Read Online Catalyst (A Grace Murphy Novella) by Nicole Hamlett - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicole Hamlett
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be nice."
A low growl sounded from his throat and all of the hair on my arms and neck stood on end. I had to give it to him; at least he was keeping it together. "What?" I taunted, "You want us to play nice, happy romantic couple? Give me a reason."
He reached across the small table and grasped the back of my neck, pulling me forward. I couldn't scramble away fast enough and our lips met. It was the same as before. Thunder exploded in the distance and a maelstrom of emotion swirled in my chest. The heat between us increased as his tongue swept across the seam of my lips, seeking entrance.
I had a brief but very real fear that we'd catch this place on fire and people around the world would label me as the woman who destroyed MagicHappyFuntimeLand. I couldn't live that reputation down. Thankfully that ludicrous thought kept me in the moment and instead of letting him sweep me away, I was able to pull back and reseat myself in my chair.
I wanted a moment to touch my lips and analyze the feelings he evoked within me. But I didn't have a moment. The titanium walls of my mental shield went up and doubled in size. There was no way he was getting through to my private thoughts right now.
We stared at each other across the table, eyes wide. I couldn't take a full breath. Everything felt too tight. My hand shook as I lifted the glass of wine to my mouth. It was probable that I'd spill most of it down my dress, but I needed a distraction and fast.
"That. That's the reason."
"That's not a good enough reason." Was my voice shaking? Did I sound strong?
"You make me crazy," he rasped.
His admission startled me. It wasn't that I didn't know that I made him crazy. But to have him admit it was surprising. "Maybe you're just fucking crazy," I shot back. He wasn't allowed to just sweep me off my feet after the things he said to me yesterday. If I let that go, it would just get worse over time. My marriage taught me that hard lesson.
"Why do you have to make everything a thousand times harder than it needs to be Grace? Why can't we as two adults step outside of the teenage bullshit and just fuck?"
You know, if he'd said something romantic like he'd take twenty years off of his life if I would only love him back or some other besotted drivel, I might have caved. I've been known to cave for less. But to put it out there so baldly set my teeth on edge.
I slammed my glass down on the table and broke the stem. The glass bit into my palm and I hissed with the shock of pain.
"There are women you can pay for that," I gritted out between my clenched teeth.
His fingers gripped the table and the wood beneath groaned from the pressure. That should have been my warning. I wasn't playing with some little boy. I was playing with a man who was powerful and strong. It didn't make any difference in that moment. Just when I thought he couldn't possibly piss me off any more, he upped the notch of my disbelief.
"What do you want from me? Do you want me to declare my undying love? You want prissy poems and flowers?"
I shook my head, my mouth dropping open in disbelief. "For fuck's sake. Maybe I do! Maybe I want to be romanced instead of clubbed over the head and dragged into a god damned cave."
He snorted at me and handed me his napkin to wrap around my hand. "Maybe, I want someone who doesn't put me into a rage with his insensitive bullshit. You know you're never nice to me unless you want something from me." I whipped my hand out around me to encompass the surrounding patio. "You want a quickie so I get wined and dined. My heart wants to be in love with you Hephaestus, but my head wants you to go fuck yourself with a rusty iron spike right now."
I stood up and threw the bloodied linen back down on the table. As I turned I saw the shocked faces of the wait-staff bringing in our food. I shook my head and swallowed the solid lump forming at the back of my throat.
The happiest place on earth, my ass.
Turning back for one last
A low growl sounded from his throat and all of the hair on my arms and neck stood on end. I had to give it to him; at least he was keeping it together. "What?" I taunted, "You want us to play nice, happy romantic couple? Give me a reason."
He reached across the small table and grasped the back of my neck, pulling me forward. I couldn't scramble away fast enough and our lips met. It was the same as before. Thunder exploded in the distance and a maelstrom of emotion swirled in my chest. The heat between us increased as his tongue swept across the seam of my lips, seeking entrance.
I had a brief but very real fear that we'd catch this place on fire and people around the world would label me as the woman who destroyed MagicHappyFuntimeLand. I couldn't live that reputation down. Thankfully that ludicrous thought kept me in the moment and instead of letting him sweep me away, I was able to pull back and reseat myself in my chair.
I wanted a moment to touch my lips and analyze the feelings he evoked within me. But I didn't have a moment. The titanium walls of my mental shield went up and doubled in size. There was no way he was getting through to my private thoughts right now.
We stared at each other across the table, eyes wide. I couldn't take a full breath. Everything felt too tight. My hand shook as I lifted the glass of wine to my mouth. It was probable that I'd spill most of it down my dress, but I needed a distraction and fast.
"That. That's the reason."
"That's not a good enough reason." Was my voice shaking? Did I sound strong?
"You make me crazy," he rasped.
His admission startled me. It wasn't that I didn't know that I made him crazy. But to have him admit it was surprising. "Maybe you're just fucking crazy," I shot back. He wasn't allowed to just sweep me off my feet after the things he said to me yesterday. If I let that go, it would just get worse over time. My marriage taught me that hard lesson.
"Why do you have to make everything a thousand times harder than it needs to be Grace? Why can't we as two adults step outside of the teenage bullshit and just fuck?"
You know, if he'd said something romantic like he'd take twenty years off of his life if I would only love him back or some other besotted drivel, I might have caved. I've been known to cave for less. But to put it out there so baldly set my teeth on edge.
I slammed my glass down on the table and broke the stem. The glass bit into my palm and I hissed with the shock of pain.
"There are women you can pay for that," I gritted out between my clenched teeth.
His fingers gripped the table and the wood beneath groaned from the pressure. That should have been my warning. I wasn't playing with some little boy. I was playing with a man who was powerful and strong. It didn't make any difference in that moment. Just when I thought he couldn't possibly piss me off any more, he upped the notch of my disbelief.
"What do you want from me? Do you want me to declare my undying love? You want prissy poems and flowers?"
I shook my head, my mouth dropping open in disbelief. "For fuck's sake. Maybe I do! Maybe I want to be romanced instead of clubbed over the head and dragged into a god damned cave."
He snorted at me and handed me his napkin to wrap around my hand. "Maybe, I want someone who doesn't put me into a rage with his insensitive bullshit. You know you're never nice to me unless you want something from me." I whipped my hand out around me to encompass the surrounding patio. "You want a quickie so I get wined and dined. My heart wants to be in love with you Hephaestus, but my head wants you to go fuck yourself with a rusty iron spike right now."
I stood up and threw the bloodied linen back down on the table. As I turned I saw the shocked faces of the wait-staff bringing in our food. I shook my head and swallowed the solid lump forming at the back of my throat.
The happiest place on earth, my ass.
Turning back for one last
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