No Strings Attached Read Online Free PDF

face each other…afterward.”
    “So?”
    She blew out a frustrated breath. “It would be awkward. Plus, what would everyone
     think?”
    “Are you going to tell them?”
    “Oh, my God, no.”
    “Neither will I. What goes on between you and me is just that…between you and me.
     And why would you feel awkward about having some fun?”
    Dammit. He made it sound so logical. “Clay, you’re too…familiar.”
    “Huh?”
    “I know you. You’re too close. The last thing I need for this is someone I know.”
    “I disagree. That’s exactly what you need right now.”

    Clay watched the mix of emotions on Ella’s face, and still couldn’t believe he’d offered
     himself up as…what? Stud? Sex partner? Hell, even he didn’t know. He just knew he’d
     seen red when that guy had pushed her too hard. And he’d be damned if he was going
     to let some other guy touch her.
    Unfamiliar territory. He’d come here to make sure she was okay. And she had been handling
     the situation okay, but he’d wanted toknock that guy hard—like onto the next island. The only thing that had stopped him
     was Ella standing there.
    And then listening to her talk about wanting to have sex with some random guy?
    Oh, hell, no. But he hadn’t known he wanted the guy to be himself until tonight, until
     he’d seen another man kiss her, put his hands on her. He knew then that the only man
     he wanted touching her was…him.
    “You need someone you know, someone you trust, someone who can lead you back into
     sex and expect nothing in return.”
    She tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck. He wanted to kiss her neck. Okay,
     he wanted to start there, then put his mouth all over her.
    “Yes. But that’s my whole point. Someone who expects nothing in return. That’s the
     great thing about anonymity.”
    “Anonymity can also be dangerous. That’s where the trust is lacking. You can’t trust
     a stranger. A stranger doesn’t know you.”
    “And you do.”
    “You know I do. I’ll also keep you safe.”
    She sighed. “Okay, I hadn’t thought about that part. I was just so excited about this
     trip I hadn’t thought about the danger aspects. Stupid, I know.” She looked down at
     her hands. “It’s just that I’ve finally started to feel whole again. And that took
     a long time after James died. I never thought I’d ever want to be with another man
     after him.”
    “But now you do.”
    “Yes and no. I don’t want to fall in love again.” She lifted her gaze to his, and
     his gut clenched at the sincerity in her big brown eyes. “I can’t ever love anyone
     like I loved James.”
    “But it’s not love you’re after. It’s sex.”
    “Yes. Lately it’s all I’ve been able to think about. And all I want is meaningless
     sex.”
    He slid his fingers under her hair and teased the nape of her neck. Her hair was soft,
     her skin even softer. “Sex is never meaningless,Ella. Or it shouldn’t be. And I’d be really disappointed if that’s what you’re going
     for.”
    She snorted. “Oh, right. I’m sure all your sexual escapades are filled with meaning.”
    “If you’re implying that I have fulfilling, long-lasting emotional relationships,
     then no, I don’t. My life isn’t conducive to long-term relationships, and you know
     that. But I never have meaningless sex. I don’t fuck someone and drop them the next
     day. Sex means something. You should never take it lightly.”
    She looked down at her hands again. “Damn you. I wanted it to be meaningless.”
    “Did you?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why? If your objective is just to get off, you can do that yourself.”
    Her gaze shot to his, her mouth dangling open. Her lips were full, soft, and it took
     every bit of willpower he possessed not to kiss her.
    “I can’t believe you just said that.”
    “I think we’re past dancing around each other. If you just want a release, you can
     do it yourself. That’s not what you want.”
    She stared at him for a few