After the Loving Read Online Free PDF

chest. The expression on his face, open and—there was no other word for it—adoring as he gazed at her, shook her to the core. She tried to shift her glance, but his eyes, dark and slumberous, trapped her. From their silence, she realized that Henry and Drake watched them and, with effort, she lowered her gaze. But he had stirred her as thoroughly as a spinning bottle mixes what it contains.
    She sought safety in the bowl of fruit before her, but the spoonful she intended for her mouth dropped onto her lap.“Ex…cuse me, please.” She pushed back her chair and, forcing herself to walk rather than run as she wanted to do, headed for the stairs. Nobody was going to affect her that way with just a look, robbing her of her aplomb, of the control of her emotions. Nobody, she vowed. Her foot had barely touched the bottom stair when she felt his hand on her arm. She whirled around and into his arms.
    “Russ. Please.” The feel of his hands through the silk of her caftan, of her breast beaded and aching against his hard chest caused her breathing to quicken.
    He stared down at her. “Why didn’t you eat a decent breakfast?”
    “That’s not why you’re here,” she said, refusing to allow him the upper hand and hating her shortened breath and the rapid rise and fall of her bosom.
    “You’re right. It’s not. I’m here for the same reason that you bolted from the table.”
    “I spilled food on my dress, and—”
    “And we both know why. Did you wear it because I said I didn’t like it?”
    “Of course not. I didn’t bring any other kind of clothes.”
    His Adam’s apple bobbed furiously, his eyes—dark and long lashed—seemed to drag her into him, filling her head with dangerous ideas. If only he would ask no questions, but simply take her to his bed and love her until she couldn’t move!
    As if he read her thoughts, pure sexual hunger blazed in the stormy orbs that his eyes had become. He held her closer.
    “No matter what I want and how badly I want it, I keep my counsel.”
    Anger diluted the desire that raged in her. “Sure. You want me on the terms that you decide. If you would kindlycommunicate those terms to me, I’d tell you where you stand.”
    “I know where I stand, and so do you.” As he continued to gaze at her, she could see a change in his demeanor, a softening in him. “Can’t you find some pants and a sweater? I thought we might go down to the warehouse. I need to check supplies.”
    “On Sunday?”
    “It’s the only day no one’s down there.”
    “Sorry, but this is all I brought along. Don’t try to make me into what I’m not, Russ. I don’t look right in tight-fitting clothes, so I don’t wear them. Case closed.”
    “Nonsense. You looked terrific in that dress you wore last night.”
    “And you need glasses.”
    The daggers from his gaze sent pain piercing through her. “That’s the second time in less than twenty-four hours that you told me I don’t know my own mind. See you.” His shoulder brushed her as he dashed past her up the stairs, and she heard his bedroom door close with a louder than usual or necessary bang.
    The remainder of her breakfast forgotten, Velma leaned against the railing for a minute, thinking that if she hadn’t promised to look after Tara and if she didn’t want to investigate property in Baltimore, she’d go home.
    “You could have him eating out of your hand. What’s wrong?”
    Her head snapped up. “I don’t know, Drake. One minute, he’s wonderful. The next, I’ll say or do something that turns him off.”
    He regarded her intently. “And that happened last night as well as a minute ago. Right?”
    She nodded.
    “Then figure out what it is, and don’t do it. He’s straight, Velma. I told you that.”
    “I know he is. It isn’t Russ—it’s me. He sees me differently from the way I see myself, but I’m changing that.”
    He patted her shoulder. “See that you do. And make it up to Henry. Nobody ignores Henry’s biscuits