Safe in His Arms Read Online Free PDF Page A

thrilled to the
    challenge of harnessing and taming the arrogant boy, without snuffing out his spark.
    Yet in the end, all the skill and desire Russell could bring to bear with his loving
    dominance, and all the passion and heat Jesse offered in return, did not equal love. In
    the end, it was about Jesse‘s pleasure and Jesse‘s agenda.
    There was power in Hank‘s features, an underlying strength Russell thought he
    detected, which had been absent in Jesse. Russell had grown since that relationship. He
    was ready for something more, but until now no one had caught his interest or sparked
    his desire.
    What would it be like to harness the power he sensed in Hank? To claim it? He
    sensed Hank needed bringing down a peg or three, and Russell knew he was the man
    who could do it.
    But was he ready, after all this time, to risk getting involved again with a man who
    needed so much?
    He had tumbled headlong for Jesse, bewitched by his handsome charm and his
    seeming adoration. But, as much as it hurt Russell to admit it, Jesse had never loved
    him. It had taken Russell a long time to understand that Jesse‘s brand of love wasn‘t
    really love at all, but need. Jesse had looked outward instead of inward for happiness
    and this, coupled with his inability to give, tore the relationship apart.
    Russell hadn‘t been blameless—he‘d fed into the need and the lust, confusing them
    for love. He‘d ignored the signs, hoping his love would be enough for them both.
    Was this man to whom he found himself so attracted cut of the same sassy, arrogant
    cloth? Was Russell forgetting the hard won lessons he‘d learned and letting his little
    head instead of his big head do his thinking?
    Russell liked to think he was older and wiser now, and wouldn‘t fall into the traps
    that had snared him in the past. Lust did not equal love, no matter how powerful its
    allure or how sweet its promise. Yet as he stared into Hank‘s dark, glittering eyes, he
    felt the pull.
    ~*~
    ―What can I get you to drink?‖
    Russell shrugged. ―I‘m easy.‖
    ―Obviously.‖ Hank smirked.
    Russell fixed him with a gaze that for some reason left Hank feeling like a ten-year-
    old. Hank looked away, focusing on his wine collection until he felt the heat drain from
    his face. ―I have an excellent cabernet—Far Niente label. Or if you prefer white, how
    about a pinot blanc? I have several bottles of Vintners Reserve left.‖
    Hank realized he was probably wasting good wine. Russell probably drank Pabst
    Blue Ribbon or some equally nauseating swill. ―Anything‘s fine,‖ Russell said,
    confirming Hank‘s suspicions. ―I don‘t usually drink on the job. Whatever you‘re
    having is fine.‖
    Hank pulled out the bottle of pinot blanc he‘d opened the night before from the
    fridge. Taking two crystal goblets from the cabinet, he poured them each a glass. He
    watched as Russell sipped his and was oddly gratified when he smiled his approval.
    But Russell‘s reference to being on the job reminded Hank sharply that Russell was
    only there to make a buck. Hank was annoyed to realize this bothered him and he
    pushed the feeling away. Of course the guy was on the job. Hank would never have
    brought home a big hulking bear like him from a club. He wouldn‘t have looked twice
    at the guy in a social setting. This was a pure business transaction, he reminded himself.
    Hank drained his glass and poured himself another, rapidly downing that one as
    well. He set his glass down rather too hard on the granite countertop. ―Let‘s go upstairs.
    I‘ll let you put your mouth where my money is.‖ He moved quickly, not waiting to see
    if Russell was amused or insulted by his little joke, telling himself he didn‘t care.
    He could hear the heavy tread of Russell‘s boots behind him. He led him past the
    master bedroom to the guest room. He was feeling better now—back in control. The
    wine was coursing nicely through his bloodstream and he could feel the power of