during her first week there.
    “I hope you know that I won’t let what your mother thinks influence me in any way. You’re her daughter, so she wants the best for you.” A smile curved the corners of his lips when he added, “It’s just taking her a little time to figure out what’s best for you is me.”
    “Oh, you,” she said, laughing, gently punching him in the arm and giving him a playful shove. “You’re beginning to sound conceited.”
    “Am I?”
    “A little.”
    Whatever else she was about to say died in her throat when he took a step closer, recovering the distance between them. Her gaze met his before it lowered slightly to his mouth. There lay the crux of a lot of their problems whenever they were alone. If she concentrated on his mouth for too long she would start remembering all the naughty things he could do with it.
    She watched the corners of that same mouth curve into a seductive smile. “What are you thinking about, sweetheart?”
    Like she really had to tell him. He already knew the answer, so why had he bothered to ask? But since he had she might as well respond. “Your taste.” It couldn’t get any plainer than that.
    “Why think about it when you can sample it? Again.” He said the words in a deep rumbling voice with the casual ease of a man who was not only sure of himself but also of the woman he was with.
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted against him. “Good question. Why should I waste my time thinking about it?”
    She saw the intense look of desire in his eyes just moments before she leaned up on tiptoes and brought her mouth to his. His kisses were the foundation that pleasure was built on. A feeling of something totally right filled every part of her when he captured her tongue with his to give her the taste she wanted.
    She closed her eyes and became lost in the intensity of the emotions flooding her. When he suddenly pulled back, breaking off the kiss, she opened her eyes and watched a smile touch his lips.
    “Sounds like our pizza has arrived,” he said.
    When she just stared at him with a questioning look on her face, he added, “The doorbell sounded. Didn’t you hear it?”
    She shook her head and managed her own smile. She hadn’t heard anything for feeling so deeply. “No. I think you’d better answer the door. I’m not dressed to be seen.”
    His gaze roamed the length of her. His shirt stopped above the knee and showed a generous amount of thigh. More thigh than she wanted anyone else to see.
    “I agree. You can take the brownies out of the oven. They should be done now.”
    Brian couldn’t help but smile as he walked out of the kitchen and headed toward the front door. They had ordered pizza from this particular restaurant before while he’d been in town and he knew their pizzas were totally delicious. But nothing, he thought, was as delicious as the kiss he’d just shared with Erica.
    After pizza and brownies they would head back to bed. He was definitely looking forward to more time beneath the covers with her. He had spent his days in Dallas working hard and his nights missing her like crazy. Their nightly phone calls had helped, except for those times when she would intentionally add a little steam into the mix. Then he would go to bed with a longing and a hard-on that couldn’t be assuaged.
    Brian opened the door expecting to find the deliveryman standing there with their pizza, but instead he met the gaze of Erica’s father. It was obvious the man was as surprised to see Brian as Brian was to see him. He greeted Mr. Sanders with as much calm as he could muster as he stepped aside to let him enter. “Hello, Mr. Sanders.”
    The older man lifted a brow after taking note of Brian’s bare chest and low-hanging jeans, which he hadn’t bothered to snap. His gaze then returned to Brian’s face. He looked thoughtfully at him for a moment and then said, “Brian. I didn’t