Read Online Seduced by Three by Sylvia Ryan - Free Book Online

false wall without a reply.
    This was the “it’s just sex” philosophy in action. He didn’t like it. He sat alone on the edge of the bed and felt his temper flare. The harsh “don’t call me, I’ll call you” dismissal sent a clear message that she was trying hard to keep anything between them meaningless.
    But, shit, wasn’t that what he’d done with practically every woman he’d ever been with? He’d given them all a polite thanks and then the brush off. He’d never really been open to any long-term commitment with his sexual partners over the years. Sarge’s conscience pricked him a little. He didn’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings, but now being on the receiving end of the unemotional, noncommittal post-sex morning, he knew his apathy toward them had been hurtful.
    “Huh,” he said to the empty room. He’d learned something today. A bit too late, in his estimation, but still, he’d learned.
     

Chapter 7
    Grace worked long hours side by side with Sarge in the unusually warm fall weather. Her mind whirled, desperate for distractions that would blur the mental picture of their hot, tangled bodies from the night before.
    She had given in to the desire his hands coaxed from within her. But from the moment she’d opened her eyes that morning, panic grabbed her, put down roots, and made itself at home. What was it about him that made her so compliant, so yielding to his will? It felt like he was able to control her with just a look or the mere rumble of his voice. It made her feel defenseless against him, and that terrified her .
    While she worked, Grace’s thoughts ran away from the charged lust and barrage of other feelings Sarge spurred within her, and began to travel to the camouflaged soldier she’d met the night before.
    Again and again throughout the day, her mind returned to Van. At first, she couldn’t figure out why. They’d only had the briefest of encounters. Maybe he was the only safe distraction her mind could focus on? New feelings and thoughts about Sarge skulked around her head and were summarily rejected if they had the strength to push forward to her conscious mind. And every other thought she’d had that morning seemed to be leading her down one dark road or another. Ultimately, she didn’t think she kept returning to thoughts of Van because he was a safe distraction. There was something more, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
    Sometime later in the day, her gray matter spit out the answer to the question that had been puzzling her. It was so simple, such a little thing, that it was stupid, really. He had accepted the fact that she could take care of herself on her way back home. There was no condescension, no you’re-just-a-girl vibe. He had merely given her the once-over and nodded his head when she asserted herself. He accepted her, respected her assertion, and didn’t second-guess her as if he knew better. It was refreshing and so fucking rare that by the end of the day, thoughts of him consistently crashed against the breakwall of her mind.
    She wanted to go to the lake again. Grace snickered to herself. Since bathing in the lake was probably the hygienic equivalent to a dog dragging his ass on the carpet, she had to be honest and admit to herself that she only wanted to go so she could see Van again. Some part of her knew that this line of thinking was a way of running away from any feelings she may be developing for Sarge, but it wasn’t that entirely. There was something else.
    She needed to see Van again. With the exception of her dad, Van had been the first man who didn’t immediately categorize her into dumb blonde because of her looks or sweet, helpless girl because of her voice. From the get-go, he had assessed her as capable.
    As the day passed, the desire to see him became increasingly urgent. She needed to satisfy her curiosity. She had to be sure she wasn’t passing up Prince Charming without a glance just because the kingdom was