Read The Mighty Quinns: Thom for Free Online Page B

it. There was a sweet warmth in her kiss and in the way her body responded to his.
    She arched against him, pressing her soft curves against his muscle and bone. And whether it was just a temporary slip or something building between them, Thom didn’t care. For now, he’d be satisfied to take anything she offered.
    When he finally drew back, his gaze skimmed her perfect features. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at him, wide-eyed and breathless. Her lips were damp and he stole one more kiss, sending her an apologetic smile.
    Malin opened her mouth and he waited for a reprimand, but then she snapped it shut, her brow furrowing. Thom slowly got to his feet, then held his hand out for her. When she stood beside him, he distractedly smoothed her mussed hair and dragged his thumb across her lips. She tried to speak again, but he pressed his index finger against her mouth to stop her.
    “All we were doing was defusing the tension. Now we can forget that happened. We don’t have to talk about it. You don’t have to be angry with me. We’ll let that one go by.” He started toward the kitchen. “I’ll just get breakfast.”
    When he got to the kitchen, Thom opened the refrigerator and put his head inside, drawing a deep breath of the cold air. His head cleared, yet he couldn’t forget what he’d just done. Why should he? It was obvious there was a powerful attraction between them. As much as Malin might want to deny it, that didn’t change the fact it was there.
    And why not act on it a bit more? Flirtation was a far cry from seduction. And Thom certainly had the self-control to stop before things got out of hand. He’d be the perfect gentleman.
    “Can I help you with anything?” Malin stood at the kitchen island, her face flushed and her eyes bright.
    “There’s juice in the fridge,” he said as he ladled oatmeal into two bowls. “And grab the blueberries from the freezer.”
    She fetched a few more items for him, then perched on a stool, watching him silently. He glanced over his shoulder, then cursed beneath his breath. “Do you want me to apologize? I will if you want me to. But I’m not sorry I kissed you. I enjoyed it and I think you did, too.”
    “I did,” she said.
    “Do you want me to promise it won’t happen again? That would be another lie. It might happen. It might not. I prefer to leave my options open.”
    “I thought we were defusing the...tension,” she said.
    “It might need more defusing.”
    He set the oatmeal in front of her, sprinkled the blueberries on top, then squeezed honey over it all. She stared down at the bowl and grimaced.
    “It’s healthy,” he said. “I eat it every day.”
    “It looks like wallpaper paste,” she said.
    “What do you usually eat for breakfast?”
    “I usually grab a candy bar from the vending machine,” she admitted.
    He pulled the salmon from the oven and placed it on the counter. “Believe me, you’ll enjoy this. And you won’t be hungry again in twenty minutes.”
    “You eat fish for breakfast?” she asked.
    “Or chicken. You have to have some protein, too.” He chuckled. “You’d better enjoy it. It’s the only thing I know how to cook.”
    Malin smiled and tasted the oatmeal. “It’s good,” she said. “Really. And I love salmon. I’ve just never eaten it for breakfast.”
    Thom slipped into the spot next to her and dug into his cereal. He’d always wondered what it might be like to have a woman in his life, eating meals together, enjoying their time together, even outside the bedroom. Thom had to admit that it was a pleasant experience, preparing a meal for her, chatting as they ate.
    He hadn’t seen the need for a personal assistant, but now that Malin was on board, he planned to enjoy every single moment.
    * * *
    “I’ M REALLY NOT interested in having muscles.” Malin stared at the barbell and shook her head. “When I agreed to work out with you, I was thinking of walking a little on the treadmill, maybe doing a