Read Online The Princess and the Pauper by Nancy Bush - Free Book Online

small sound of disgust escaped his lips and his hand curved around her neck, bending back her head.
    This time his mouth covered hers suffocatingly. The kiss was long and plundering. April’s body trembled. She couldn’t help herself. His hands cupped her face and the pressure on her mouth intensified. His tongue thrust past the barrier of her teeth. Dizzy, she slid her hands up his jacket, clinging for support. She wouldn’t have believed it possible, but the kiss deepened, and moments later his hands slipped under her damp blouse, moving upward to cup one breast.
    April tore her mouth free, shocked. But he yanked her to him with forceful arms, crushing his lips to hers yet again. Apart from a small whimper of protest, she fought him no more. Her mind spun at the sweet way he molded her flesh. She was utterly helpless when her bra was unsnapped. The feel of hard fingers stroking her soft skin dragged a moan from her throat.
    Dimly she realized he’d lost his cool detachment. His breathing was ragged now, almost painful. April’s breath came in short gasps.
    “Jesse,” she murmured. Once more she guided his mouth unerringly to hers, amazed at the desire storming like a hot raging river through her veins.
    Jesse realized they were fast approaching the point of no return. He felt it very keenly. Dragging his lips from hers, he tried hard to control his galloping pulse.
    “Stop,” he ordered tersely.
    April’s eyes were dreamy aquamarine pools. “No.”
    “Yes.” His laugh was shaky and it irritated him. “We can’t take this any further.”
    “What do you mean? Why not?”
    “I’m not going to make love to you on the wrought iron bench in your parents’ backyard,” he said.
    “Make love?” April nearly choked. “Make love?”
    “What did you think?”
    April could scarcely concentrate on their conversation. All she could see were Jesse’s sensual lips, reddened slightly from kissing her. Instinctively she leaned toward him and was humiliated by the way he drew away sharply.
    “Stop it, April. I mean it.” He bounded to his feet suddenly, jerkily.
    “Now who’s afraid,” she asked, slowly rising from the bench. Her knees were strangely weak.
    “You don’t know what the hell you’re doing!”
    “I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
    He swore rudely. April’s the one thread of hope lay in the fact he hadn’t actually marched off and left her. She stood before him, her blouse open, wisps of hair falling into her face.
    “You don’t want me?” she asked softly.
    He didn’t answer, but she could see a muscle working in his jaw. April tentatively slid her arms around his waist, tipping up her chin, hoping for another kiss. His response was to drag her tightly against his tensed body, kissing her so hard that her head fell back, and holding her so closely that she felt his state of arousal. She was thrilled by the evidence of his desire, even as it frightened her.
    Abruptly he let her go, swore again and stalked toward the corner of the house.
    “Wait!” she called after him. His purposeful strides kept right on going. “Jesse, wait!”
    He was at the gate before she caught up with him, grabbing at his arm. He turned so suddenly that he nearly knocked her off balance. “I’m not interested, Princess. Understand?” he growled harshly.
    “But I—”
    “Go tease someone else.”
    With that he strode through the gateway and down the road. April’s battered pride surfaced just long enough to keep her from following him.
    But she wasn’t going to give up.

Chapter Four

    D riving the Mercedes at a fast clip toward Rock Spring’s city center, April passed Tamblin’s Lumber Mill on her left. Behind her sunglasses, she glanced casually out of the corner of one eye. It was three-thirty. Quitting time. If she was lucky, she might be able to catch a glimpse of Jesse climbing onto his motorcycle.
    She slowed down deliberately, drove around the nearest curve, then parked behind a sprawling oak tree in