Read Online In the Arms of a Stranger by Kimberley Reeves - Free Book Online
Authors: Kimberley Reeves
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to her forehead. “Close your eyes, sweetheart. I’ll wake you once I’ve gotten you all nice and toasty.”
She was feeling pretty toasty already but was enjoying the comfort of being in his arms far too much to give it up just yet. It was impossible not to be aware of him physically; Jake exuded masculinity like no other man she had ever known, but there was nothing sexual about the way he was holding her and she trusted him explicitly. As she drifted off to sleep, Bri couldn’t help wishing he could remain a part of her life forever.
***
Jake was roused from a heavy sleep by Bri’s distressed mumblings and woke to find her sprawled across his chest. He stroked her hair, crooning softly until she stopped rambling and slipped back into a dreamless sleep. He probably should have woke her up and sent her off to bed then hauled himself across the hall to his own room, but it felt too good, too right being here with her. Nothing short of a freak earthquake was going make him give up his prize position. Jake closed his eyes again, breathing in the scent that was so uniquely Bri’s and it suddenly hit him that somewhere deep inside he had to have known it wasn’t Brandy he was making love to the night before.
He opened his eyes again, staring at the ceiling for a long time before coming to the definite conclusion he had known. And if he’d been aware of it on a subconscious level, it was entirely possible Bri had been too. Of course, it was just as likely she hadn’t realized since she’d never slept with Chad, or any man, before. Jake smiled to himself. It didn’t really matter whether she did or didn’t because the fact remained she’d made love to him that last time fully cognizant of who she was with. And she was here now, in his arms, where she belonged.
One month, that’s all the time he had. Was it enough? It had to be, he thought fiercely. He was past the point of wondering how she’d managed to turn his life upside down in only a matter of a few days and had moved on to worrying about how he was going to keep her from marrying Chad. And then what? Was Jake Malone, the eternal bachelor, prepared to offer Brianne marriage after stealing her from her fiancé? He was physically attracted to her, of that there was no doubt, and making love to her had been amazing to say the least, but he hardly knew her well enough to say he was in love with her.
Jake’s arms tightened possessively around her slender form. No, it was too soon to say he was in love with Bri, but he was close enough to the edge to know it wouldn’t take much to send him falling headlong and heedless over the side. Good God, what was he getting himself into? The smart thing to do would be to keep his distance and squash this burning need he had to cart her off to the bedroom every time he even looked at her. Wasn’t that proof enough that what he was feeling was predominately sexual in nature? He was doing a fairly good job of convincing himself of that and probably would have fallen asleep confident he could actually keep his emotions in check if only Brianne hadn’t started mumbling again.
It wasn’t just that she called out his name with a breathy sigh, it was the way his heart leapt and his throat constricted when she did it. Her delicate hand inched up his chest and she murmured his name again, squirming against him in such a seductive manner he could only lie there in agony and imagine what she was dreaming about. Jake gritted his teeth. Oh yeah, he was going to be a pillar of strength all right.
He gave her shoulder a gentle shake. “Bri, honey, wake up.”
She nuzzled her face in his neck, only half awake. “Just let me sleep…few more minutes…”
“Baby, it’s late and…ah, hell.”
She was sound asleep again.
She weighed
She was feeling pretty toasty already but was enjoying the comfort of being in his arms far too much to give it up just yet. It was impossible not to be aware of him physically; Jake exuded masculinity like no other man she had ever known, but there was nothing sexual about the way he was holding her and she trusted him explicitly. As she drifted off to sleep, Bri couldn’t help wishing he could remain a part of her life forever.
***
Jake was roused from a heavy sleep by Bri’s distressed mumblings and woke to find her sprawled across his chest. He stroked her hair, crooning softly until she stopped rambling and slipped back into a dreamless sleep. He probably should have woke her up and sent her off to bed then hauled himself across the hall to his own room, but it felt too good, too right being here with her. Nothing short of a freak earthquake was going make him give up his prize position. Jake closed his eyes again, breathing in the scent that was so uniquely Bri’s and it suddenly hit him that somewhere deep inside he had to have known it wasn’t Brandy he was making love to the night before.
He opened his eyes again, staring at the ceiling for a long time before coming to the definite conclusion he had known. And if he’d been aware of it on a subconscious level, it was entirely possible Bri had been too. Of course, it was just as likely she hadn’t realized since she’d never slept with Chad, or any man, before. Jake smiled to himself. It didn’t really matter whether she did or didn’t because the fact remained she’d made love to him that last time fully cognizant of who she was with. And she was here now, in his arms, where she belonged.
One month, that’s all the time he had. Was it enough? It had to be, he thought fiercely. He was past the point of wondering how she’d managed to turn his life upside down in only a matter of a few days and had moved on to worrying about how he was going to keep her from marrying Chad. And then what? Was Jake Malone, the eternal bachelor, prepared to offer Brianne marriage after stealing her from her fiancé? He was physically attracted to her, of that there was no doubt, and making love to her had been amazing to say the least, but he hardly knew her well enough to say he was in love with her.
Jake’s arms tightened possessively around her slender form. No, it was too soon to say he was in love with Bri, but he was close enough to the edge to know it wouldn’t take much to send him falling headlong and heedless over the side. Good God, what was he getting himself into? The smart thing to do would be to keep his distance and squash this burning need he had to cart her off to the bedroom every time he even looked at her. Wasn’t that proof enough that what he was feeling was predominately sexual in nature? He was doing a fairly good job of convincing himself of that and probably would have fallen asleep confident he could actually keep his emotions in check if only Brianne hadn’t started mumbling again.
It wasn’t just that she called out his name with a breathy sigh, it was the way his heart leapt and his throat constricted when she did it. Her delicate hand inched up his chest and she murmured his name again, squirming against him in such a seductive manner he could only lie there in agony and imagine what she was dreaming about. Jake gritted his teeth. Oh yeah, he was going to be a pillar of strength all right.
He gave her shoulder a gentle shake. “Bri, honey, wake up.”
She nuzzled her face in his neck, only half awake. “Just let me sleep…few more minutes…”
“Baby, it’s late and…ah, hell.”
She was sound asleep again.
She weighed
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