Read Online The Proposition (The Plus One Chronicles) by Jennifer Lyon - Free Book Online

had shaded the truth. But what did she know? She’d barely spent any real time with him. She looked back.
    His gaze captured hers, searing her very cells.
    “You still fight.”
    “For charity, usually.”
    “And when you find thugs carjacking a woman so terrified she froze and let her friend get stabbed.”
    “That wasn’t your fault, Kat.”
    She turned away. Needed to break that electric contact shimmering between them. “The hell it wasn’t. I froze. I saw the knife, but the guy’s back was facing Kellen. I could have warned him. Done something.”
    She stiffened when Sloane stepped closer, his chest brushing her shoulder blades. His arms came around her, his hands resting on the table next to hers. “I’m offering you the chance to learn how to fight back.”
    “But my panic—”
    “Fighting is as much mental training as physical. We can get you past your panic, Kat.”
    Shock vibrated through her. It was more than just the man surrounding her. Even before the attack, her parents had been protective and worried about her. Kat was different, artistic and not as academically focused as they had wanted, like Marshall her older brother. He was a genius like them, while Kat had disappointed them with her oh-so-average intelligence and desire to create. And since her injury, they believed her all but incompetent. Even Kellen was protective and cautious with her. The idea that she was capable enough to actually defend herself? That was astonishing.
    “Fight back.” She tasted the words, the sense of power they invoked in her.
    “I can teach you.”
    Teach her to be stronger.
    “But I’ll have to touch you.” He cupped his hands around her wrists and drew his palms up her arms in a slow stroke.
    Her skin pebbled, her nipples tightened, her reaction so strong she clenched her thighs. Not fear. Lust. Hot, bone-melting lust.
    “And, baby, I can’t put my hands on you…” he pressed his hips to her lower back, the hard ridge of his erection branding her, “…and not strip us both to our skin and fuck you until you’re screaming in pleasure.” His warm mouth brushed her neck. “No fear, just pleasure,” he whispered, teasing her tender skin. “I’m ready now.”
    Her panties were damp and snug against her aching cleft. How did he do this to her?
    He let go, stepped back. Cold air swirled in to replace the warmth of Sloane’s touch.
    “Call me when you’re ready.”
    Then he was gone, leaving her with clenched thighs and digging her white-knuckled fingers into the cold steel table.

Chapter Six

    Thursday night, Kat arranged the store-roasted chicken and cold deli salads on a plate and took it to Kellen. Diego had meetings tonight, Kel’s parents were exhausted, so she was on duty. She handed him a bottle of water that he braced between his thigh and the arm of the recliner he sat in. “Need anything else?”
    “What, after you slaved on this gourmet meal?”
    He was working cranky like a second skin today. Kellen wasn’t good at being sick. “I brought brownies. One more crack about my lack of cooking and I’m giving them all to Diego.”
    He curled his lip. “I can’t eat brownies if I’m not working out. You’re just torturing me.”
    “It’s what I live for.” She went back to the kitchen, got her plate, bottle of water and extra napkins. She settled on the big couch, tucking her bare feet under her.
    “Sorry. I want a brownie. I love your brownies.” Misery clouded his eyes.
    “That’s cuz it’s your mom’s super-awesome recipe. Everyone loves those brownies.” His parents had excellent recipes and had happily shared them with Kat. She used some of theirs, some of hers, and some were a combination of both their ideas.
    He ghosted something that might have been a smile. “I am sorry.”
    She waved her fork at him. “I tell you to fuck off and die when you’re pushing me in a workout. This is nothing.”
    “I hate this. I have to go on disability for a few weeks, I was