Temporary Husband Read Online Free PDF

yet, his kiss seemed to take that possibility into consideration, easing from the lightest of caresses to a more potent, heady embrace.
    She stood on tiptoe, pressing closer, determined to enjoy every aspect of this unexpected treat. In response, he molded her against him, his body hard, his arousal blatant. His hands swept over her with unmistakable skill, as though committing each curve to memory. His touch burned, igniting a reaction that grew more intenseby the moment. She trembled uncontrollably, desire overriding every other thought and emotion.
    “Jake, please!”
    The cry escaped before she could prevent it. For a crazed instant she thought he’d tumble them into the bushes and take her right then and there. Instead he tensed and pushed her away, cool air replacing the unbearable heat of seconds ago. She fought him, refusing to leave the protective warmth of his arms.
    “We can’t take this any further, Wynne,” he murmured close to her ear. “This isn’t what I’d planned.”
    She clung to him, shivering, struggling to regain her equilibrium. “What did you plan?”
    “To drive you off.” His response was stark, yet painfully honest.
    “Oh.” She snuggled deeper into his arms, burying her face in the curve of his shoulder. She fit as though made for him. “You didn’t succeed.”
    “I can see that,” he said with a soft laugh. “Does this mean we’re committed?”
    She forced herself to consider his question rationally, to control the emotional upheaval clouding her mind. Her mouth curved in a wry smile. It was an impossible task. How could she think when all she wanted was to lose herself in his embrace? She’d never fallen in love before, certainly not with a man she’d only known for a few brief hours. She didn’t have a clue how to separate reason from sentiment.
    “Wynne?” Tension rippled through him and his arms tightened around her. “Have you changed your mind?”
    She shook her head. “No. I haven’t changed my mind.” Pulling back, she looked up at him. “You said ‘committed.’ Is that a proposal, by any chance?”
    He hesitated. “It’s a proposition for a temporary marriage.”
    She wouldn’t get any more from him than that. At least, not yet. Not that it mattered. She’d have plenty of time to prove he needed her on a permanent basis. After all, who knew how long it would take to convince Mrs. Marsh that their marriage was real? A week, a month, six months? Those six months could become six years, she was certain of it. And six years could become sixty.
    “In that case, I accept,” she agreed. “Though I’ll be happy to stick around longer if you want.”
    “I won’t.” Steel had crept into his voice. “Don’t think you can alter my decision about this, Wynne. It won’t happen. This marriage is a temporary arrangement.”
    “Whatever you say.” She sighed, sliding her fingers through his crisp, dark hair. “Would you kiss me again? I rather liked it. It was nice.”
    He frowned. “Nice, huh? Remind me not to ask you for a reference.”
    Color tinted her cheeks. “Well…I liked kissing you enough to want it to go on for the rest of the night.”
    “It can.”
    If he meant to alarm her with his bluntness, he failed. Miserably. She stared in wonder, lifting her mouth to his. “Really? All night?”
    He set her from him, his fierce gaze telling her all too clearly how much of a temptation he found her—a temptation he intended to resist. “All we have to do is get this farce of a wedding over with. I have a room at the Grand Hotel and we’ll go there the minute we’re married. Once that’s out of the way, we can make this night last as long as you’d like.”
    Her smile grew luminous. “That’s just perfect. I’m staying at the Grand, too.”
    “Listen to me, Wynne…” His tone cut through her
    euphoria, sounding deadly serious. “There’s one or two details we haven’t agreed on.”
    “Is that all?” she teased in an effort to hide her