Stripped Read Online Free PDF Page A

deep and letting her set the pace.
    A moan ripped from low in his gut as he came, hands still stroking over his cock until he was spent and began to soften.
    And he was hard again ten minutes later, wanting her for real.

CHAPTER THREE
    D abbing a tiny bit of frangipani essential oil behind her knees, Dahlia took a last look in the mirror. It had taken four clothing changes to find the right mix of casual and sexy. She’d never felt so much anxiety about setting the right balance of pretty and alluring.
    To that end she’d decided on a white haltered sundress with red roses silk-screened on it. The skirt was full and hit just below her knees. She’d grown up in a house with a mother who sewed, knitted, baked and canned. Dahlia couldn’t knit, bake or can to save her life, but she could sew. Which was a good thing because she loved clothes but didn’t have the money to buy much. And it was also a nice way to share that connection with her mother.
    Her hair stayed loose around her shoulders, held back by a wide red band, and pretty silver hoops in her ears finished the simple look.
    The scents of garlic bread and fresh basil painted her senses. If they both ate garlic it wouldn’t matter. And she loved garlic.
    Hearing the doorbell, she smoothed down her skirt and padded, barefoot, across the small living room to the door. When she opened it she nearly fell over. He stood there in sand-colored jeans and suede loafers. A deep green button-down shirt set off his eyes. Hot damn, he looked good enough to grab hold of and lick.
    â€œHi. You’re right on time. Come in.” She stood back and waved him inside, watching his trim, high, hard ass as he went.
    He handed her a bag and she peeked inside. “Café Gelato! How did you know?”
    He grinned. “I didn’t, but it seemed more appropriate to have gelato with what you were making than mere ice cream. I got pistachio and chocolate. I hope you like at least one of them.”
    She smiled and leaned in quickly to kiss him. “Pistachio gelato is like the best thing on earth to eat. Thank you.”
    * * *
    Pride warmed Nash at her appreciation of his silly gift. He’d had to drop off some papers at the Bellagio for a client who was staying there, and so he’d seen the gelato on the way out and thought of her. Well, he’d thought of her when he’d seen the giant chocolate fountain at the entrance to the small shop. Stunned by the vision of her naked, drenched in warm chocolate, his heart had nearly burst from his chest. It was then he realized that gelato would be better than ice cream and stopped in for some.
    It was a novel experience to be with a woman who got excited by fifteen dollars’ worth of gelato instead of an expensive bracelet. Refreshing.
    As she led him toward the kitchen, he took the place in. He liked her apartment. It wasn’t the luxurious penthouse he lived in, but it was warm. He’d been right about that. Deep oranges and reds filled the place with hints of turquoise blues and white. An odd explosion of color, but it worked. It was vibrant and earthy like she was. She’d made it into a home.
    She poked her head around the freezer, where she’d just put the gelato. “Can I get you something to drink?”
    â€œOh!” He handed her the bottle of red wine he’d brought. He’d restrained himself from bringing the really expensive bottle he’d picked up first, not knowing if she’d be offended or not and settled on a nice mid-priced bottle instead.
    â€œPerfect. Will you do the honors? I need to pull the lasagne out of the oven, get it on the table and toss the salad.” She pointed to the opener and the glasses on the counter and he obliged, taking them to the table.
    â€œSit,” she ordered absently as she brought the rest of the food to the table and finally sat down.
    Taking a sip of the wine, she sighed happily. “This is quite