Read Bayou Heat for Free Online Page B

her about seeing the
mambo
. But at four in the morning, she doubted it.
    “Hiding out from another jealous husband, Comeaux?”
    He chuckled, a sexy, dangerous sound that vibrated in the hot air. Her pulse instantly
     went into overdrive. No doubt the man had perfect night vision; nocturnal predators
     often did. Or she’d have been tempted toslither into the chair—with or without her backpack still on it.
    Wait a minute. Hot air. It was hot in here. Again.
    Without benefit of the light, she stalked to the air conditioner.
    “Off. You turned off my air.” She swung toward the direction the voice had come from
     earlier. Her bed.
    She could barely make out the shadowed sprawl that was him. Against her will, she’d
     pictured him on that very bed many times. He was far more dominating a presence there
     than she’d ever imagined. He filled her bed to overflowing … just as he had her tub.
    Just as he would you
, her little voice whispered.
    “I’m used to the heat,
mon ange
.” There was a pause. “I like it.”
    Feeling herself sinking fast, Erin shook herself free of the spell his seductive voice
     was weaving around her. “Well, I’m not. I have spent the best part of the last several
     hours fantasizing about my nice cool room and my nice cool shower.”
    “The shower is available,
chèr
.”
    Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she could see the white flash of his teeth in the
     slant of moonlight. His tone made it clear he didn’t consider the bed off limits to
     her either.
    The feel of his hands on her skin was still a vivid memory. So clear she swore she
     could feel them right now. Warm, slightly rough, gently firm, demanding, taking.
    Swallowing tightly, she squeezed her eyes shut, butit was no defense against the mental image of his mouth coming closer to hers.
    During the last week of long hours, she’d spent too much time thinking about Teague.
     He roused in her too many conflicting thoughts, too many unsettling emotions. But
     one thing was clear. Any time spent with him on … unbusinesslike pursuits, would be
     a mistake. She’d fought too long and too hard to waste one precious moment or one
     hard earned cent on anything but her study.
    And that meant the only invitation she was accepting from him was to meet the
mambo
.
    “Well, if you think it’s safe for you to be on the streets, then I’d appreciate it
     if you’d leave me to take a shower alone for a change.”
    “I wasn’t planning on joining you.”
    Erin felt her cheeks heat, knowing she’d asked for that one. Why did his teasing make
     such a direct hit on her female ego? She’d never really thought she had one.
    Maybe that was why. What he made her body feel had nothing to do with science or basic
     function. He made her feel utterly female. He made her ache.
    No man had ever made her ache.
    She straightened her shoulders.
    “This time,” he added.
    Oh, boy.
    “But if you want to cool off, then do it now.”
    “I beg your pardon?” she demanded, taken aback by his sudden command. “I realize you
     have no respect for my privacy, but if you think you can just—”
    “Erin.”
    That one word brought her little speech to a shuddering halt.
    Her name on his lips. So simple. And yet her body had leapt in response to that single,
     softly spoken word. “What?”
    She heard the bed springs groan under his weight as he moved. He came off the bed
     and moved toward her, the action fluid and graceful, like that of a sleek black panther
     she’d once seen, moving through the night, intent on one thing. Cornering its prey.
    Without meaning to, she backed up a step. Her thighs pressed against the cold radiator,
     her back against the air conditioner.
    “Why are you here? What do you want?” she asked as he loomed in front of her.
    He paused. His dark features were cast in the stark light of the moon, making him
     seem hard and chiseled. More like cold marble than warm man.
    “Don’t ask me what I want.”
    Erin