Bad to the Bone (Wicked Reads) Read Online Free PDF

past her to Vaden, who was dressed in
snug fitting jeans, worn leather cowboy boots and a straining black
T-shirt. His predatory power oozed off him in waves. Jos wasn’t
unaffected. She felt tension tighten his body. “What are you doing
here, Holbrook?”
    Vaden ignored him and looked directly at
Olivia. “Are you okay?”
    She swallowed, not trusting her voice. His
green eyes shimmered in controlled fury. His gaze dropped to
Josiah’s hand holding hers. Her instinct was to shake it off, but
the woman scorned in her stepped up to the plate. “I’m fine.”
Olivia’s gaze held Vaden’s, challenging him to throw down the
gauntlet. His only tell was a slight twitch in his jaw.
    He nodded, turned, and left them.
    Dejected, Olivia exhaled. Josiah’s fingers
tightened around hers and he pulled her close to his chest. “Hey,”
he said softly, nudging her chin up. “Why don’t you grab a few
things and let’s get out of here. I grill a mean steak and I have a
nice cab to go with it.”
    She wanted to. Badly. She needed to. To feel
whole, wanted, womanly. Could she find what she sought in this
man’s arms? Did she want to try? He bent her arm back around her
waist just like he used to do in high school, and pulled her hard
against his chest. He worked out. She could feel the hard planes of
his muscles through his suit. His breath was warm. His touch gentle
yet confident. As a girl, she had fantasized about the two of them
making love. Had yearned for it, but Olivia Grace DeMateo was a
good girl. And in her world, good girls didn’t do it until they got
married. Her body warmed at the thought of tossing Josiah onto her
bed and having her way with him. Would he make her feel like Vaden
had? Suddenly, she wanted to know.
    “Let me make up for those lost years, Liv. I
promise I won’t let you down again.”
    His lips brushed against hers. Her body
responded and, as she opened up for him, she realized, never, not
once, had Vaden kissed her. She stiffened as anger, frustration and
sorrow commingled in her chest. How tragic was that? They had
shared everything except the simple intimacy of a kiss.
    “Jos,” she said, pulling away from him. “I
want to get my place cleaned up. I have a grill. Maybe you could do
your chef thing here tonight?”
    He smiled and smoothed a stray lock of hair
from her cheek. “It’s your call, princess.”
    She smiled. Princess. The endearment brought
back so many memories. But his betrayal clouded the feelings.
    He read her thoughts. “Look, Olivia. I was
young, stupid, drunk off my ass, and pissed off at you. Ann was
offering what you were holding back. I have regretted touching her
every damn day of my life.” His fingers dug into her arms. “In the
eleven years we were married, each time I touched her I imagined
she was you.”
    She doubted that. It must have shown on her
face.
    “It’s true, Liv.” He grimaced. “Each time I
looked at her, I saw you and what I threw away. I got tired of
pretending, and I wasn’t doing my son any favors either. So I left.
We were separated for two years before she filed for divorce.”
Josiah let go of her arms and stepped away from her. “I never
stopped loving you, Liv.”
    “Tommy has been gone for a year, why didn’t
you contact me after he died?”
    “I was afraid you’d tell me to go to
hell.”
    She nodded. “I would have. You broke my
heart, Josiah Ames.”
    “If I could take it all back, I would.”
    “Jos, I— don’t know what to say, I—”
    He put his fingers to her lips. “Don’t say
anything. Let’s take it one step at a time, okay?”
    She nodded, not knowing how she felt. All
this time, he’d still loved her? While she’d resented him? Could
she ever really forgive him? Did it matter?
    He smiled. “I’ll be back in a few hours to
help you clean up, then we’ll have some dinner and catch up,
okay?”
    “Okay.”
    Several hours and the removal of multi-layers
of print dust later, Olivia had restored order and