The Deal (Trading Hearts #3) Read Online Free PDF

and truly hooked into you, that's the point."
    "Clara and I are history." He looked and sounded adamant.
    "You might think that," she blurted, "but she keeps announcing she's your wife, did you know that?"
    "No." He frowned.  "I suspect only when it suits her."
    "Well, yes. I figured that." She leaned over and tugged his shirt collar straight. "But why?"
    "Hedging her bets maybe." He pushed his fingers through his hair, tidying it, and shrugged. "She's seeing this guy, but it's on/off. I heard he keeps trying to go back to his wife. That won’t go down well with Clara."
    She put one hand on her hip, assessing him. "So your best guess is you're her security blanket and that’s as far as it goes, not that she really wants you back?"
    "Yes. However it doesn’t matter what her motivation is." He looked uneasy, as if he'd realized how annoying it was for her. "I’m glad she’s gone, but more importantly I’m glad you're here.”
    “You made it impossible for me to leave.” She reached for her portfolio bag where it had been dropped on the floor, then threw him an accusing glance. It was the truth and her emotions tangled, resentment and fear edging into the glorious afterglow and the intimacy they were sharing.
    “I didn’t force you to be fucked, did I?”
    “Yes. “
    His expression immediately shadowed.
    “But no.” It was the truth. She wanted him. Maybe one day her fear about total submission, or her anger about Clara, would override her need for him, but apparently it wasn’t today. She wanted him, and she didn’t like the shadows in his eyes. “It really does worry you, being the dominant one?”
    “Of course it does. It’s a responsibility. One that I enjoy, but there are risks, and that’s why trust is so important.” He seemed relieved she’d mentioned it, his expression relaxing.  “We have a connection, a bond, you and I. We’re well matched and that’s worth fighting for.” His hand closed over her hip, possessively. “I want to fight for this…and by fight I don’t mean argue.” His mouth lifted at one side.
    A soft laugh escaped her. “I’m glad you clarified. I’d hate to think you actually enjoyed that..." she tossed her head back...“scene out there.”
    “I enjoyed the sex we had, not the argument.”
    “We're agreed on that then.”
    He nodded, then his eyelids dropped.
    The tension of the moment intensified. He could do that, she realized, he could make the mood change. It was part of his role as master, to control the mood to suit what needed to be done – or on this occasion – what needed to be said. Her throat felt tight.
    “I need you to understand how things are with Clara.” He looked at her, clearly assessing her reaction.
    “I thought we'd pushed Clara away now?”
    “We have…for the moment. It’s important you know I can never truly end that connection because she’s the mother of my child.”
    Why did that hurt? It was ridiculous of her to be jealous of his past and its hold on him. She’d no right to feel that way, yet she did.
    She turned away, acutely aware he was studying her expression. It hurts because I do want him, I do want more. And Clara was in the way, the ex. Her own reaction disturbed her. It wasn’t in her nature to be possessive, but she was. And it was too soon to be territorial, but it'd happened.
    Lucas didn’t let her turn away for long. Drawing her back to face him, he held her in place. “Naomi, the past never goes away.”
    Naomi wasn’t sure she wanted to hear that, but if she put her hands over her ears and shook her head – which she had the urge to do – it would look like she didn’t trust him. She had to trust him on this. “I understand.”
    “I want to be with you, and I’m passionate about that. About you.” He smoothed her hair back from her face.
    It wasn’t what Naomi expected to hear. She was urging herself to be guarded, to get her priorities right, and yet he could undo all of that with a simple remark.