Read Sadie's Surrender for Free Online

which grew stronger every time they were together.
    “It’s getting late,” she said.
    After glancing toward Mama’s bedroom door and back at her, he whispered, “You’re beautiful in the lamplight.”
    A soft gasp spilled from her throat, until she analyzed the words. She’d worn a plain white blouse and dark-blue skirt because they didn’t have as many patched holes as most of her other clothes. Hardly glamorous. Of course he’d shower her with compliments. She’d just helped him by playing teacher.
    “That’s because it’s almost gone out and you can’t see,” she replied.
    “Let’s get something straight.” He gripped her elbow. “I may lie to people in Oyster Harbor to keep the peace, but everything I’ll ever say to you is the truth.”
    He thinks I’m beautiful.
    She scraped her chair back and stood. Because if they kept gazing at each other that way, they’d end up in each other’s arms.
    He stood, too. “What are we going to do about this?”
    “About what?” They both continued to whisper in case her mother wasn’t asleep.
    “What’s between us.”
    She looked away. “There’s nothing between us.”
    “Then what do you call this?” He planted a slow, soft kiss at the base of her ear.
    “Don’t, Mr. Rockfield. Don’t break my heart.”
    He clasped her chin, turning her to look at him. “It’s Henry, remember?”
    A shudder coursed through her body because fighting the urge to throw herself into his arms took every ounce of power she had. With his book-learning difficulties and the Klan breathing down his neck, the last thing he needed was more problems.
    “You can’t be Henry to me, and I can’t be Sadie to you. Not with the Klan watching both of us.”
    His index finger stroked her chin, sending tongues of flame through her jaw.
    “That’s why working together is going to be so hard.”
    “It’s a large plant,” she said. “We’ll stay away from each other. I’ll shuck, and you’ll manage the place, just like before.”
    “I’m afraid that’s not possible with your new assignment.”
    “New assignment?” She pulled his hand away from her chin so she could concentrate.
    “You obviously have a talent for business. I need you to help me with Rockfield’s paperwork and books. Can you work the extra hours?”
    “Yes.”
    “It will have to be done secretly, of course.”
    She pursed her lips. A business job, extra money, and a delectable boss. She’d be a fool to refuse.
    “When and where do I start?”
    “Next week. The plant is too risky. It’ll have to be here or my place.”
    His place? Alone? She had a hard enough time concentrating here. Her breath hitched in her throat when his gaze dropped to her breasts. They both watched his hand as he lifted it and brushed the side of her left one. They already felt especially heavy from being near him all night. His unexpected touch hardened her already-swollen nipples.
    She squeezed her eyelids shut as her womb clenched. Because Buck had never caressed her so reverently or stared at her with longing. He’d just groped her in the dark.
    Henry Rockfield was going to drive her crazy. Straight onto one of the Klan’s burning crosses.
    The impulse to slap him rose so quickly, she couldn’t identify it, much less stop it. A red handprint glowed across his cheek, and shock registered in his eyes.
    “What the—” He shook himself. “I deserved it. Please accept my apology.”
    “Apology accepted, but if we’re going to work together, there can be none of that foolishness.”
    And she meant it. Even though she’d give her eyeteeth to lie in his bed, his heavy, muscular body pinning her to the sheets. To inhale his musk until her body wept and contracted in a hundred sweet spasms around his hardness.
    He may want her now, but he was a man like the rest. One day—perhaps when he didn’t need her brains anymore—he’d realize how ugly she was and reject her. Just like Buck. She’d rather burn with frustrated