Nightbloom Read Online Free PDF Page B

shoulder like a sack, and turned to me. “Lead the way.”
    I hurried in front of him, aware of the sensual heat cranking up in the place. I avoided the bodies pressing together and headed back up the flights of stairs to the stadium. I thought the weight of Clayton would slow him down, but Paxon was right behind me, urging me forward all the way up.
    Leaving the stadium, I zipped up my brown leather jacket. No snow, but the starless sky threatened a cold, brisk night. I led him to Clayton’s car, one of the few still left in the parking lot. Reaching it, I rifled in Clayton’s jacket pocket, hanging upside down across Paxon’s back.
    “Um, wait a second. Yeah, here they are.”
    After I unlocked the passenger side, Paxon dropped him none-too-gently in the seat and slammed the door shut.
    He stood before me with hands on his hips, saying nothing. This wasn’t like him. Quiet and brooding wasn’t his style. He was usually a stream of wit and charm.
    “Um, aren’t you cold?” I glanced at his bare chest, glistening by the few street lamps in the lot.
    He shook his head. “You’ll be safe getting home? How will you get him into his place?”
    “One of his servants will help me. I’ll just take his car home and return it tomorrow.”
    For some reason, I wanted Paxon to know that I wouldn’t be spending the night with him.
    “Good.”
    He still stood there, just looking down at me. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other in nervous anticipation, hoping he waited for what I thought he was waiting for. After another minute of silence, I could contain myself no longer. “Do you, um…” I licked my dry lips and fidgeted with the zipper on my jacket. “Do you want…?”
    “Do I want what, Ella?”
    I took a deep breath and asked, “Do you still want your prize?”
    His expression shifted to something dangerous. When he spoke, his voice could’ve seduced an angel. “Yes, Ella. I want my prize.”
    Losing courage, my gaze fell to the pavement. I couldn’t look at him anymore. My heart was thrumming like a bird’s wings. “Where do you…uh…”
    I couldn’t say it, couldn’t ask him, hoping he’d put me out of my misery. His hand lifted my chin, tilting it upward. Though his hair was still tousled from the rough fight and carrying my dumb, drunk boyfriend to the car, he wore the expression I knew best. The one that told the world he was in charge.
    “I’ll take the lips.”
    The fingers of one hand threaded into my hair, curling around the base of my skull. His other hand slid around my waist, underneath my jacket and blouse, flattening against naked skin at the small of my back. His lips hadn’t even touched me, and I was on fire.
    Angling my head back, he swept his mouth over mine. Grazing. Teasing. Tasting, he trailed his tongue along my lower lip. I braced my hands on his forearms, then slid them up around his neck, one twining into his hair. He whispered my name.
    Instant desire lacerated me. Heat pooled between my legs. It was like…like my body belonged to him.
    And he knew it.
    I wanted to be bold and brazen, not the quiet, timid girl who lost her wits when a man spoke to her. I parted my lips, meeting his tongue when he swept in. Salty and masculine. His body hardened. Mine softened. Gentle became rough. Coaxing became probing. Teasing became desperate. His grip on my neck and back tightened, pulling me against the firmness of his body and bare skin. My softer curves crushed against the hard planes of his body. Rather than frighten me as it had in the past, I wanted more. So much more. For the first time in my life, I truly wanted a man.
    He pulled back and slid wet lips over mine, whispering, “You taste so good.” He sucked my lower lip, then licked into my mouth once more.
    Laughter echoed across the lot. I jumped in his arms. Paxon glanced over his shoulder. Rather than pull away, he held my cheek against his chest, opened his wings to hide us, and pressed his lips into my hair.