To Hiss or to Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page B

Gotta love a man who loves animals.
    “It is. If I hear one more person pretend they have allergies to assuage their guilt, I’ll scream. I know some people have allergies, I do myself, but so many people are obviously lying.” I stop my rant when his growl becomes a chuckle. The heat of a blush creeps back up my neck and face.
    “Seems we have a passion in common then.” The thoroughly unwholesome light in his eyes makes me pretty sure we’re not talking about a passion for a cause anymore. But then the moment passes, and he turns more serious again. “But what about your, uh, gift?”
    “Ah, yes. I’m not so much for focusing.” I shoot him a grin, hoping I look adorable.
    “Unless you’re on a soapbox.” He is clearly teasing me now, and I could get used to that. If I had to.
    “Yes.” I’m not giving him any more material. “I can talk with animals.”
    “I see. So that’s what you were doing tonight? Talking to the dogs?”
    Again, I wonder at how calmly he is taking all this. Makes me wonder what is wrong with this guy. Besides that he’s not kissing me yet.
    “Yes. I need to be within a certain proximity to make it work.” I mentally pat myself on the back for how calm that sounded.
    “Oh, then I guess I messed up your plans needlessly.” To his credit, he sounds chagrined again.
    “Well, yes. I wasn’t planning to go charging in or anything. It was strictly recon.”
    He looks more crestfallen, so I quickly add, “But I was thinking of trying to get closer to the house to better connect, so I guess you did save me after all.” I smile and he returns it. So gorgeous. “But what I don’t understand is how I hear your thoughts. I’ve never heard a human’s thoughts before, and believe me, I’ve tried.”
    He visibly withdraws and gets nervous, and now it’s his turn to try to escape, but I don’t understand why.
    “Well, I guess I should let you go.” He steps away as if he’ll just disappear into the night. “You’ve been warned about the cameras, so carry on.” He starts to walk faster, but oh no, that is not how this is going to work.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” I demand, taking a few quick steps so I can grab his arm. “I can see you’ve got a theory as to why I can hear your thoughts. I told you my secret, so spill.”
    He turns just enough to look back at me. “No, it’s not a theory…I just, I mean, this is awkward and I’ve detained you enough.” He starts to turn away again, reaching to pull my hand off his arm. His touch is electric, and I know I can’t let him go, no matter what this costs me.
    I make my grip on his arm tighter, letting a cloud of anger sweep me away so I don’t have to examine just why it is I can’t let him go even though part of me always runs from anything remotely resembling a relationship.
    “Oh, for crying out loud, you realize I can get in your head and you’re putting on a song and dance?” Technically, I can’t get into his head unless he lets me, but still.
    He looks back at me with a little fear in his gaze, but his hand just rests on mine now, which is still in a death grip on his arm. I’m really glad he hasn’t moved his hand.
    “I mean, not that I’m going to go digging around on purpose. I have ethics. Although maybe since this concerns me, I would be justified.” I’m rambling again, so I cut myself off and finally loosen my grip on his arm. I also soften my voice just a bit. “Listen, I’m not here to have an ethics debate. But, I mean, I feel like you owe me.”
    He gives me a measured look and I can tell he’s thinking. Finally, he nods. “OK, but not here. Are you comfortable coming back to my house?”
    “Why the hell not?” I hold my keys out to him and force myself to slip my other hand out from under his and away from his arm. It’s harder than it should be. I lift my chin higher, defying him to turn me down. It will drive me crazy if I never find out his theory. “Shall you drive?” I