Read Online Line of Fire by Cindy Dees - Free Book Online Page B

me?”
    He could try to explain the vital strategic importance of sleep in a situation like this, but he doubted she’d hear him past the panic darting in her eyes. He’d learned long ago that fear made people act stupid faster than just about any emotion except lust. What she needed was a good dose of riling up to chase that stark terror from her gaze.
    He grinned up at her. “What ever happened to making me admit I liked that kiss?” He held out an inviting arm. “Now’s your chance, or did you give up on your threat already?”
    She spluttered, “Aah! You think I’ll just fall into your arms if you so much as—”
    He cut her off. “Get over yourself, Princess. I’m perfectly capable of sleeping beside you without giving in to uncontrolled lust.” He added for good measure, “You’re not that irresistible.”
    Her gaze narrowed. Ah, yes. That pushed her mad button but good.
    Slowly she stretched out beside him. Her hand landed in the middle of his chest and began wandering over the suddenly tight muscles there. Her leg rubbed against his. And then her thigh started to climb his, inching toward parts of him that were abruptly at full attention. Her body moved sinuously against his side.
    “What in the hell are you doing?” he growled.
    “Sharing body heat,” she answered, all innocence.
    Damn. Maybe he shouldn’t have riled her up quite so much.
    * * *
    Kimberly huffed. Not that irresistible, indeed. She’d felt the surge of sexual heat from him when he kissed her earlier, and it was pouring off him again now. She’d show him, by golly. She traced his rib cage, counting the bones beneath slabs of heavy, hard muscle. Everywhere she touched him he was like steel.
    The men she knew wore suits and battled with words and money and power. But Tex was a throwback to another time. He was a warrior. He lived off his brawn and quick thinking. A thrill of purely female appreciation swept through her. Whoa, more than she’d bargained for, here.
    Her inner thigh swept high along his leg and she started as she encountered the heavy bulge of his desire. A low, warning growl rumbled in his chest.
    She ignored a thrill of trepidation. She’d make him admit he wanted her one way or another.
    His pectorals leapt under her hand as it slid upward. The muscles and tendons in his neck formed tense cords when she scratched her fingernails lightly across them. She ran her fingers around his ear, revelling in the shudder that rippled through him.
    The motion of her arm moved her breast back and forth across his chest, rubbing her sensitized nipple against his unyielding strength. She gasped at the sensation, galvanized by the ripples of pleasure that shot through her belly and tingled out to her fingertips. It was absolutely indecent to crawl all over a man like this. Shameless. Delicious. She moved her arm again. Oh, that was very nice.
    This time the warning came from inside her own head. She was in danger of losing control, in danger of giving in to him completely, of begging him to make love to her.
    In danger of breaking out of your shell and finding some real pleasure for once, a little voice whispered in her heart.
    That gave her a start. Was she that inhibited? That much of a control freak? Did she never let go of herself and just enjoy the moment? She became aware of Tex once more, stretched out rigid on the ground beside her, breathing heavily. His self-control was a palpable thing between them, a fragile barrier he was determined not to cross.
    But what if he did cross it? What if they both did?
    The possibilities spun in her head until she could barely see straight. Abruptly she knew. With utter certainty. They would create a passion between them that was so hot, so overwhelming, they’d bring the jungle crashing down around them.
    She moved against him, seeking more of the piercing pleasure touching him gave her. She lifted her mouth to his neck, tasting the salt on his skin, smelling the lightly musky scent of