Relentless Adversary Read Online Free PDF Page B

resist the idea of fencing with me? You know full well you're going to be seduced by the lure of demolishing me in armed combat!"
    Kelly blinked in slightly appalled resignation. He was right, of course. The possibility of defeating him was incredibly tantalizing. Even if she didn't have her own reasons for maintaining contact with this man, the challenge of fencing with him would have been irresistible.
    "You may have a point there," she agreed dryly, lowering her lashes to hide the speculative gleam she knew would be in her eyes.
    "That's why I mentioned it before trying my short-circuiting attack here on the couch," he said, chuckling. "I wanted to have something to fall back on in case—"
    "In case the brutality failed?" Kelly muttered irritably, cautiously beginning to search for a way out of his embrace.
    "I didn't hurt you," he reminded her reproachfully, ignoring her scrabbling efforts.
    She glared at him but didn't deign to dignify the protest with an answer. "Since you say you don't intend to follow through with the manhandling approach, would you mind letting me go?"
    He glanced down at the shadowy opening of her jacket and blouse, his eyes lingering on the curve of her breast.
    Again he smiled, this time with male challenge and a hint of pleading. It was an odd combination, and Kelly didn't trust it one inch.
    "I'll take you home," he promised slowly.
    "Thank you!"
    "In exchange for one kiss freely given. . . ."
    "Locke!" Kelly didn't know whether to slap him or scream her frustration aloud. "You've just said you wouldn't lower yourself to forcing your attentions on me," she reminded him vengefully.
    "I won't. We'll sit here until we both fall asleep if you refuse the kiss, but I won't use force."
    Kelly was about to rush into a string of protests and name-calling when she met his eyes in a straightforward exchange and decided he meant it. Unless she wanted to sit here in his lap until morning, she would have to meet his terms. Well, considering what might have happened this evening, the penalty didn't seem all that severe.
    Gritting her teeth, she flung her arms around his neck without a word and ground her lips against his. He wouldn't have cause to complain about the fleeting, childlike quality of her forfeit!
    He seemed taken aback momentarily by the forceful-ness of the embrace, but almost instantly his arms came around her, holding her in position for his response.
    Kelly, intending a sudden, swooping, cold caress found herself caught gently, but firmly, against his chest, her breasts crushed softly as his lips parted before her violent onslaught.
    Perhaps it was the unexpectedly submissive response of his lips that was her undoing. Or maybe it was the gentleness of his arms as he urged her closer to his heat and strength. Whatever the reason, time seemed to suspend itself, while Kelly became intrigued by the inviting warmth of Locke's mouth.
    There was no threat this time but a tantalizing, encouraging rejoinder. She found herself inside, exploring in intimate arousal. A part of her knew he was drinking in the kiss with surprising thirst, but her own reactions were dominating her mind at that moment. She couldn't take the time to be concerned with what he might be drawing from the embrace when her whole body was experiencing a thrilling sensation of wonder and astonished need.
    She dug her fingers into his neck muscles with the luxurious movements of a cat kneading its paws. The instant response of his frame was the essence of excitement for her, and his groan of need and pleasure provoked her into arching her body against his.
    As if that were a signal, Locke began to assume control of the kiss, thrusting his tongue past hers and into her mouth, as if searching for honey and almonds. His lips moved warmly, wetly on hers, and his fingers tracked up and down her back beneath the fabric of her blouse and jacket.
    Kelly shivered and couldn't stop the tingling electricity that was uncoiling in her stomach. The