Read Online Pitch Black by Susan Crandall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susan Crandall
Tags: Tennessee
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wicked humor. “I have to admit, I’m a little surprised . . . after the dogged pursuit and all.” She batted her lashes dramatically.
“Oh, but you misread. That wasn’t fear. Not fear at all.” He leaned closer, until their faces were inches apart. “Restraint. What you saw was gentlemanly restraint. Southern mommas teach their boys not to take advantage of an emotionally exhausted woman. Besides, I didn’t feel it was the appropriate time for our first kiss. But since you called me on it . . .” He moved slowly closer and brushed his lips against hers, only allowing himself the briefest taste.
But when he pulled away, she came up out of her chair, her lips following his. Slipping her hands around the back of his neck, she kissed him,
really
kissed him . . . and his momma would have slapped him clear into next week for his ungentlemanly response.
Two steps forward backed her up against the glass door. Their bodies remained intimately close as they moved. He pressed his palms against the glass to keep his hands from traveling where they really wanted to go.
She’d once told him, “Good mothers don’t have boyfriends. I can’t put my feelings before Ethan’s needs.” It had taken him months to begin to lure her away from that conviction.
Don’t blow it now.
She was a passionate woman, invested to the gills in everything she did; he’d seen that in the first five minutes after they’d met. Now, with a single kiss, a fissure began in the wall behind which she’d locked all of her own needs. Her body hummed with dammed-up passion. He tasted starvation in her kiss.
His own body responded like a tuning fork, set to vibrating in harmony with hers. It took all of his willpower to put his hands on the tines and silence them. It had taken him too long to coax her closer; he could not let this go so far that she’d regret it.
He eased away from the kiss, keeping his palms plastered to the glass.
She looked up at him with eyes clouded by passion. Her lips were reddened from his kiss. He dipped his head and kissed her nose. “I’d better go or my credentials as a Southern gentleman will be revoked.”
Her tongue traced her bottom lip. Her sensual haze began to clear. Unfortunately, watching her mouth only inflamed his own desires.
She looked up at him and although she grinned wryly, disappointment colored her expression. “Yes, well, we can’t have that happen. I’ve already stirred things up enough in this God-fearing Southern town with my Yankee ways.”
She started to slide sideways from between him and the door. He held her in place with the pressure of his body and kissed her again.
With his lips still against hers, he said, “Oh, Maddie, you have no idea what your Yankee ways do to a country boy like me.”
He felt her lips spread into a smile. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
Chapter 5
W HAT WAS IT about that man’s voice that made her lose all sense? Madison rolled over in bed, looking out the window at the pink light of dawn. Her heart hummed happily as she ran her finger along lips that had gone too long without a kiss. Trouble was, she’d been blissfully ignorant of the lack until last night. Gabe had reawakened desires she’d buried when she’d taken on the role of guardian, and then parent.
Her wild response to his gentle kiss had taken her by surprise. The simple sweet kiss he had offered should have been enough. But instead of keeping her butt in that chair, she’d given in to her aching need for comfort. In doing so, she’d leapfrogged over several steps in laying the foundation for a good, stable relationship, which was the only kind she could allow herself now that she was a mother.
No matter how much she liked Gabe, Ethan’s wellbeing had to remain foremost in her mind. Last night she’d begun to hope that Ethan’s best interests didn’t preclude a relationship for her and Gabe. But she had to take it slowly; as much as she might want to, she could not embark on
“Oh, but you misread. That wasn’t fear. Not fear at all.” He leaned closer, until their faces were inches apart. “Restraint. What you saw was gentlemanly restraint. Southern mommas teach their boys not to take advantage of an emotionally exhausted woman. Besides, I didn’t feel it was the appropriate time for our first kiss. But since you called me on it . . .” He moved slowly closer and brushed his lips against hers, only allowing himself the briefest taste.
But when he pulled away, she came up out of her chair, her lips following his. Slipping her hands around the back of his neck, she kissed him,
really
kissed him . . . and his momma would have slapped him clear into next week for his ungentlemanly response.
Two steps forward backed her up against the glass door. Their bodies remained intimately close as they moved. He pressed his palms against the glass to keep his hands from traveling where they really wanted to go.
She’d once told him, “Good mothers don’t have boyfriends. I can’t put my feelings before Ethan’s needs.” It had taken him months to begin to lure her away from that conviction.
Don’t blow it now.
She was a passionate woman, invested to the gills in everything she did; he’d seen that in the first five minutes after they’d met. Now, with a single kiss, a fissure began in the wall behind which she’d locked all of her own needs. Her body hummed with dammed-up passion. He tasted starvation in her kiss.
His own body responded like a tuning fork, set to vibrating in harmony with hers. It took all of his willpower to put his hands on the tines and silence them. It had taken him too long to coax her closer; he could not let this go so far that she’d regret it.
He eased away from the kiss, keeping his palms plastered to the glass.
She looked up at him with eyes clouded by passion. Her lips were reddened from his kiss. He dipped his head and kissed her nose. “I’d better go or my credentials as a Southern gentleman will be revoked.”
Her tongue traced her bottom lip. Her sensual haze began to clear. Unfortunately, watching her mouth only inflamed his own desires.
She looked up at him and although she grinned wryly, disappointment colored her expression. “Yes, well, we can’t have that happen. I’ve already stirred things up enough in this God-fearing Southern town with my Yankee ways.”
She started to slide sideways from between him and the door. He held her in place with the pressure of his body and kissed her again.
With his lips still against hers, he said, “Oh, Maddie, you have no idea what your Yankee ways do to a country boy like me.”
He felt her lips spread into a smile. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
Chapter 5
W HAT WAS IT about that man’s voice that made her lose all sense? Madison rolled over in bed, looking out the window at the pink light of dawn. Her heart hummed happily as she ran her finger along lips that had gone too long without a kiss. Trouble was, she’d been blissfully ignorant of the lack until last night. Gabe had reawakened desires she’d buried when she’d taken on the role of guardian, and then parent.
Her wild response to his gentle kiss had taken her by surprise. The simple sweet kiss he had offered should have been enough. But instead of keeping her butt in that chair, she’d given in to her aching need for comfort. In doing so, she’d leapfrogged over several steps in laying the foundation for a good, stable relationship, which was the only kind she could allow herself now that she was a mother.
No matter how much she liked Gabe, Ethan’s wellbeing had to remain foremost in her mind. Last night she’d begun to hope that Ethan’s best interests didn’t preclude a relationship for her and Gabe. But she had to take it slowly; as much as she might want to, she could not embark on
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