Quinn's Woman Read Online Free PDF Page B

is that not a surprise?”

    She reached behind her and clicked off the lantern, then shifted close to him. But somehow he’d managed to move just enough so that when she lowered her head, she found it resting on his shoulder.

    Her first instinct was to bolt for safety. Because she didn’t want him to know she was rattled, she forced herself to stay in place. A few minutes later, her apprehension faded. Quinn was tied
    up; she was safe.

    She deliberately concentrated on slowing her breathing. After a few more minutes she became aware of the not-unpleasant masculine scent of his body. He generated plenty of heat, and she found herself relaxing.

    “This is nice,” he said into the darkness.

    “Hmm.”

    “Don’t I get a kiss good-night?”

    Her eyes popped open and she stared into the darkness. A kiss? “No.”

    He made a low clucking sound. It took her a second to realize he was trying to imitate a chicken.

    “Oh, yeah, that’s going to work,” she said.

    “You’re tempted,” he said, “but nervous. That’s okay. I understand. I’m a big, handsome hunky guy who turns you on. But you don’t have to be nervous. I’ll be gentle.”

    “You’ll be sucking wind.”

    Obviously, the man didn’t have any self-esteem issues. Although she wasn’t the least bit concerned about her safety, what did make her jittery was the fact that the thought of kissing him was almost appealing.

    “You’re missing out,” he said. “You know, you wouldn’t even have to untie me. You could take advantage of me. I wouldn’t mind.”

    “Shut up and go to sleep.”

    He sighed heavily. “Just one kiss.”

    “No.”

    “There doesn’t have to be any tongue.”

    “Gee, thanks for letting me know.”

    “Come on. You want to. How long will it take? Then we can go to sleep.”

    Despite the craziness of what he was saying, D.J. found herself reaching for the lantern and clicking it on.

    “You’re getting on my nerves,” she said.

    Quinn puckered his lips like a man imitating a fish.. She couldn’t help chuckling.

    He was big, dangerous, probably trained to kill and he made her laugh. What was wrong with this picture?

    She sighed. “I want your word that you’ll be quiet and go to sleep. No more conversation, no more requests.”

    “I’d cross my heart, but I’m a little tied up right now.”

    “Was that a yes?”

    “Yes.”

    She leaned close. One kiss, she told herself. Just a quick peck good-night. It didn’t mean anything. She wouldn’t let it. She was just doing this to shut him up – not because she was the least bit...interested.

    Her mouth barely touched his. There was the same flash of heat she’d experienced when her fingers had brushed his lips, and a tightening low in her belly. She braced herself for an aggressive response from him, but he didn’t move. She wasn’t even sure he was breathing.

    Slowly she pressed a little harder. Not exactly deepening the kiss, but not ending it, either. Something warm and liquid poured through her. It made her thinking fuzzy and her body relax. It made her –

    Panic surged as she realized she was actually enjoying the close contact. Temptation, desire, need were all too risky. Too dangerous. She knew better. She’d spent her entire life knowing better.

    But she wouldn’t let him know she was rattled. Instead of jerking her head back, she broke the kiss slowly, then opened her eyes.

    She braced herself for a verbal slam, but Quinn only smiled. Not a victorious smile, but one that said they’d shared something intimate.

    No they hadn’t, she thought as she turned off the lantern and settled onto the tarp. They’d kissed. So what? People kissed all the time. It didn’t mean anything. It never had. She wouldn’t let it.

    Quinn awakened sometime before dawn. He recognized the gray light outside the main flap of the large military-issue tent, then he stretched on the cot. The makeshift bed was a hell of a lot more comfortable than the