Read Online Michel/Striker by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright - Free Book Online Page A

Michel’s arms earlier in the morning she’d instantly gone into panic mode.
    It wasn’t like her relationship with Locke. That had been easy…convenient. They’d been attracted to one another, and they’d shared an intellectual communication, but there hadn’t been any fireworks. Or the sense that she was being consumed by her lover.
    But with Michel…
    God almighty.
    She felt as if she’d been stripped down to her most primitive soul. As if she’d been laid bare for the male who’d given her more pleasure than she’d ever dreamed possible.
    It was terrifying.
    And oddly exhilarating.
    So was it any wonder when he’d tried to discuss the intense night of passion while they lay in bed, she’d instead kissed him until he’d growled in fierce hunger, unable to resist her seduction?
    But while he’d allowed her to postpone the inevitable conversation, they both knew it was a temporary reprieve.
    Clearly determined to prove her point, he reached out to grasp her chin, tugging her to meet his searching gaze.
    “You know, you can’t hide from me forever, Chelsea.”
    Her heart clenched.
    He was so gorgeous with his starkly carved features, his stunning green eyes, and his smoldering male sensuality.
    Sheer perfection.
    No, not perfection, a tiny voice whispered in the back of her mind.
    He understood the pain she’d suffered. And he didn’t mind her scars.
    Another jolt of panic raced through her. “I’m sitting two feet away from you. That’s hardly hiding.”
    His brows drew together, his expression troubled. “Why won’t you discuss what happened between us?”
    Because I’m terrified you’re going to destroy my heart.
    “Do you always do a postmortem after sex?” she forced herself to mutter.
    He growled deep in his chest, the searing heat in the car becoming suffocating.
    “We made love, we didn’t have sex. And no, I don’t always do a postmortem.” He leaned forward, allowing her to see his cat that lurked in the back of his eyes. “But then before last night I’d never been with a female I intend to keep.”
    He intended to keep her?
    “Michel,” she breathed, giving a shake of her head.
    She hadn’t forgotten this male had treated her for weeks as if she had the plague. Or at least that was the excuse she was clinging to.
    His lips twisted. “No need for that horrified reaction.”
    “Just a day ago you considered me the enemy,” she reminded him.
    His eyes darkened to moss, regret tightening his features.
    “I considered my emotions the enemy.”
    She knew exactly what he was talking about. After the death of her family and her grandmother’s subtle rejection, she’d closed off her heart and concentrated on her studies.
    Science didn’t hurt you.
    People did.
    “You don’t trust me,” she reminded him.
    “I’m learning.” He grabbed her arm as she lifted her hand to bite her nail, tugging it toward his mouth. Sparks of pleasure jolted through her as his lips gently teased her inner wrist. “Just as you’re hopefully learning to trust me.”
    The panic began to recede as she became lost in the warm depths of his eyes.
    “What do you want from me?” she breathed.
    “To explore the possibilities.” He nipped the center of her palm. “Is that too much to ask?”
    Exploring possibilities. A tentative smile curved her lips. That sounded…nice. And not nearly as frightening as she’d expected it to.
    “No,” she said in soft tones. “I think I’d like to explore the possibilities.”
    “Good.” A wicked smile curved his lips as he placed her hand flat against his chest. “And while you’re at it, I have a few other things for you to explore.”
    Her lips twitched. “You wish.”
    “Every second of every day,” he murmured before releasing her hand and glancing toward the building that was bathed in a rosy glow from the morning sunlight. “Let’s go.”
    With the liquid grace that revealed he wasn’t entirely human, Michel was out of the car and sprinting