Sacred Serenity (Lotus House Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

whispered against my lower back. “There are so many ways I want to touch you, Amber, each with a promise of a deeply profound experience.” He leaned closer, resting his forehead against mine. The act was more intimate than any gesture I’d expected. “Promise you’ll trust me to take care of you.”
    I closed my eyes and focused on his minty breath, the scent of essential oils filling the air, but most importantly, his energy curling around me like a hug. “I’ll try.”
    “That’s all any man can ask. Now, I’m starving. You up for a sandwich at Rainy Day?” He pushed back, putting a good foot between our heads, but he wove his hand through the thick hair at my nape. I found myself nodding dumbly, not really hearing anything other than the whooshing sound in my ears that started the second he cinched his fingers at the roots of my hair. Even now, he was rhythmically tugging and releasing, massaging and tantalizing, an ounce of pain coupled with a tingle of pleasure. Sublime. A spiral of excitement zipped down my spine to settle hotly between my thighs. My center became heavy, and my clit throbbed.
    Is this what women feel before they’re ready to have sex?
    I coughed and backed out of his hold quickly, my mind scrambled.
    His brow tightened. “You okay?”
    “Uh yeah, just hungry. Shall we go?” I asked, my throat going dry while other parts of me, more private parts, slickened.
    “Lead the way.” He held his hand out in front of me.
    “No, that’s okay. You go ahead,” I offered, needing the distance.
    He shook his head and got close once more. “If you don’t walk ahead, I can’t check out your fine ass. And that, little bird, would be a travesty.”
    Dash put his hands on my shoulders, turned me, and guided me ahead of him with a light nudge.
    “Smokin’ hot,” he growled as I shimmied ahead of him down the hall, my legs eating up the distance between our door and the one that led us to exit the building.
    A sense of feminine pride filled my chest at his outburst, and I added a touch of sway to my hips. If he was going to look, I might as well give him a show.
    “Jesus Christ,” he muttered.
    I frowned and stopped, firing him a pointed look over my shoulder. People hated being preached to, but I’d been raised not to take the Lord’s name in vain. It rankled my nerves. Still, I needed to remember that everyone was different. Besides, his outburst was a direct reflection of his feelings about me. Well, about my body at least. He choked out a laugh. “What?” He smirked, and his square jaw tightened. Looking at him should be a crime. The exact temptation a girl like me shouldn’t want.
    “Enjoying the view?” I said with as much conviction as I could muster and waited for his reply. A burst of feminine pride caressed my skin and made my heart thump hard in my chest. This insanely hot man found me attractive. Me. Boring, book nerd, med student Amber St. James.
    Dash slung an arm over my tense shoulders. “There’s my proud swan.” He nuzzled my cheek, and I almost fell to the floor.
    My entire body was alight in sensation, awash with not only his scent but also his masculine essence. It practically caressed me. The feeling was overwhelming, the same way it had been when we’d touched one another’s breastbone and synchronized our breathing with our heads pressed together…only that times about a thousand.
    “I was wondering when she was going to surface. Interesting to see your feisty side come out.”
    “You were gawking at my bum and took the Lord’s name in vain. I was fighting my good and bad angels.”
    “Sounds like our first topic of conversation at lunch. Good and bad angels.” He winked. “Come on, little bird, let’s fly. Or in this case, let’s walk.” He slid his hand down my arm to my hand where he curled his fingers around mine and held tight…again.
    He held my hand firmly with intent and purpose. The same way he’d led me to the bakery yesterday. This time,