Read Online Say No To Joe? by Lori Foster - Free Book Online Page A

babe. I’m already anxious.”
    â€œNo! I just meant . . .” She eyed him, then shook her head. “Stop being outrageous.”
    â€œI could die happy, honey.”
    She sighed. “You’re not up to it, Joe, and you know it. So quit trying.”
    â€œJust hoping to ease you into the idea, that’s all. When I’m back to my old self, which I will be very soon, I want you to be ready. We’ve wasted enough time.”
    â€œI’m not going to—”
    Joe caught her hand. “Shh.” He pulled her to the edge of the mattress until she sat beside him. “Don’t make declarations you might not be able to keep, okay? I want you, you want me. The rest will work itself out.”
    Flushed, Luna pulled free and stood. “I’m going to get some of my stuff out of the car.” She glanced along the length of his body, now stretched out from headboard to footboard atop the mattress. Her voice sounded thick. “It’s getting late and I’m tired.”
    Joe gave her a smug, knowing look. “I thought you wanted to hear about my job as a bodyguard.”
    â€œTomorrow. Over breakfast.”
    â€œAway from the bed and temptation?”
    She surprised him by nodding. “Exactly. Why don’t you go to sleep? I’m going to shower, make a few phone calls, then turn in on the couch.”
    Now, that idea sucked. “Hey, why sleep out there?” He patted the mattress beside him. “You’ll be more comfortable here.”
    She gazed at his naked chest, his stomach, his thighs, and let out a long breath. “No. I get the feeling that lying down with you right now would be frustrating and very uncomfortable. You need your rest, and I’m . . . Well, I think I’ll sleep better alone, too.” She started out of the room. “If you need anything, just call me.”
    In a near whisper, he asked, “And if I need you?”
    Her back to him, one hand on the knob, she paused at the door. “I suppose we’ll just have to see—when you’re up to par again.”
    The door closed with a quiet click behind her. Very slowly, Joe’s smile spread until he laughed out loud. He had her. She’d as much as agreed, thanks to his seduction tactics, and he wasn’t even up to full speed yet. Just wait until he felt a hundred percent and could really turn on the heat.
    He forgot his aches for the moment and, out of habit, reached for the balisong knife he always kept on the nightstand. Closed, it looked like a slim, harmless tool. Opened, it exposed a lethal blade. He’d carried such a knife for years.
    With one flick of his wrist, it opened like a butterfly spreading her wings. The handles folded back and the razor-sharp blade extended. Just as easily, Joe flipped it closed again. He only locked the handles into place when he wanted to actually use the knife. The rest of the time, he played with it, perfecting his timing, his dexterity. Open, closed, open, closed. The quiet snick, click was familiar to him, soothing.
    He heard the shower start, and an image of Luna naked and wet crowded into his brain. Lush breasts, full hips, honey-tinted skin . . . Snick, click. Snick, click. His heartbeat thumped, heavy and slow. He’d have her alone in his apartment for the next couple of days. Just showering and eating had left him much improved, a fact enforced by the ease with which he manipulated the knife. Even two days ago, he couldn’t have practiced the smooth movements so familiar to him.
    In a few days, he figured he could give her a taste of what she’d been denying for three long months. Anticipation rode him hard, and long past the time he heard Luna settle in on the couch, Joe lay awake thinking about it. Finally, sometime past midnight, he dozed off into broken sleep, tormented by the craving that wouldn’t abate.
    When the soft creak awoke him, he at first thought it was Luna coming to him. His