Read Online Up to Me (Shore Secrets) by Christi Barth - Free Book Online

power required thrilled her. Oh, this was a man with a capital M. And then she didn’t have time to think, because he was kissing her again.
    This time, he wasn’t gentle. Gray took her mouth. He made it his own. Tasted it, shaped it, claimed every inch of it. Ella just melted. His heat was everywhere. On her arms, where they were still tunneled beneath his robe, clutching around his ribs. On her thighs, pressed tight atop his. And in between the two, thin layers of cotton where Ella rubbed against an erection that was already hard and hot.
    She moaned, opening her mouth. Gray let out a soft, primal growl in response and dove in, exploring every inch. Lick for lick, her tongue met his in a sensual duel where there were no losers. Ella had wanted to feel again. Now she was feeling so much it was as though her skin couldn’t contain the sensations. Their passion fed off each other. Gray tightened his grip at her waist, tunneled his other hand through her hair to angle her head better. His hips rose, and instinctively she ground against him.
    Ella couldn’t say how long it lasted. The deep silence of the night wrapped around them, cocooning them in intimacy. In a bubble where there were only pants and moans, need and want being fed and yet not slaked. But finally, Gray broke away, burying his face in her neck. “You’re amazing, Ella.”
    Wow. Wowzers. Ohmigod. Thank goodness he’d spoken first, or she might’ve blurted out something lame, like how much he’d just rocked her world. Instead, she could play it cool, as if she wasn’t using every inch of willpower to resist dragging him straight up the stairs and into her bed. “The feeling is mutual.”
    Cupping her shoulders, he tilted her back to look at her. “This was much better medicine than wine or aspirin.”
    Whoops. She’d completely forgotten about his aches and pains. What if she’d accidentally poked someplace painful and made it worse? To make up for it, she took his hand, pressed a soft kiss to the reddened knuckles. “I’m happy to make a house call whenever you need it.”
    “You fascinate me, Ella.” He traced a finger along her cheek. “Right now, the only thing I can think about is burying myself inside you. Which is why I should go before I do something stupid.”
    Of course he was right. Her brain knew that. But Ella’s brain had handed over the reins to her libido from the moment she’d first seen Gray. Compelled to belabor the point due to the thrumming ache between her legs, she said, “Sex isn’t stupid.”
    Another one of those weird pauses, when it seemed as though he was having a conversation in his head before answering. “Rushing into it would be.”
    Damn it. Why did he have to be so right? “Really? Don’t they revoke your guy card for saying things like that?”
    Gray laughed. “I’m willing to take that risk. I meant what I said this afternoon. I want to learn about you.”
    Good to know that her attraction wasn’t one-sided. And he did have a point. Some getting-to-know-you conversation was definitely in order before any more melting make-out rounds. Ella stood.
    “How about we have breakfast together tomorrow? Or, well, today, I guess,” she stammered. “Once the sun comes up.”
    A long arm reached out to pick up his glass, then Gray rose. “Sounds great. I don’t want to wait long to see you again.”
    Wow. The man said all the right things every single time. What were the odds? Should she be suspicious? Nobody could be that perfect, right? She’d have to put it to the group. Better yet, write her question in the lakeshore journal. Let the whole town weigh in, like usual. Which immediately decided where they’d go for breakfast.
    “I’ll take you to my favorite place. Want to meet in the lobby at nine?”
    He flashed a grin, gave her hand a quick squeeze. “If you’re there, I’ll be there. Well, as long as coffee’s there, too.”
    Slick. Verging on too slick. Or was it just middle-of-the-night