Read Online Outside The Lines (Love Beyond Reason Book 2) by Beth Rhodes - Free Book Online Page B

should fight her basic instinct to be with this man.
    Shouldn’t she?
    His lips moved against her skin, sparking the same fire in her that had driven her to him in the first place. She lengthened her spine, flattening herself against him as she turned her head for a taste. She wanted a taste of him. Her body betrayed her and her hands went to his sides, pulling at the soft flannel tucked into his jeans.
    He captured her mouth, and it was oh-so-good when she opened to him and tentatively brushed his tongue with her own. Right back where they started. The chemistry too hot to subdue.
    Maria strained against him, the small mound at her waist pressing against his—oh, hell—his erection, and her arms circled his neck. She couldn’t get enough—again. She didn’t want to let go!
    “Fuck.” He broke off suddenly, leaving her breathless. Unsteady on her feet, she leaned back against her side of the door jamb. And stared.
    He was looking at her stomach.
    Her heart was in her throat as his hand came out and touched her.
    “I’m still small.”
    He reached for her and lifted the tee, his bare hand covered the bump she still had no trouble hiding.
    “I can feel it. My clothes still fit—for the most part. But probably not for long.” She rested her own hands on top of his. And, shame on her, desire pooled low in her womb. His hands were warm against her skin, like fire on ice. She cleared her throat.
    “It’s so firm,” he whispered. “Is that normal?”
    “I hope so,” she answered with a laugh that made him look up at her.
    “Are you scared?”
    Maria shook her head. “Not really. Not of being pregnant.”
    He seemed so fascinated, she wondered if they’d stand there all afternoon. She guessed the baby bump was a good reason as any to stop the direction of their touches, their—obviously—unrequited desire.
    She took his hand and lowered her shirt. “Cards, right?”
    “Sure.” He moved away from her but then turned back with a look of fierce possession on his face. “No. No, damn it, Maria.” He tossed the deck to the nearest counter and dragged her back into his arms for a fast, hard kiss, and then he planted her away from him and got on his knees.
    “What are—?”
    He lifted her shirt again and measured her with shaking hands. “It’s real.”
    Maria dug her fingers into his thick, dark hair and tugged—just enough to get his attention.
    “Hey!”
    “Of course it’s real.”
    She wasn’t used to having a man on his knees in front of her. It was humbling and sexy to see him there.
    “Oh, my God, Maria.” His voice shook this time.
    “Spooked? Babies are a big deal. Marriage…is bigger. Ready to change your mind?”
    “Jesus. I can’t believe I did that.”
    She did step back then and sent him a look of amusement. But it was his answering laugh that captured her heart.
    “I’m sorry. That sounded—” He cleared his throat.
    “Proud?” She filled in for him.
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be. I didn’t realize how—”
    She waited a moment as he collected his thoughts, and when he didn’t, she spoke again. “How powerful creating life could feel?”
    “Jesus.”
    “You keep saying that. We’re not naming this child Jesus,” she answered in her own accent with the soft J of her parents’ language.
    He laughed, like she knew he would. In the quiet of this warm kitchen of this gorgeous home, her heart settled like it hadn’t since he’d left at the beginning of November.
    He pulled her back close again and pressed a kiss to her belly. And she ran fingers through his hair, gently this time, unable to stop the flood of desire, the need to be with him and to incite him like he incited her.
    She was going to marry him.
    Oh… Her stomach dropped in the same instant her head went light. She was going to marry him. Right, wrong, good, bad. It didn’t matter. She wanted to be with David March, with the man who could say things that made her both furious and overwhelmingly happy all