Broken Heart 10 Some Lycan Hot (10 page)

     "I know what every line says. I don't need to accomplish everything this week—just the starred items."
     Dane frowned. "Have sex" was starred. So was "toe-curling kiss," "get a pet," and a couple more sentences he couldn't make out. "Marissa, you don't have to do these things to experience life."
     She stood and extracted the list from his grasp. "Yes, I do. I wasn't kidding about my sheltered life. You compared me to a nun. I bet nuns have more fun than I ever did. I won't bore you with the details. Let's just say I'm free for a short amount of time and I desperately want to finish this list."
     Her vulnerability sliced into him. Wasn't this how Lorraine had gotten to him? He'd fallen for the "poor rich girl" trap once.
     "You're not an escapee, are you?"
     Her eyes widened. "Why would you say that?"
     "I knew it. Prison or the psych ward?"
     "Neither." She answered too fast. She'd make a terrible poker player. Little Miss Priss was hiding something...no, not really hiding, just not telling the full story.
     "I'm on a tight schedule, so I must go." That sexy, trembling little smile assailed her lips. "You're the first person I've met all by myself and look how I messed it up." She heaved the purse over her shoulder and extended her hand. "Good-bye."
     Dane clasped her hand and pulled her close. Her head reached his shoulders, but she tilted it back, met his gaze, and waited for him to speak.
Here I go again.
He'd help her out tonight, but that was the end of his participation. He refused to think about the trouble she'd get into with The List.
     "I know I'm going to regret this," he muttered. He slid the purse from her shoulder. It thunked to the floor. "I'll help you tonight, princess."
     "Wonderful! Can we—"
     He waved one finger. "No sex."
     "Darn."
     He stepped back. "You can't enter a wet T-shirt contest without a T-shirt."
     "O-of course not."
     "What have you got on under that—" His gaze devoured the poppable gold buttons; he made the mistake of looking at the lush curve of her breasts outlined by the soft material of her top.
Damn.
"—your...uh...thingy."
     Her brows rose. "Define thingy."
     "Shirt. Blouse. Whatever. What's under it?"
     "A bra. It matches the crotchless panties. I went for the front snap and white lace. The black silk with red lace didn't appeal to me." She frowned. "Do men prefer a more, please forgive the word, but a more
slutty
look?"
     "All most men need is a woman naked and willing."
     "You've proven that theory quite wrong."
     Dane ignored her comment. If she knew how tempted he was to show her the delights of sexual pleasure, she might do something stupid—like take off her clothes. "Do you want to enter the wet T-shirt contest or not?"
     She nodded.
     Dane reached up and undid the topknot; silky, honey gold hair fell around Marissa's shoulders in soft waves. He removed her glasses, folded them carefully, and put them on the desk. When he returned to her, he drew in a breath. Blonde brows slanted over green eyes flecked with gold. Her features were not sharp at all, but perfectly defined. Golden curls trailed down her slim, white neck.
     Marissa Vanderson was beautiful.
     "Wow."
     "You don't have to pretend," she murmured.
     "I'm not pretending." Good Lord, he'd been a blind man. She was exquisite.
     He saw her swallow and the movement of her slender throat urged him to plant a soft kiss at the dimpled base. His gaze fastened to her generous mouth, and he nearly groaned when a pink tongue licked her lower lip.
     "You're asking me to kiss you," he warned softly. "Be careful about giving signals."
     Her gaze flickered. Lust? Curiosity? She was too naive to hide her uninhibited desire and his conscience refused to allow him to sip even a drop of Marissa Vanderson's innocence.
     "How else do I give a signal?"
     Dane sighed. "You don't want to give signals."
     "I don't?"
     "No."
     She moved closer and the same light flowery scent he noticed earlier infiltrated his senses. "You're right. I should be more direct." She squared her shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. "Kiss me, Dane."

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