Read Online The Sphere Chronicles: A Holding Kate Series Book by LaDonna Cole - Free Book Online Page B

whispered, wondering if the blush spreading across her cheeks originated with the drinks, the dance, or too much sun. They followed Karen and Matt from a distance.
    “Thanks, Dirk.” She lay her head on his shoulder as they slowly inched along the beach. “Can I ask you a question?”
    “Shoot.”
    “Why didn’t you go to Galapagos with the others?”
    Dirk furrowed his brow. “I don’t know. We’d been planning this trip for a long time. Why would I back out?”
    “I don’t know. I just thought a trip like that comes once in a lifetime, you know? It just seems like it would have been a more reasonable choice. And…” she hesitated.
    “And?”
    “You and Tara seemed to be getting closer and closer.”
    “Oh. She’s awesome and all.”
    “And gorgeous.”
    “And fierce.”
    “Yeah.” Kim’s voice wafted into the surf as she turned her face away.
    “You do know she carries a big torch for Trip, right?” Dirk turned her chin to face him.
    “Trip? Still?” Kim quirked a brow. “I thought she was over him.”
    Dirk laughed. “So she says.”
    “But you disagree?”
    “I definitely disagree.”
    “So, you and she never—”
    “Never. She’s not really my type anyway.”
    This time Kim laughed. “She is every man’s type.”
    “Nope, not mine.” Dirk wrapped his arm around Kim’s waist and drew her near.
    “Then you have a penchant for redheads, right? Is that the next line I will hear tonight?” She arched an acerbic brow and flipped her ginger tresses over her shoulder.
    “Redheads? Gah, no! I like the tiny, lithe Chinese girl, Eunavae. She’s hawt!”
    Kim stopped in her tracks and gawked.
    Dirk threw back his head, laughing.
    “You big oaf!” She shoved him and slapped at his chest.
    He grabbed her hand and drew her into an embrace, grinning at the fire flashing through her eyes. “Kim,” he whispered her name, “how many years have we flirted at something more? Our friendship has been more than platonic for a long time now. You know this.”
    She gazed up into his face, desire flushing her cheeks and clouding her eyes. Dirk took her face between his hands. Leaning in, he paused a breath from her lips, then gently pressed his lips to hers.
    She melted into the kiss and curled her arms around his neck. He pressed her body close and deepened the kiss. Quite possibly the most perfect first kiss ever, with the surf at their backs and the stars swimming above, their blood pumped in rhythm with the energy of the night.
    “Whoo-hoo! Encore, encore!” Hooting calls rushed down the beach to them, and they broke apart, dizzy with the magic of the night and the kiss.
    Karen and Matt applauded and called congratulations. Dirk and Kim laughed, grasped hands, and jogged to catch up with them.

    Dirk tapped on Kim’s door, and she let him into her hotel room. He grinned and scooped her into his arms, carried her to the bed, and spread her out beneath him. His mouth hungry for more of her.
    “Dirk!” she gasped.
    He silenced her with another round of insistent kisses.
    “Dirk!” Her ragged breath rasped his name, she clung to him, overtaken by the sudden flair of emotion that blossomed between them. How long had she waited for him? How long had she loved him from afar? And now after all these years, he was here, in her arms, wanting her, loving her.
    He growled her name in her ear, and he slid his hands across her abdomen, stealing her breath. “God, why did we wait so long?” His kisses traveled down her neck, and his warm breath sent shivers through her body.
    She hadn’t felt this way since, since…
    “Dirk!” She pushed him back. “Please, stop.”
    At the word “stop” he drew back to search her eyes.
    She took the opportunity to gather her shirt and slipped out from under him to hover on the pillow, knees tucked into her chest.
    Confusion fractured his brow. “Kim, what’s wrong?” He reached for her.
    She flinched. If he touched her again, she would give herself to him.