Read Online Slow Fever by Cait London - Free Book Online Page B

didn’t want that violence touching Kylie’s life.
    “I don’t suppose they tried anything,” he heard himself say, though he’d promised himself not to ask. “At their houses?” he added, resenting his jealousy, now defined as that fiery emotion, and the first bitter taste in his lifetime.
    She began to stroke down his backside and then returned to gently rock him with her hands. “Michael. I’m one of the guys. I’m Tanner’s little sister. When I’m more settled, I’ll probably be taking one of them to the Sweetheart Dance. It’s a matter of selection for the long run and gettingto know them as men—changing the parameters of a relationship and getting them to see me as a woman they’d like to marry. Right now, I’m Anna’s daughter and Tanner’s sister and I’m divorced. It will take them a while to adjust to me as an adult and a single woman. They’re all just excellent dancers and I haven’t danced in years. Leon was too muscle-bound—he moved rather stiffly. They were all very sweet and actually cooperated a lot more than you are doing…. And besides I know touch points that can momentarily paralyze a difficult client. You’ve got to flow with this, Michael—give yourself to me,” she repeated earnestly.
    He wanted to give himself to her forever. He wanted to stake his claim, show her how much he adored her, how much he wanted to—to bond with her. The primitive need shocked him and Michael shivered. “Did that happen often—a difficult customer?”
    “Mmm. Once or twice. It’s an occupational hazard. Word gets around and then I wasn’t bothered again. You’re too tense for this. Your hands are in fists at your sides—that will never do. Let’s try this. It’s compensating for the lack of a massage bench, but you need to feel warm and safe. You’re big enough and sturdy enough to hold my weight.” Kylie hesitated, then eased to lie over Michael’s back. She rested her chin on his shoulder. Her hands stroked his arms. “Maybe it’s because it’s so cold here. I’ll keep you warm…. There. Just relax. You’re warm and snug and secure.”
    Michael knew exactly about his desire to be warm and about his need for secure, tight, soft places. Kylie began to hum gently against his ear. The soft sound saturated desire into every cell of his body. He tried to concentrate on not rolling over and taking her mouth. He tried to deflect his attention, which had fully focused on Kylie’s lush mouthbeside his ear and her body warm over his, the gentle rub of her breasts against his back. He felt like purring, the emotion stunning him. He realized that with Kylie anything could happen—he just wasn’t certain of what and when and how much he could leash himself with her. That shocked Michael’s concept of himself as controlled and remotely cool. “What was that you said about staying in Freedom Valley and earning money?”
    She spoke quietly, “If I had a place, I’d open a business. I’d call it ‘Soft Touches.’ No one has taken Mom’s place, not really, with her scented soaps and candles and home remedies. When I didn’t have appointments, I could work on those things. I want to make homemade jam, too, and take it to the neighbors just as she used to do. I want to grow flowers and visit those who need me. I’d like to do that here, in Freedom Valley. I’m enjoying Mom’s place too much, but I’d like to keep my business away from there. Tanner said I could use a corner of his boat crafting business which is next door to Mom’s, but I don’t know. I do know that I like the values in the men here, and I want a family. I want what Mom had, the security of Freedom and neighbors who care, of children growing up together. Somewhere in the Bachelor Club there could be a husband for me, someone I’d like to court and marry and have those babies—three, I think…I’m not supposed to be the one who is talking. Just concentrate on relaxing.”
    Michael didn’t want to think