Claimed by the Mate, Volume 1 Read Online Free

We’re all about helping you relax so you can enjoy the peace and quiet.”
    With his hands still resting loosely on her hips, his lips curved up in a smile she felt all the way to her toes. The man was dangerous. Her heart had to be hammering a million beats a minute, but he was just so … so …
    Cocking his head to one side, he gazed intently into her eyes. “Now are you going to be able to find your way to the lodge? It’s only about fifty yards. Just follow the path out the front door and go back the way we came. If you’re not at the bar in twenty minutes, I’m going to send someone after you.”
    â€œI think I can find the way.” She couldn’t shake her gaze from his. He blinked once and she wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Almost as if he read her mind, his head lowered and his lips met hers. Shocked, Cherry gasped, her lips parted, and Brad deepened the kiss. She lost herself in the warm pressure of his lips, the minty taste of his mouth, the unexpected but welcome thrust of his tongue.
    Surprise quickly faded into desire, and when he pulled her close Cherry didn’t even think of fighting his embrace. No, because all she could think of was the heat and the size of the larger-than-life erection pressing against her stomach. Much too soon, he slowly, sweetly ended the kiss. Then he leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, “Eighteen minutes.”
    She felt his heart pounding in his chest, almost as loud as hers. He rubbed his bristly chin across the side of her throat, sending chills along her spine. “I’m sorry you’re only here for a week. That’s not going to be nearly long enough.”
    She didn’t know what to say, could barely make her lungs work to draw each breath, but it didn’t seem to matter. Brad smiled at her, and he was even better looking, if that was at all possible, when he smiled. Then he leaned close and kissed the tip of her nose and without another word was out the door and gone.
    Stunned, Cherry stared at the door he’d closed on his way out. Her heart pounded in her chest and all her girl parts clenched as if she’d just spent an hour with her favorite vibrator. She might have thought he was leading her on—just playing with her—but when he kissed her she’d felt him. Brad was erect, the hard length of him pressed close against her belly, so long and solid she was actually wet from wanting him.
    Guys could fake a lot of things, but she’d never known one who could fake an erection.

Chapter 3
    Cherry clipped her hair into a knot on top of her head and took a quick shower. Long trips always made her feel grimy, but that wasn’t the only reason. The old cliché about horny guys taking a cold shower to cool down actually made sense. Her body was on fire after Brad’s kiss. The man kissed like he’d meant it. She’d only known him for what? Fifteen minutes?
    How would he kiss her after a few days? After they got to know each other.
    Why wasn’t she freaking out? She never kissed men she didn’t know. Actually, they never kissed her. But Brad did. And damn it all, he kissed her like he meant it.
    The shower helped, though the minute she got out and thought of him she flushed hot all over again. “Oh. My.” Fanning herself, Cherry stared at the woman in the mirror. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes sparkled, and she could swear her lips were swollen from kissing. She’d never, ever reacted to a guy the way she did to Brad, but then she’d never had a totally hot guy kiss her just minutes after meeting her.
    Who was she kidding? She’d never had a totally hot guy kiss her. Ever.
    She really needed to get her act together. She added some lip gloss, unclipped her hair, and brushed it out so that it fell in thick waves past her shoulders. Wrapping the towel around herself, she opened the suitcase she hadn’t had time to unpack and dug