Read Let Me Love You for Free Online Page B

ideas danced across her imagination, tempting her to reach for him and press her own kiss against his mouth. Return his boldness, measure for measure. It wasn’t a ladylike notion at all.
    Oh, her mother had certainly tried to teach her better, but the heat bleeding across every inch of her skin only proved Brianna was an extremely poor student.
    “It’s November. Not Christmas.”
    Sloan nodded as he gripped his belt. “So it is.”
    He didn’t sound repentant, not one bit. Most men would at least offer an apology for stealing such a kiss right in the church entryway. “Told you not to trust any man. I wanted to kiss you, so I did it. The rules don’t really matter when I know how to get around them.”
    “Kissing me was meant as some kind of warning?”
    He jerked slightly, and gripped his belt tighter. His gaze moved for a brief moment as he checked either side of them for any approaching company. When his attention was once again centered on her, a warning flared in his dark eyes.
    “Kissing you was enjoyable. I liked it so much, you’d better get inside before I forget you’re a virgin.”
    The knuckles on his hands turned white and Brianna shivered. She could see a battle to let her go burning in his dark eyes, like he was arguing against some inner beast to do the right thing and treat her like a lady.
    The horrible reality was a part of her didn’t want Sloan to win that fight. The light in the hall suddenly lost its beckoning appeal as Brianna fought the desire to let Sloan pull her away into some dark shadow where they could explore the heat their skin created when they were pressed together. Discover what it was like to be stroked along every part of her body that her dress covered. Her thoughts shocked her as much as they excited her. Forcing her mind to return to the sharper edges of reality, she recalled the face of the last female she’d seen leaving town as a fallen woman. There wouldn’t be any reprieve from the judgment of the community and Sloan McAlister didn’t strike her as the marrying sort.
    “You can stop worrying about me, Mr. McAlister. I heard you just fine and I certainly don’t need a man kissing me because he feels sorry for my ignorance. I assure you I can get a kiss without making a man feel pity for me.”
    It might not be the wisest thing that had ever rolled out of her mouth, but she wasn’t going to scurry into the church with her tail tucked between her legs. The man bred a need inside her to prove she was strong enough to handle anything. She didn’t want him to see her as weak.
    His eyes flashed dark warning at her before she lifted her chin and turned her back on him. Her neck tightened as she moved through the entryway, unsure if her boots were going to remain on the floor. She’d tossed her words at him like a challenge. No way was she was going to whimper because he’d treated her like a woman.
    But the man loved a challenge. She sensed that about him. While taunting him just might be the dumbest thing she’d ever done, the urge to do so had been irresistible.
    Brianna turned and left. Sloan had to force his body to stay right there. He wanted to chase her, run her to ground like a hunter did to its prey. Press another kiss onto her lips just because she’d dared him to.
    A deep chuckle shook his chest. He enjoyed the way her hips swayed as she disappeared into the church. She might be a lady, but hidden beneath her calico dress was one fine woman. Part of him enjoyed that idea a little too much. A dark need threatened to take control, tempting him with the notion of making sure he was waiting when she emerged from the social gathering.
    Hell, he was a beast most of the time. Embracing those instincts kept him alive when he’d buried men who thought their brainpower was the key to being a long-lived railroad agent.
    Sloan stepped back into the street. Noise coming from one of the saloons drifted on the wind, promising him a sample of sin if he was willing to