Read Far From Perfect for Free Online Page A

mystical metal. One long-fingered hand reached out and touched her cheek, and it felt like a brand. His mark. On her.
    “Thank you, cara mia .” His voice was soft, almost sweet, but the addition of the Italian endearment was a subtle taunt. “But there’s one little complication you need to attend to, I think.”
    “What’s that?” She watched his mouth, and the insolent curve of his full lower lip, as she waited for enlightenment. Or something.
    “Don’t you have a boyfriend, Anna?”
    Oh hell, Martin.
    Nick’s smile broadened. He was hugely amused by the fact she obviously hadn’t given Martin a single thought since she’d opened the door. Admittedly, she and Martin were only casual, and she’d decided not to keep stringing him along because it wasn’t fair to him…but still. How could she forget him completely? That was awful.
    “My real relationships are no business whatsoever of yours, Nick.” She looked at him boldly, chin up. It would have been easier if he wasn’t still touching her, but she couldn’t seem to move her head and shake him off. “You’d better concern yourself only with this false one. If I decide to go through with it.”
    Irked by his grin, she held his gaze and was rewarded by a faint flash of irritation in Nick’s eyes. “And anyway, how do you know whether I’m seeing anyone or not? Have you been spying on me?”
    Nick’s fingers were like five burning points against the skin of her cheek, and they curved slightly as if coaxing her closer. “I have my sources.” His voice was a low, thrilling whisper, and his eyes were fixed on her mouth. To her consternation, Anna imagined she could actually feel the scrutiny, a tingling sensation that made her lips more sensitive, redder and more enticing.
    Don’t be mental. You’re imagining things. Just back away and make a dignified break for the party. Do it now!
    But it was as if she was trapped in some kind of warm, delicious and infinitely pleasant-feeling glue. Her body was immobilized, her senses intoxicated. Nick’s own mouth tempted her like chocolate or some luscious tropical fruit, primal and sinful.
    “Is that how thrilling he is?” Nick breathed, “Five minutes with me and you completely forget he exists?”
    “No! That’s not true.”
    The words were hollow and she hardly had the strength to get them out. Nick was so close they were sharing the same oxygen, and his spicy cologne invaded her mind like dark alchemy.
    “Oh, it is, tesoro mio , it surely is.” His words faded to a sultry murmur as he angled his gilded head and brought his lips down slowly and with complete confidence on hers.
    The pressure was so gentle, like velvet gliding over her lips. His taste was so sweet—as mind-altering as the smell of him—and it compelled her to succumb. In one last defensive gesture, she put up a hand, fingers spread against his chest with the intention of pushing him away. But a moment later both her hands were sliding around his back of their own volition to hold on tightly to him as if her very life depended on it.
    And all the time his eyes were open, intent on hers, darkened to the intense midnight hue of a moonless night. Stunned by their power, Anna let her own lids flutter closed.
    And when his mobile, questing tongue sought entrance into her mouth, it was as if all the interminable years apart had disappeared, counting for nothing. She was back with him in his bed, naked and free, their bodies pressed together inch for inch. In a weird confluence of past and present, she seemed to feel every contour of his musculature, the very heat of his satin skin, the fierce insistence of his erection against her belly.
    Which was no fantasy.
    Anna’s eyes flew open and she jerked, but Nick slid his arms around her and held her closer than ever. Bizarrely, the firm hold soothed her sudden panic and it was easy, oh so easy to succumb to him.
    Their tongues darted against each other, playing and challenging, Anna giving