Catch Me If You Can Read Online Free PDF

his hair lay against the skin of it, trapped by the heat of his body. His naked chest was broad and the muscles finely chiseled. A fine covering of dark hair covered its perfectly formed muscles and tapered down into a slim black line of hair disappearing beneath his waistband. She closed her eyes, blinking her curiosity away, embarrassed at her own curiosity.
    He drew up in front of her. “I didn’t mean to alarm you. It was too hot to sleep.” His voice was a dark, caressing whisper.
    He looked concerned – he really thought he’d startled her.
    She smiled. Her senses were indeed awry, yet it was an oddly pleasant sensation.
    “You didn’t alarm me. I too had trouble sleeping. I hoped there might be a storm approaching to break the humidity of this weather.”
    It was rather awkward and ridiculous, discussing the weather while they stood there in this loaded atmosphere, both in a state of undress. Instead of small talk, she wanted to reach over and kiss him, to taste his skin and feel his strong neck beneath her lips. The cotton of her nightdress chaffed at her breasts. Aware of the translucence of her attire, she laid her arm across her chest to cover herself, her hand resting around the back of her neck. The atmosphere positively crackled. She wondered if he felt it too. He gave no obvious clues.
    Thunder crept across the skies, rumbling into their consciousness. She reached out and took the cigar from his fingers. The brief touch of her fingers on his left static in the air between them. Taking the cigar to her lips, she inhaled slowly, her lids closing over her eyes appreciatively.
    He gave a husky laugh. “Was it this manner of behavior that resulted in your expulsion from the repository for young ladies?” 
    The smoke eased her senses and the remark amused her. She returned his smile. “Partly, I suppose.” Her eyes flicked quickly to his. For some reason she wanted to demonstrate her sophistication. “That, and the fact I was caught gadding about with a gentleman friend. Does that shock you?” 
    “No,” he answered, one corner of his mouth curled in amusement. “I learn quickly, do I not?”  He inclined his head in mock deference.
    She found she was disappointed not to have drawn some surprise with the remark, and toyed with the idea of telling him the real story of the thief in Egypt. She thought better of it, and offered him back his cigar.
    He drew it slowly from her fingers, his own sliding across the back of her hand. She followed the thin dark line of it with her eyes up to his lips on the cigar, where hers had been a moment before. The line of his lips, hard yet full, holding the promise of passion – her whole body fluttered with yearning for the touch of them.
    He moved nearer, his head lowering to close the distance between them, and eased a few strands of hair back from her forehead. “I believe you are a very contrary woman and you think you can shock and impress anyone you choose.”
    His voice was low and amused, his smile intimate, knowing.
    She flashed her eyes and raised an eyebrow at him, provocatively, a thrill traversing her body at the thought of him trying to fathom her out. He was interested in her, that much was clear. She nurtured a growing sense of accomplishment. He was as much as issuing her a challenge to impress him, and Eleanor was a woman who loved challenges. “You think you have me all worked out, do you, Mr. Rivers? Well, we’ll see.”
    Her thoughts raced with ways in which she might impress or shock him, and she was about to take action when a sound drew her attention, muffled conversation and laughter. It came from her father’s room. There were two voices and one was female. It was Frieda’s voice.
    Eleanor turned away, taken aback.
    “Oh, my, it seems the world wise young lady can be shocked.” He was amused at her reaction.
    Before she had time to reply, he inclined his head and bade her goodnight.
    She nodded back, speechless at his sudden