Read Treasure Tides (The Coins) for Free Online Page B

and then slightly
loosened his hold; squeezing her in an effort to get her attention. “I just
said I’m not going to hurt you,” he reminded the squirming woman, his
tone much less soothing than it had been earlier. He might smell like a girl,
but he would be damned if he would let himself be beaten-up by one.
“Go to hell! You crazy son-of-a-bitch, I said let me gooo !” she
demanded, raising her knee to take him down, just like Landon had
taught her.
Royce shifted, blocking her move. So that’s how it was going to be.
Ok, if she wanted to play dirty, he could play dirty; no one threatened the
family jewels. Bad temper suddenly overrode normally good judgment,
causing him to softly goad, “Or what?”
Becki careened her head to look at him. Did he really just say, what
she thought he said?
That stupid son-of-a-bitch was just about to be
schooled.
Royce saw Armageddon in her eyes.
Becki drew a deep breath preparing for an all-out, blood-curdling
scream, sure to bring Mr. McGregor running.
Her neighbor might be
nosey, but he loved Becki.
He especially loved the chocolate chip
cookies she dropped over to him from time to time, and he always
kept a .45 caliber pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants.
Perhaps the fact that he was the retired Chief of Police had something
to do with it.
Royce knew he had crossed the line.
His head was beginning to
pound again, thanks to her right hook. His foot was bruised, he had
barely spoiled her attempt to crush his manhood, and he was not in the
mood to have his ear drums assaulted, so he stopped her the only way he
possibly could.
As he covered her mouth with his, she stopped screaming, clamped
her mouth shut and stood deathly still. Who would have imagined? He
slid one hand to the nape of her neck, tilting her head, deciding to enjoy
this unexpected turn of events. His lips tugged and pulled, his tongue
gently traced the seam of her lips, begging for entry. She gasped, pulling
back to look at him with wide eyes, her body still firmly trapped against
him. For a moment, a heartbeat, neither moved; and then suddenly she was kissing him . Groaning, Royce shifted to bring her body more fully in
contact with his.
Becki pressed closer, practically trying to crawl inside his skin. As his
hands roamed the small of her back and below, she arched into him
wishing her hands were not trapped in the mess of blankets still
entangling her body.
“What am I doing?” she moaned, dropping her head to rest on his
chest as she struggled to catch her breath.
Royce loosened his arms slightly, unwilling to let her get too far away.
Not only did he enjoy holding her close, but his towel had slipped, and
that cold shower was now a distant memory.
“Who are you?” Becki finally managed to ask as she looked into the
deepest emerald green eyes she had ever seen. Suddenly becoming aware
that she was still wrapped in his muscular arms, Becki tried to take a step
back. Royce responded immediately by tightening his grip on her.
She tried to step away once more only to be wrapped even more
closely in his strong arms.
“Ok, hot-shot, you’re starting to tick me off,” she said managing to
free her hands. Becki pushed against his chest with both hands, “It’s
time for you to let me go”.
“I can’t do that,” he replied.
“Now ,” she reiterated, pushing against him as she tried to wiggle out
of his arms.
“Uh, my towel slipped so unless you want--”
“What towel-- Oh my God ,” Becki said, wrenching herself out of his
arms and throwing the blankets at him all in the same fluid motion.
“Stay right there, I’ll get you some clothes.”
As she hurried away, his gaze lingered on the strip of skin left bare by
a tank top that ended just below her breasts and short-shorts that would
be illegal in most countries. As he watched, she stopped, wrinkled her
brow, and scratched her head as if puzzled. Suddenly she spun around
and stalked back across the room, not stopping until she was