Read Online Seduction’s Canvas (Crimson Romance) by K.M. Jackson - Free Book Online Page B

that to the test. Prove it.”
    His dark eyes went to the latticed ceiling for a moment as if to say, “Is this woman really testing my mad skills?” and then landed securely back on her. She leaned back against the freight elevator’s padded walls and gave him a smug nod.
    He let out an impatient sigh. “Okay, Miss Leighton, are you sure you want to do this?”
    “Did I stutter, Mr. Thorn, or are you not up for the challenge?”
    He grinned, letting out a puff of air. Then he licked those full lips, momentarily biting the bottom one and then letting it go.
    Sam sucked in a short breath. “You don’t know anything.”
    Mark looked up at her sharply. Did she insult him? Because that wasn’t her intent. She was just teasing a bit. Sam was about to apologize when he started to speak.
    “You’re five foot nine, about a hundred and th — ” It was now her turn to give the sharp look and he stopped mid word with an apologetic smile before he continued. “Fine. I’ll move on. Your shoe size is a ten, but an eleven would make you much happier, so, yes, those shoes are probably killing you right now.”
    She twisted her lips. “Okay, so you’re observant. So what — ”
    “You have chocolate brown eyes that change colors when the light hits, showing hints of gold around the irises. Your hair is the most fascinating — a mahogany with three hints of brown that go to red in the sun.” She swallowed. “You straddle the line between two worlds, more like three, going from the world of Samara Leighton, daughter of real estate mogul and self proclaimed king of New York, to the woman I saw tonight, the party girl — short skirt, high heeled boots, barroom fights.” He stopped and just stared at her.
    “And … ”
    “And?”
    “You said there were three worlds that I was straddling, So, Mr. Thorn, what about the third world? The third me that you say you know so well?” Her arms tightened around herself and she blinked rapidly.
    His eyes lowered. “I’ve said enough. It’s late.”
    She shook her head. “No, you don’t get to stop now. Obviously, you think you have me all sized up after one meeting and one night. You’re just like everyone else. So go on, tell me the rest. What about the other me?” Her voice was rising against her own sense of control.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Stop.” She threw up a hand. “No need to be sorry now. Don’t wimp out, just keep going.”
    With that, his control seemed to snap and he bounded forward, pushing off the side wall and coming to stand in front of her. A solid wall of uncompromising muscle. But her eyes lifted and held. Mark lifted his hand slowly, and still Sam refused to flinch and instead just tilted her chin up and steeled her resolve as her lips tightened and his nostrils flared in primal response.
    “The third one,” he ground out as his thumb stroked, surprisingly soft along her jaw line. Fuck. She would not puddle up right here in this elevator. Sam glared as he continued. “Is the one I see when you don’t think anyone is looking. The one who goes to the park at dawn to catch the early morning light. Eyes all soft, brush or pencil in her hand. Taking in all the things that most others don’t see. The one with the paint splattered sneakers and a mixture of unrecognizable colors underneath her expensive nail polish. It’s the one who would rather be in front of a canvas over the opening of the latest club or walking the red carpet. I think that’s the you that you don’t want anyone to see. But I see her. I’ve seen her.”
    Samara shuddered out a breath. Who was this man? She tried to take a step back, but hit the wall she was already on.
    She hardened her stance. “I … you … ” She let out a frustrated breath. “You are full of it. Anyone can figure those things about me by just hitting Google.”
    “Anybody?” he questioned and answered all at the same time.
    Oh hell, she was screwed. This was fun for a night, but it was time to steer