Tied - Part One Read Online Free PDF

standing too close. I tried to subtly take a step away, but he followed. “They’re both really sweet,” I said.
     
    “Mmhmm.” He didn’t seem the least bit interested. He was looking past me. I took another step away. If I was so boring then he was welcome to leave me alone.
     
    But he followed again. The next thing I knew, my back was to the wall next to the kitchen and he was practically trapping me there, leaning casually next to me. I could duck into the kitchen to get away - but then he might place himself in the doorway and block me in there, instead. Just what the heck was he doing?
     
    “Your friend left,” he said.
     
    “Yeah. He has a long train ride home.” He was close enough that I could feel his body heat radiating off of him. I could smell his scent, his soap and his skin. I licked my lips. This is so unfair .
     
    He leaned in closer and asked, “Did he kiss you goodnight?”
     
    I swallowed my answer. I could smell the beer on his breath, which brought with it a confusing mix of emotions. But more than that, more than anything, my eyes and my focus locked on his lips. Those magical, delicious, devastating lips. I could just imagine them pressing against mine once more, so warm and so soft. I tensed all over, not trusting myself. I wanted very badly to do something very stupid.
     
    “Kat?”
     
    “Don’t call me that, please,” I whispered out of habit.
     
    “Katherine.” My name slid so sensually from between those tempting lips. I’d always thought it was a dull name. A typical one. When he said it, though, it became something else. Sometime powerful. And sexual. “Katherine?”
     
    “Yes?”
     
    “You didn’t answer my question.’
     
    What was the question? “I didn’t kiss him,” I said, “I didn’t kiss anyone.” My pulse was racing so fast I thought for sure he’d be able to tell. I felt flushed all over. Could he see? Did he know what he was doing to me?
     
    But I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His chin was sprinkled with light stubble. I wondered what it would feel like, brushing against my own soft skin.
     
    “Not tonight?” he asked.
     
    “Not in a while,” I admitted. Never sober , my traitor brain reminded me, making me cringe inside. Never sober except for him. Rob Lockett. My head tilted back, just a hint, just a subtle invitation.
     
    The muscles in his neck tensed. Then his head dipped low and he captured my mouth with his.
     
    My whole body came alive with the firm touch of his full lips. I lifted onto my toes with a soft gasp as a hunger came to life within me, clawing at my chest. I wanted to grasp at him, to cling to him, but I forced my fists to remain at my sides. Desperate little whimpers rose in my throat but I held my breath and held them down. We weren’t alone - I couldn’t start losing my mind right then, no matter how much I wanted to.
     
    He broke away with a regretful groan. I shrank away from him, though I screamed for more on the inside. “Oh man,” he said, sounding a touch breathless. “You want me real bad, don’t you.”
     
    It wasn’t even a question. The arrogant jerk was mocking me. My face burned another shade of red and I turned away. “Hey,” he said, “Don’t be like that.”
     
    “Then don’t make fun of me,” I muttered, remaining turned away.
     
    “All right,” he said, then he chuckled. “I’m learning a lot about you. You don’t like being called ‘Kat’ and you don’t want to be made fun of. And, you want me.” His fingers brushed my shoulder. I wished I had the strength to shrug him off but I didn’t. I couldn’t.
     
    “I can’t. We’re roommates.”
     
    “Mmm. We’ll see.”
     
    That’s it? He rejoined the rest of the party with barely a glance back.
     
    The man was toying with me! What an asshole! I brushed back my hair with my fingers and hoped I didn’t look too flustered. Who the hell acted like that?
     
    “Arrogant jerks who think they’re rock stars, that’s