Read Out Of Her League, An Erotic Romance for Free Online Page A

his shoulders, the rich timbre of his voice. Alone with James in the large room, she felt enveloped in a cocoon of strained intimacy, caught in a current that swept her inexorably toward him.
    “Something wrong?” His voice was a low murmur in her ear.
    “You need drapery,” she blurted inanely, just to have something to say to break the tension that hung between them.
    “True.” He cocked his head to one side, considering the room. “I was thinking of scarlet.”
    “Scarlet?” she choked out, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. “Surely that’s an odd color to suggest.”
    “Is it?” He studied her with a playful smile. “But it’s such a passionate color, don’t you think? Brazen, bold, irresistible. In fact, now that I’ve considered scarlet, I can’t seem to get the color out of my mind. These past few nights, it’s all I could think of as I was falling asleep.”
    She squared her shoulders and brought up her chin. Even leaning as he was on his crutches, he was still a full head taller than her. “If you’re referring to what I think you’re referring to, a gentleman wouldn’t refer to it.”
    His lips quirked. “That’s a lot of referring. Are you certain I’m not simply inferring?”
    “You’re interfering, certainly.”
    “Must be infuriating.”
    He was teasing her, and she was determined to resist him. Resist his smile. Resist the twinkle in his deep blue eyes. Resist the urge to lift her hand and push back the chestnut curl that fell so appealingly over his forehead.
    “A gentleman wouldn’t mention what he saw.”
    “True. A gentleman wouldn’t. Therein lies the problem. That glimpse I had of your breasts was the loveliest thing I’ve seen since my return to London. Hell, that’s not accurate. The loveliest thing I’ve seen in years.” He watched her for a moment in silence, then reached out and softly stroked her jaw. “It’s not my intention to embarrass you.”
    “What are you intending?”
    “Damned if I know.”
    “This certainly isn’t proper.”
    “Damned if I care.”
    To her utter astonishment, Kate wasn’t entirely certain she cared, either. She’d played the part of dutiful daughter, dutiful sister, and dutiful nurse her entire life. Now, at the age of three and twenty, she was coming to the realization that the role didn’t entirely suit her. She’d lived her life as though crammed into a pair of shoes that had been pinching and cramping her for years. Here was an opportunity to try something scandalous and new. An invitation to see what she’d been missing, if only she had the courage to reach for it.
    She moistened her lips, tipped back her head, and closed her eyes.
    For a fraction of a second time stood still. Kate was overwhelmed by the horrifying certainty she’d misread his intentions. Then James’s lips brushed hers. The pressure on her mouth was light and gentle, allowing her the opportunity to change her mind, to slip away if she wanted to. So, a gentleman after all. The gesture, touching as it was, was wasted.
    Kate stepped closer.
    James gave a low moan and wrapped one strong arm around her waist, drawing her tightly into his embrace. His kiss deepened, becoming hard and unyielding. He coaxed her lips apart and swept his tongue into her mouth. Kate stiffened in shocked surprise. Not allowing her to pull away, he caressed her lower back, silently encouraging her to surrender to his sweet, sensual assault. She absorbed the feel of his kiss, the taste of his mouth, the stroke of his tongue against her own.
    Pleasure curled her toes and spiralled up her spine. She melted into him, lost in a dizzying vortex of heat and desire.
    A single crutch clattered to the floor. Long ingrained instinct, born of years walking the wards, sounded an alarm. She should reach for the crutch, assist him. But in some dim corner of her mind it occurred to her that he didn’t need her help. He held her firmly against his long, masculine length, an anchor in a storm of