Carae's Touch (Long Line of Love, #4) Read Online Free

sure none of your brothers are either?"
    "Is that what you think, Carae?"
    "Frankly, I don't know what to think, Brandon. One minute you're pinning me against the swing while biting my ear and feasting on my neck with the ferocious appetite of a starving vampire and the next you're reminding me that you don't date your sister's friends again. And this after spending most of the night flirting with and flattering me."
    "I didn't bite your ear or feast on your neck."
    "Is that going to be your story tomorrow when I wake up branded with a neck full of hickeys and teeth prints on my ear?"
    He brushed a hand against her neck. "Did I hurt you?"
    She leaned against his chest and stared up into his eyes. "I'll let you in on a little secret, sweetie. I loved every second of our intimate interlude and I'm betting you did too although I'm sure hell will freeze over before you'll admit it. Or are you going to surprise me and admit that you were seconds away from palming my breasts and kissing the taste off my lips?"
    After all his protestations about not dating Lelia's friends, her accurate assessment of his physical desire pissed him off. "Correct me if I'm wrong but you were the one who kissed me."
    "I wouldn't actually call it a kiss. But even if I had kissed you, I did it in an attempt to offer comfort. You were the one who took it to another level by humping me and going all vampire on me."
    "Humping you? Next you'll be claiming I had my zipper down and my hands inside your panties."
    "Mmm." She curled her fingers in his hair. "I think you mean my almost nonexistent thong and don't you wish?"
    Thoughts of his hands on her naked flesh, positioning her pussy to receive his cock, made him burn. "Yes," he admitted. "As a matter of fact I do."
    "Down boy." She licked her lips, smiled and walked away.
    Aware that nearly everyone in the living room seemed to be watching, he resisted the urge to slap her ass and slowly followed her inside.
    After briefly speaking to Lelia, she continued walking across the room towards the double doors leading into the hallway.
    Where the hell was she going without him? "Carae?"
    She paused at the doorway to make a fanning motion. "I need to freshen up."
    Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to find Layton standing behind him.
    "So?"
    With that one word Layton managed to convey a wealth of meaning.
    Although two years Layton's junior, they were so close he often felt as if he had a second twin in Layton. The glade where he and Carae had talked was a popular spot during parties. He knew his brothers had run interference to ensure that he and Carae had it to themselves. So there was no point in pretending. 
    "I like her," he said simply.
    Layton smiled. "Yeah?"
    "Oh, yeah. She makes me want to sing again."
    "So sing, but before you go bursting into song, refresh my memory. I know we were introduced but I don't remember her name."
    "Carae Harrington."
    "Pretty name."
    "Pretty woman."
    "So?"
    "So?" He grimaced. "She's a friend of Lelia's."
    Layton shrugged. "Don't let that be a stumbling block for you."
    "That's only one of many."
    Layton squeezed his shoulder. "Kick them all to the fucking curb, Hoss. Please. You've grieved for Rissa and now it's time to move on. You have a right to be happy."
    Intellectually, he knew Layton was right. Emotionally he still spent part of most days missing Rissa and regretting having driven her into the arms of another man. "I know that I do."
    "But?"
    He sighed. "But it shouldn't be at Carae's expense."
    "You must know how many women would willingly risk getting hurt to help you heal."
    "I like her more than any woman I've met in years. I don't want to hurt her."
    "I know and I share your concern, but she's an adult. Let her make her own decisions."
    He shook his head.
    Bancroft came up to stand beside them. "Do you still need me to follow you?"
    The thought of driving her home and immediately leaving no longer held any appeal. "I'll call you when I need a ride home," he