Read Connections for Free Online Page A

downstairs.   And I’m not some rag doll that you can drag around.”
    Another painful throb.   “Olivia, don’t fucking push me right now, okay?   I’m not in the mood.” he growled.   She leaned back against the door in surprise and he immediately felt guilty for snapping at her.   “Shit,” he breathed in frustration, running a hand through his hair.   He took a step towards her until there was only a few inches between their bodies.   “I’m sorry, I just can’t do this right now.”   Her eyes softened.
    He could smell her.   Her light lavender scent drifted up to him as he found her large blue eyes.   His chest squeezed.   So beautiful.
    “I’m sorry, too,” she whispered, gazing up at him.   “I know how difficult that was for you.”
    He needed to feel connected to her.   Needed to feel her.   Taste her.   Slipping her dress up to her waist and taking her against the door was ideal, but he figured she wouldn’t appreciate that.   At all.
    Instead, he dropped his head towards her, hesitantly.   He dragged the tip of his nose softly against her neck, breathing her in, memorizing her scent.   His lips followed the path.   She made a noise—a combination of a surprised squeak and a breathy gasp—and her hand came up to cup the side of his face.   Taking it as an invitation, he nibbled his way up to her earlobe, bringing his body closer to hers, pressing her against the door as his hands came around to grasp her ass.
    But just as he was about to kiss her, she murmured, “Alex, don’t.”
    At her tone, he stopped.
    Instead, he dropped his head in the crook of her neck.   Her arms came around his body and she simply held him, while he pulled himself together.
    “I think I hate him sometimes,” he admitted quietly to her.   “I think it’d be easier if I actually did.”   Not waiting for her to respond, he backed away quickly, releasing her from his grip.   “Come over here, there’s something I want you to see.”

Chapter Seven

    Alex’s words continued to run through Olivia’s head, but she followed him to a window, trying to take in the bedroom at the same time.
    She wasn’t surprised by what she found.   Judging by his current tastes, Olivia had already anticipated the lack of decor and knick knacks in his room.   It was almost spartan.   Just a full sized bed tucked in one corner and dark wood furniture.   Yet, across the room, on his dresser, Olivia spied little action figures but she couldn’t make out much and stacks upon stacks of CDs piled high in a bookcase.   She itched to nose around, but Alex was already unlatching a large window situated over a window seat.
    The window was hinged so it swung outward and before Olivia’s mind could catch up, he was stepping over the sill.   “Alex, what the hell are you doing?” she yelled, alarmed.
    He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled genuinely for the first time this whole evening.   Laughing, he said, “Relax, darling.   I’m not making a jump for it.   Come here and I’ll show you.”
    Olivia blinked when he swung his other leg out the window and hopped down to a ledge she hadn’t noticed.   She hurried to the window and peered outside.
    “You’re such a jerk.   You scared me half to death!” Olivia chided when she saw that there was a small private balcony down below.   A small iron railing enclosed it, but it was the view that caught her attention.   “Oh, it’s so beautiful,” she exclaimed.
    It was sunset and from this high up in the Napa hills, she could see all of the surrounding land.   Vineyards and two-lane highways stretched beyond her sight and the Californian hills were bathed in a soft golden light.   The town of Yountville to her right was just beginning to light up for the evening.
    But what Olivia noticed most was how quiet it was.   She couldn’t even hear the party in the backyard.   If she concentrated, she could hear the faint notes of the violin from the band,