Read Online Indirect Route by Claire Matthews - Free Book Online Page A

his hair and pulled him closer.  He went willingly, moaning in the back of his throat.  Holy crap.
    “Aaron, wait,” she mumbled against his lips.  He pulled back quickly, a sharp stab of fear tearing through his stomach.
    “What?  I’m sorry.  I thought…I’m sorry.”
    “God, you idiot.”  She smiled and pushed him back gently.  “The coat hook is jabbing me between the shoulder blades.  Can we move this somewhere a bit more comfortable? Because the last thing I want you to do is stop.”  She pulled him by the hand towards the nearest bed, which happened to be his.  As they tumbled across the mattress, he tried his best to balance his weight, but Janie kept grabbing him—by the collar, by the hair, by the belt—and soon he was sprawled across her like a blanket.
    “Am I hurting you?” he whispered between kisses.
    “Do I look like I’m in pain?” She reached up and planted her lips on the sensitive skin behind his earlobe, and he jumped at the electric shock it sent through him.
    “Nope,” he groaned, and met her lips more confidently than before.  After a while, he lost track of time, and it seemed like their kisses were all that was left in the world, all he had to concern himself with.  His lips, her lips, their tongues colliding, caressing, exploring…
    “My arm is numb,” she finally conceded, and Aaron sat up stiffly. 
    “I’m sorry.  I knew I was too heavy.  Here.”  He grabbed her by the elbow and began massaging her from wrist to shoulder.  Long, slow strokes, which made her close her eyes and lean her head on his shoulder.
    “That feels so good.”  Her hot breath hit him under the chin. He began to pluck soft kisses from her swollen lips like ripe berries from a vine, and couldn’t remember a time when he’d been happier.
    “I just thought of something,” Janie said abruptly, bring him up short.
    “What?”
    “I mean, seriously, when was the last time you ate?  Like, anything?  Not since breakfast, right?”  Aaron released a bark of surprised laughter. 
    “Janie, I can assure you, food is the last thing on my mind right now.”  He moved in to kiss her again, but she planted her palms against his chest. 
    “Aaron, you need to eat something more than a Pop tart today.  I’m serious.  I don’t mean to get up in your grill and all—“
    “Up in my grill?”
    “Whatever.”  She shook her head, clearly frustrated.  “You have to eat! I can’t help worrying about you.”
    Aaron heaved himself off the bed, adjusting his jeans in what he hoped was a nonchalant manner.  “Fine.  There’s one restaurant I can eat at.  It’s not fancy, but if it’ll let you sleep tonight, let’s go.”
    Within a minute, they were headed out the door.  Aaron just wanted to get this over with.

CHAPTER NINE
    JANIE
     
    “McDonald’s?” she cried, incredulous.
    “Afraid so.”
    “So let me get this straight.  You have a phobia about germs in food, and the only restaurant you’ll eat in is McDonald’s?  That’s like someone with a fear of heights living in a treehouse!”
    “I know if doesn’t make sense, but in my mind, the chances of an actual human being touching the food is less likely here than at any other fast food restaurant.  It’s all so processed and conveyor-belty.”
    “Is that an adjective?”
    “I choose to think so.” 
    They got in the drive-thru line, and Janie watched Aaron out of the corner of her eye as he called his order out the car window.  When he finished and put the car back in gear, she looked straight ahead, trying hard not to crack a smile.
    “What now?”  He barked, but she knew he wasn’t really mad.
    “Why?  Why a happy meal?”
    “Because, I figure they have to be more careful with the kid food than with the adult food.”  He cleared his throat.  “I hope you noticed that I told them to leave out the toy.”
    “I did.  It was very manly of you.”
    At the window, Aaron passed his money through the