Burned by Passion Read Online Free PDF

merely ‘saw’. She was the type you went mad over. The type you’d put on lockdown just to keep her all to yourself. A guy could go cave-man on a woman like that; simply fling her over his shoulder and…
    But then Blake felt like kicking himself because he never thought that way about women. Never had such a burning need to possess or claim a woman so much that it was like a short-circuit in his brain trying to turn him into a feral beast of prey. He’d never, ever wanted a woman this much and with only one glimpse she’d captivated his senses, making him wonder how his father had done it.
    But then Blake grunted. Why wonder? His father was still undeniably handsome, perhaps even irresistible when he had a mind to be. And then there was all that money…
    Blake sent the eye-catching woman one more glance and then forced himself to look away again. Her clothes and shoes weren’t cheap, he could tell. She’d definitely be the high maintenance type. The notion of being pampered by a rich older man could certainly appeal to a woman who liked the finer things of life. As he mused darkly, Blake’s eyes fell on a tall, lanky African-American man standing several yards away, who seemed to be eyeing his father as Blake had done. Blake’s smile grew wry as he somehow guessed he was probably some set-aside contender for this woman friend of his dad’s. Just how many more men were in line, pondered Blake humorously.
    The grin he’d had on his face slipped though as his father and the woman left the group they were chatting with and were now headed his way.
    Blake looked to his side to find Mrs. Wilkins had since excused herself and this forced him to face the approaching couple, keeping his expression neutral as he pinned his eyes on his father. “Great party, Dad,” he said mildly.
    Bretton Carter snorted. “But you don’t seem to be enjoying it,” he stated more than asked.
    “I’m making my best effort,” quipped Blake through slanted lips. He could feel the woman’s gaze on him as they reached his side, and it was an effort not to meet her eyes.
    “Please do; all this was put on for your benefit,” his father said dryly and then drew the woman next to him a little forward. “Now Blake I’d like you to meet Kira Taylor, my hostess.”
    Blake had to look at her then. And immediately snagged in an inaudible breath just holding her brown-eyed gaze. Something about those eyes seemed to spell his doom even as he held out his hand to clasp hers. Now he couldn’t look away, drinking in the ravishing quality of her honey-brown skin and soft, swollen lips with a hint of dark red gloss. Her scent stole up to him and it stirred his loins, causing his fingers to tighten fractionally around hers.
    “It’s a pleasure, Kira,” Blake said with a smile, fighting off the urge to raise her hand to his lips in the age-old custom.
    “Excuse me, dear,” Blake’s father said, interrupting the moment. “I see an old friend I need to welcome. Blake, would you mind getting Kira a glass of champagne? She’s been on her feet for an hour. In high heels no less.”
     
    ***
     
    Kira watched her boss stride off and wished she could call him back. She wasn’t sure she relished being left on her own with his dangerously good-looking son. It was just as she’d feared – only the opposite. She’d hoped he’d be nothing like his photo or perhaps, that he’d have changed drastically but this was far from the case. If anything, he was more devastatingly handsome in person.
    She’d heard the term ‘sex-on-legs’ but never really understood what it meant until she came face to face with Blake Carter. His thick, light brown hair was well styled to suit his attractive shape of head, and his features were all in symmetry; edgy cheekbones, curvy lips and an aristocratic nose to go with those steely grey eyes she found so piercing.
    He was taller than her, probably six four which was towering compared to many of the other men in the