Guarding Mari Read Online Free PDF Page A

and didn’t have a clue about dating.
    “How are you doing?”
    She turned her attention back to the packing and tried her best to ignore the bed and the guy she wanted to get into it with. “I’ve been better.” She quickly finished. Her heart picked up its pace as he walked into her room.
    “There’s something else that we need to talk about. It probably a good idea to get it out of the way now, before we get into the car.”
    “Oh, God, you’re not going to tell me that the Easter Bunny exists, are you? There’s only so much I can take in one day.”
    He laughed again and Mari promptly forgot how to breathe. When he laughed, he seemed lighter, younger. “No, the Easter Bunny doesn’t exist. There are rabbit shifters, but they don’t generally deliver chocolate eggs.” The amusement died down, but the effects didn’t. His eyes were bigger, a more vivid shade of green. “I can smell your desire.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied. She shoved the last item of clothes and a picture of her parents in her bag. How the hell did she explain this to them? Daniel moved around the bed. His body a solid pressure behind her, heat came off him in waves. It reminded her of standing too close to a furnace.
    “I can also tell that you’re lying.” Her body ached from craving his touch. The way his voice traveled over her made her shiver. “It’s one of the benefits of having heightened senses. When you shift for the first time, you’ll notice it, too.”
    She turned around. “And what would I smell on you?” He was so close she could see the flecks of dark gold in his eyes. His scent caressed her like a physical touch, incredibly sexy and comforting all at the same time.
    His gaze drifted down to her lips. “You’d smell the same thing. I want you, and I’m not going to deny it.” He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip and her knees went weak. “I want to know if these lips are as soft as they look.”
    Control slipped from her fingers, but she didn’t care anymore. As soon as she’d laid eyes on him, even with John Doe—Ryback—threatening her life, she’d been intrigued, captivated. “Then why don’t you find out?” she challenged him.
    Slowly he moved his hand, cupped her cheek, still rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip, and a moan escaped her. How could one simple touch feel so erotic? How could it feel so right? She barely knew him, but he’d saved her life. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.
    “You’re a very dangerous woman. I’ve never met one who broke my focus like you do.” He closed the small distance between them, brushing his lips against hers. The kiss started slowly, soft against her parted lips, and she melted against him. It was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. It wasn’t her first, but it was definitely the best. Intimate and sweet. A part of her craved more, needed it as much as her next breath.
    He slowly nibbled on her bottom lip until she opened her lips, letting him sweep his tongue inside. Her arms snaked around his neck and he dropped all pretense of leisurely exploration. Quickly there was nothing between them but a few clothes. She wasn’t touching enough of him; she needed to feel bare skin under her hands. As she reached under his T-shirt, he pulled away.
    “We better leave.” He muttered the words against her lips, bringing her back to earth with a thud.
    She pulled away, breathless, turned around, and zipped up her bag. She took her time, trying to school her face into something that resembled calm. That had been one hell of a kiss and everything she’d thought that it would be. If it had continued, there was no doubt in her mind they would have ended up in bed, with him slipping into her like a hot knife through butter. She’d been in a constant state of arousal since she’d met him and now she knew he could smell it. How am I supposed to get through the next few days without jumping his