Read Online Dee, Lavada - Nothing to Lose [Blackhawk Brothers] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) by Lavada Dee - Free Book Online Page B

It wasn’t with relief he made his way back down the stairs and turned off the TV. So if he wasn’t feeling relief, what did he feel?
    He poured a glass of water he really didn’t want and took it back into the living room. He felt restless and knew he should be in bed. Instead, he crossed the room to stare out the French doors. He rested his forehead against the glass. The doors were insulated with storm doors, so he hadn’t felt he needed heavy drapes to conserve heat. He had wanted them to stay bare so he’d have an unobstructed view of the lake. Tonight, everything seemed cold, colder than it should have. He wished it were any other time of year so he could get out and walk to clear his head and get his emotions in check. Mentally, he added the wish for a different season to the growing list of unattainable wishes that were piling up.
    Galynn needed to offer some resistance, fear, or even repulsion. Heaven only knew, she had every reason to abhor any man’s touch. But it didn’t seem as if she compared this Mick and what he’d done to what she felt now. And he had no doubt she could feel the physical attraction between them much as he could.
    He drew back from the door. He needed to get some sleep. Being this tired made it harder to get control, and he knew it was up to him to rein in what was happening between them. It would be hard enough when she left. If he let this go to the next level, it would kill him.
    He caught the slight movement in his peripheral view. As if his thoughts had conjured up her image, she moved down a step of the stairs. In seconds, she had his full attention. How could any woman look so sexy in oversized sweats? His gaze swept over her and focused on her bare feet. His voice failed, and he cleared his throat. “You’re going to be sick running around with nothing on your feet. What did you think I got the slippers for?” He’d tried to sound gruff, but it didn’t come out that way. He might have just as well been telling her how much he wanted her by the way he sounded.
    “I couldn’t sleep. I thought I’d get some cocoa.”
    Cooper looked down at his glass. It’d probably taste better than what he was drinking. Maybe he’d join her but, instead of cocoa, he’d have a hot buttered rum. He hoped he still had some in the cupboard. One cup couldn’t possible lower his control any more than it already was. With a nod, he moved toward the kitchen. Her bare feet shouldn’t have been making a sound, but he could hear her behind him. Or maybe not. Maybe he felt her more than heard her. Holding his breath, he focused on putting more distance between them because now he was picking up her scent. Distinctly hers, it smelled fresh and clean, not floral, but close.
    They never got as far as the stove to start the drinks. At the door to the kitchen, Cooper turned and pulled her into his arms. “Lynn, you’re driving me crazy. I…” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Galynn.”
    What had she said? Not “stop
.”
Her actions denied that. “What?” His voice was muffled as he claimed her mouth.
    She pulled back and smiled up at him. “My name. It’s not Lynn. It’s Galynn. It’s pronounced
Gail Lynn
. It’s unusual, so I wasn’t planning to ever use it again, but I don’t want anything that isn’t true between us. We have so little now, but we do have honesty.”
    Cooper closed his eyes, and the intense hunger banked. “Thank you. Thank you for trusting me.” He opened his eyes and gazed into hers. “I don’t know what’s happening. I know it’s too soon…”
    She reached up and traced his lips with her fingertips. “You deserve so much more than me, Coop. You deserve someone who isn’t damaged, who has a lifetime to love you. You make me…”
    “What? Tell me, honey. What do I make you feel?”
    “Oh, Coop, you make me feel warm, safe and lo…” She hid her face against his chest. “…cared for.”
    He kissed her fingers. “That wasn’t what you were