Read Online Perfect Specimen: Brietta by Kate Donovan - Free Book Online Page A

take it slow—”
    “No, you were right to fire me. We can’t go down this road. I mean . . .” She smiled shyly. “Maybe once we get back to the States we can give it a try. But not now. You know we’ll end up fighting—we’re both so pigheaded. Especially you.”
    “You’re hilarious, you know that? The problem is”—he nuzzled her neck—“I can’t resist you. Any of you, but especially your body.” To prove it, he slipped his hand under her shirt and stroked his way to her breasts.
    “Taggert . . . Tagg . . .” She groaned softly. “You feel so good, but we can’t. Dig sex always goes south, plus my head is really beginning to hurt.”
    “Huh?” He pulled back and stared into her feverish eyes, realizing too late that she was in agony. “Jeez, what happened?”
    Taking her arm, he led her to her cot and urged her to lie down, then he covered her with a thin blanket despite the lingering heat in the air. “Can I get you something? There are painkillers in the med kit. And there’s that super-antibiotic—you should definitely switch to that one.”
    “I’ll be fine. I just need to sleep.” Pulling the blanket over her face, she explained, “The light hurts my eyes.”
    He pulled a camp chair up to the cot and sat down, then reached under the blanket to gently rub her forehead as he’d done on the plane.
    “That feels so good.” She allowed him to massage her for a few more moments, then sat up and gave him a tortured smile. “I’m a mess, just like you said. You’d better go so I can conk out.”
    “Do you want me to send Melody in?”
    She shook her head. “Just let me fall apart for a few hours and I’ll be good as new. Don’t worry,” she added, this time with a touch of real humor. “It looks worse than it feels.”
    He doubted that. “In the morning, we’ll drive into the village—”
    “No, Tagg.” She grabbed his hand. “It’s feeling better already. Really.” She seemed surprised by her own words and murmured, “Seriously, you must have magic hands, because the pain is completely gone. I swear it.”
    He studied her face, intrigued by the hint of pink in the previously pale cheeks. She actually did seem better. “You’re a good actress—”
    “No, it’s true.” She slipped off the cot and pulled him to his feet, then slid one hand behind his neck. “One more kiss, then that’s it. No matter what. Agreed?”
    There was a mischievous sparkle in her eyes that told him she wasn’t just pretending to feel better, so he exhaled in relief, then kissed her, gently at first, and then, as her body molded against his, he demanded more.
    And she gave it, but only for another minute. Then she stepped back, her cheeks now flushed to a deep crimson. “We need to stop this. It’s crazy, and it could ruin the whole project.”
    Her prediction had its intended impact, and so he didn’t protest. “You’re right, it’s crazy. But man, do I want it. Good thing you’re tough enough for the both of us.”
    “Trust me, I’m not all that tough,” she murmured, stroking his cheek with her fingertips. “So get out of here, please?”
    He grabbed her hand and kissed it, then arched a complaining eyebrow. “You’re making a sap out of me, you know.”
    She rolled her eyes. “So much for romance. Just leave already.”
    Chuckling, he looked her up and down, imagining how good she’d feel if he was rubbing her for fun instead of medicinal purposes. Then, after giving her a suggestive wink, he forced himself to walk away.
     
    * * * *
     
    Brietta tossed and turned that night, but for once it wasn’t due to a headache or a mad scientist with a chain saw—it was all Taggert. She could barely believe they had allowed things to go so far.
    When she awoke the next morning, his words of faint praise were the first thing she remembered: Good thing you’re tough enough for the both of us .
    “You really are tough,” she congratulated herself as she slid out of bed. Reaching for