Hunger (Seductors #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

I…”
    “I was going to come and see you, I promise. I didn’t want to stay away as long as I did, but the longer I left it, the harder it became.” His defenses were faltering; I could see it in his eyes. The hand that was in my hair moved to stroke the side of my face. “Give me a chance to explain, please,” I pleaded, gripping his jacket and pulling him toward me. Our mouths were only inches apart now. Oliver licked his lips, gazing down at me.  
    I closed my eyes as he began to close the small distance between us. I wanted to drown in this kiss and never come back up for air.  
    As his lips brushed mine, I gasped, opening my mouth slightly to take in his kiss.  Suddenly a voice interrupted us.
    “Umm…Oliver?” I could never mistake Alicia’s voice. I tried to control my fury as he backed away from me completely. “I decided to come after all,” she smiled, looking stunning in her tight, red satin dress. Damn her to hell! This was supposed to be my first meet. She shouldn’t even be here. Not to mention red was my color!
    “Oh, what a lovely surprise,” Oliver muttered, a little flustered. “You look beautiful, Alicia.” My heart sank as I watched him walk over to greet her with a soft peck on the cheek.  It didn’t seem like a professional thing to do to me. Had he fallen for her charms?
    “Who’s your friend?” she asked, looking in my direction.
    He gazed at me with sad eyes before speaking. “She’s no one.” I tried to stop the tears from stinging my eyes at his cold words. Was I really nothing to him?
    “Well, I think the drinks reception is this way,” Alicia smiled, pulling Oliver away from me. With one last glance in my direction, he let her lead him away.

    “How do you know Oliver?” Mr. Brentford asked once I’d joined him back in the now full ballroom.  I picked up a glass of white wine that was offered to me by one of the wait staff.
    “It’s a long story,” I stressed, taking a large gulp of wine.
    “Do you know him on a personal or professional level?” I widened my eyes at his question. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me. It’s just…I’ve never seen Oliver react that way before.”       
    “Have you been friends long?”
    “Almost ten years,” he replied, touching my arm. “Jade, if you need me to keep him away from you, I can. He can be a little intense.”
    “I’ll be fine.” I smiled shyly, pulling away from his touch. Oliver and Alicia walked in at that moment with fresh drinks in their hands. His gaze instantly fell upon me, and I began to burn as I watched the hunger in his eyes. I was sure it matched my own.
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes,” I muttered, walking away to network with a few of the guests.

    I felt Oliver’s eyes on me throughout the evening. Whenever I turned to look at him, I found him already watching me. He didn’t make any attempt to talk to me, though. It seemed as if Alicia was keeping him on a tight leash.   
    I’d forgotten how much I loved watching him converse with people. Sitting at the bar for an hour, I observed him with four different groups of people. Everyone seemed to be in awe of him, and I could understand why. I’d fallen hard for the Oliver Kirkham charm myself.
    “You aren’t going to win this mission, Jade,” Alicia whispered into my ear as she joined me at the bar.
    “Oh, really?” I crossed my legs, turning to give her my full attention. This I couldn’t wait to hear.
    “I’ve had him, Jade,” she goaded, running her hands through her fake hair. It took all my strength not to raise my hand up and slap her. That was what she wanted, though. She was trying to make me blow my cover. Jade Gibbs wouldn’t confront anyone, let alone a stranger.
    Okay, so Alicia might have slept with Oliver, but he wasn’t in love with her. I’d left him months ago. He was a free man.
    It didn’t stop my heart from aching when I imagined the two of them together, though. “Give up now,” she whispered as