Read Online Desire and Deception by Nicole Jordan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicole Jordan
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shoulders, drew her to him.
Caught off guard, Lauren pushed against his chest, but her resistance was no match for his great strength. Jason held her easily as he bent to brush her mouth in a kiss that was light and searching.
When he raised his head, Lauren stared up at him in shock. That brief contact had jolted her, sending a strange sensation racing through her.
He seemed to have felt it as well. Still holding her, he arched one tawny brow and regarded her thoughtfully. Then to Lauren's complete horror, he drew her still closer. She could feel the power coiled in his hard body as she pressed full-length against him.
Slowly, he reached up to settle his palm against the side of her face. "This won't be fair, either," he warned in a velvet murmur, and lowered his lips once more.
This time he actually kissed her, his arms coming around her as he captured her mouth. Yet the effect was the same as before. A lightning bolt of sensation shot through Lauren, frightening her with its intensity.
She tried to pull away, but Jason wouldn't allow it. His fingertips caressed her cheek while his lips moved slowly over hers, as if he were tutoring her response.
And as his kiss deepened, she did respond. Had Lauren been more experienced, she would have recognized her reaction for what it was: the primitive attraction a female had for a vital, virile male. Instead, she only knew that she was trembling. His mouth was hot and urgent, and even in her innocence, she could feel the raw hunger in him. She couldn't seem to catch her breath. . . .
When he at last raised his magnificent head, Lauren simply stood there, staring up into those startlingly blue eyes and wondering at his ability to arouse such powerful sensations in her. Dazed, she raised her fingers to her burning lips.
Jason smiled tenderly down at her. "Won't you allow me to help you?" he asked gently, his voice as husky as hers.
Then suddenly his eyes narrowed, his attention arrested by the ring on her third finger. He stared at it for a long moment.
"I'll be damned," he said softly, before he began to laugh.
He released her then—abruptly—but his chuckles continued vibrating softly in his chest. Lauren watched him warily, wondering what she had done that was so humorous.
Her concern grew when his expression showed no sign of sobering. Had he suddenly lost his senses? He seemed to be trying to stifle his amusement but he was failing miserably. And when he glanced at her again, she could see the wicked sparkle in his blue eyes. Lauren began to feel annoyed by his mirth. His next words, however, set her heart slamming against her ribs.
"Sit down, Miss Carlin," Jason managed to say, his voice still full of laughter. "It appears we have a great deal to talk about after all."
Her mouth went dry. He knew. Somehow he had guessed. Lauren sank into the chair, burying her face in her hands.
Jason was still grinning when Lila returned with a loaded tray. He waved the food away and picked up the bottle of wine, pouring three glasses of the ruby liquid with a flourish.
Lauren didn't speak or even lift her head as she accepted the glass he offered her. But Jason smiled, his teeth flashing white against his tan. Whatever premonition he had had earlier about his life changing had been accurate, he realized.
Gazing tenderly down at the golden head bowed in defeat, Jason raised his glass high. "To Miss Andrea Carlin," he said softly. "To my runaway bride."
Chapter Four
Draining his glass, Jason leisurely poured himself another measure of wine. "Leave us, Lila," he said calmly, his gaze still focused on Lauren's bowed head.
"But, shouldn't I—"
"Miss Carlin will come to no harm, I assure you. We hadn't finished our discussion yet. Had we, Sleeping Beauty?"
Lauren made no answer as she twisted a pleat of her skirt between slender white fingers. Puzzled, Lila looked from her to Jason, sensing the tension that stretched between the two of them. But she knew Jason was a man of
Caught off guard, Lauren pushed against his chest, but her resistance was no match for his great strength. Jason held her easily as he bent to brush her mouth in a kiss that was light and searching.
When he raised his head, Lauren stared up at him in shock. That brief contact had jolted her, sending a strange sensation racing through her.
He seemed to have felt it as well. Still holding her, he arched one tawny brow and regarded her thoughtfully. Then to Lauren's complete horror, he drew her still closer. She could feel the power coiled in his hard body as she pressed full-length against him.
Slowly, he reached up to settle his palm against the side of her face. "This won't be fair, either," he warned in a velvet murmur, and lowered his lips once more.
This time he actually kissed her, his arms coming around her as he captured her mouth. Yet the effect was the same as before. A lightning bolt of sensation shot through Lauren, frightening her with its intensity.
She tried to pull away, but Jason wouldn't allow it. His fingertips caressed her cheek while his lips moved slowly over hers, as if he were tutoring her response.
And as his kiss deepened, she did respond. Had Lauren been more experienced, she would have recognized her reaction for what it was: the primitive attraction a female had for a vital, virile male. Instead, she only knew that she was trembling. His mouth was hot and urgent, and even in her innocence, she could feel the raw hunger in him. She couldn't seem to catch her breath. . . .
When he at last raised his magnificent head, Lauren simply stood there, staring up into those startlingly blue eyes and wondering at his ability to arouse such powerful sensations in her. Dazed, she raised her fingers to her burning lips.
Jason smiled tenderly down at her. "Won't you allow me to help you?" he asked gently, his voice as husky as hers.
Then suddenly his eyes narrowed, his attention arrested by the ring on her third finger. He stared at it for a long moment.
"I'll be damned," he said softly, before he began to laugh.
He released her then—abruptly—but his chuckles continued vibrating softly in his chest. Lauren watched him warily, wondering what she had done that was so humorous.
Her concern grew when his expression showed no sign of sobering. Had he suddenly lost his senses? He seemed to be trying to stifle his amusement but he was failing miserably. And when he glanced at her again, she could see the wicked sparkle in his blue eyes. Lauren began to feel annoyed by his mirth. His next words, however, set her heart slamming against her ribs.
"Sit down, Miss Carlin," Jason managed to say, his voice still full of laughter. "It appears we have a great deal to talk about after all."
Her mouth went dry. He knew. Somehow he had guessed. Lauren sank into the chair, burying her face in her hands.
Jason was still grinning when Lila returned with a loaded tray. He waved the food away and picked up the bottle of wine, pouring three glasses of the ruby liquid with a flourish.
Lauren didn't speak or even lift her head as she accepted the glass he offered her. But Jason smiled, his teeth flashing white against his tan. Whatever premonition he had had earlier about his life changing had been accurate, he realized.
Gazing tenderly down at the golden head bowed in defeat, Jason raised his glass high. "To Miss Andrea Carlin," he said softly. "To my runaway bride."
Chapter Four
Draining his glass, Jason leisurely poured himself another measure of wine. "Leave us, Lila," he said calmly, his gaze still focused on Lauren's bowed head.
"But, shouldn't I—"
"Miss Carlin will come to no harm, I assure you. We hadn't finished our discussion yet. Had we, Sleeping Beauty?"
Lauren made no answer as she twisted a pleat of her skirt between slender white fingers. Puzzled, Lila looked from her to Jason, sensing the tension that stretched between the two of them. But she knew Jason was a man of