Read Online Guardian Angel by Leanne Banks - Free Book Online Page A

“I’ve got a thing about all these earrings.” He ran his tongue over the tiny studs.
    Talia was sure she was going to black out if he didn’t stop. Her pulse was pounding in her head, in her chest, in her very core. If she had any sense at all, she’d roll off that sofa and run. But sense wasn’t a factor. She wanted his mouth again.
    Turning her head, she licked his lips, deliberately enticing him. With a low growl, he took control and sucked her tongue into his mouth. Talia gave and took, raking her fingers through his tousled hair.
    He pressed his hard arousal against her and searched out her feminine curves. His heat only made her hotter until she thought she’d explode into flames. When had anyone affected her this way?
    Her nipples peaked against his clever hands and she grew greedy. She arched into him. An intense satisfaction coursed through her as he groaned and ground himself against her eager hips. Her hands skimmed down his chest to where his heart thundered.
    He pushed her dress up her legs and squeezed her thighs, then lifted his head. She whimpered at the loss and looked at him. His eyes burned hot. The thought struck her that she’d never seen green fire before.
    â€œWhen I first saw you in this dress tonight,” he said, his voice harsh, “I thought you looked beautiful. I didn’t have any complaints when it was wet either. But right now, I want it off. I want everything off. Are you ready for what comes next, Talia?”
    She closed her eyes and waited for the room to stop spinning. She waited to cool off, but that probably wouldn’t happen in this lifetime. Was she ready? She had known physical pleasure, but her limited experience had not prepared her for the storm of Trace’s desire.
    Choices. Either way she’d get punished. If she went ahead, her mind would kill her with regrets. If she didn’t, her body would be aflame until she died.
    She took a deep breath and allowed her mind to prevail. “This is difficult for me, but we’ve got to stop. I just can’t do this.”
    A long silence swollen with suspended passion and emotion hung like a veil between them.
    He clenched his jaw and pulled away. “It’s too soon,” he said. “If I’d been thinking with anything above my belt, I wouldn’t have pushed.”
    When he moved off her, she had to bite her lip to keep from begging him to stay. Dammit, why couldn’t he act nasty? It would be so much easier. “You didn’t push,” she said in a husky voice.
    He helped her into a sitting position and brushed her hair from her face. “I’m not usually this way. But there’s something about you, Talia, something about your smile and eyes.” He tore his gaze from her red lips. “But we don’t need to rush it. When can I see you again?”
    She shook her head. “We can’t.”
    â€œCan’t?” he repeated, incredulous.
    â€œThat’s right. It just wouldn’t work, Trace. There are far too many—”
    He grabbed her fidgeting hands. “You called me Trace.” His voice held a note a triumph.
    â€œIt was a slip of the tongue.”
    He grinned. “Speaking of your tongue…”
    â€œTrace,” she warned, and pulled her hands from his.
    â€œTalia,” he mocked gently. “You can’t convince me you don’t feel anything when I touch you. We’d be crazy not to pursue this.”
    Exhaling a long breath, Talia rearranged her dress. He wasn’t making this easy. She looked him directly in the eye. “It just won’t work. There’s too much bad blood between your family and mine.”
    His brow furrowed in confusion.
    â€œBad blood?”
    â€œYou really don’t know, do you?”
    â€œKnow what?”
    â€œI think you’d better talk to Philip.”
    His gaze was piercing. “What’s the big secret? Why don’t you tell