Read Love Bites for Free Online Page B

back one curl. “I really want to taste you, too.”
    This time the heat flooding her body wasn’t embarrassment. And if he truly enjoyed her figure, then that changed everything, didn’t it?
    He shook his head at her disconcerted look. “News flash, Cinder. I want you. I’ve wanted you since the first day we met.”
    She drew back to better see him. “No way.”
    “What am I, blind? Of course I did. Like I said, you’re hot. But you’re also adorably funny and smart and caring.”
    “You never said anything!”
    “You didn’t seem receptive, so I’ve tried to be noble.”
    The idea of so much wasted time choked her. “ Noble?”
    He nodded with grave sincerity. “Lots of sleepless nights on my end. But like I said, seeing you in the raw—now all bets are off. If you hadn’t been through hell today, I’d be giving it my best shot to get you into bed. Or laid out on this couch.”
    That sounded pretty awesome to her.
    “But you need some time.”
    Was he nuts? “No I don’t,” she rushed to assure him.
    The corner of his mouth kicked up. “No?”
    She shook her head hard and fast. “I’m fine.” All hot and bothered, but otherwise, no problem. “I swear.”
    “You’re bruised. You have stitches.” He lifted her arm to kiss the marks there, too.
    “You’ve had an upset.”
    Her mouth opened twice with nothing coming out. What could she say? Screw the stitches and the bruises, she wanted him? Maybe. “I don’t care about any of that.”
    “You’re not sore?”
    Heck no. The second he’d gotten her into his lap, every ache and pain had ceased to exist.
    “No.” She put a hand to his solid chest. “Not anymore.”
    He grinned outright. “So you want me, too?”
    “Of course.”
    His grin slipped. Suspicion darkened his eyes. “Why do you say it like that?”
    “Pfft.” She caressed his chest, over that rock-solid shoulder. It hadn’t escaped her notice that he wore only jeans and a white T-shirt. She loved how the cotton shirt hugged his chest and shoulders, the way it fit across his back. “Not only are you smart and funny and so incredibly nice, the nicest guy I’ve ever known, but look at you.” She barely repressed a sigh. “What woman wouldn’t want you?”
    A frown crept over his brow. “I could say the same about men wanting you.” It wasn’t her shoulder he reached for.
    His big, hot hand curved over her breast.
    She went still on the outside, all aflutter on the inside. “ Evan.”
    “I’m asking again, honey.” His thumb brushed over her nipple. “How come you don’t realize how beautiful you are?”
    He actually expected her to talk while he did that? Not easy. “Because… I’m not dumb.” Throwing his words back at him, she added, “Or blind.”
    “Meaning?”
    She swallowed back a groan. “I know I’m not the standard size.”
    “Hate to break it to you, honey, but women don’t have a standard size.” His thumb continued to play with her. “And men appreciate the variety.”
    That was exactly how she’d always felt! “Maybe. But they appreciate skinnier women more.”
    “Who says?” He reached down and slipped his hand up under her shirt, so that now he touched bare skin.
    Oh wow. Her eyes closed as his fingers stroked over her. His palm was so hot, a little rough.
    “Cinder?”
    “I don’t know. Society?”
    “But I’m the only one here.” He stroked down to her waist, back and over her hip. “And I’m not keen on all of society ever seeing you in the buff.”
    “I didn’t mean that.”
    “Thank God.” He hugged her close, tucking her head under his chin. “So someone has made you feel less than perfect? Tell me who.”
    “No one is perfect.”
    “You are. So tell me who said otherwise.”
    What did it matter now? “Just an ex.” She breathed in his scent and wanted to eat him alive. “It was shortly before I met you.” And she hadn’t dated since.
    Evan was silent a moment. “You’re still hung up on him?”
    “No!”