ComfortZone Read Online Free

keeping
her balance in her heels. The position was one of surrender. A captive waiting
for her guard to make a decision.
    But the gleam in her eyes, the one that hinted at her true
nature—her defiant nature—was still there. He ignored it and bent down to take
her lips.
    Rough. She needed to know. He wasn’t a soft, gentle lover.
Never had been. He waited for a struggle, for a whimper of fear. For a gasp or
curse. Nothing. Nothing but her mouth giving under his, her head angling for
him, lips parting in invitation.
    “Damn it.” He swept in to conquer her with another kiss.
Deeper, harder, until he was sure she might feel the first sting of pain from
the pressure. He let go of her wrists so she could push at him, slap him,
somehow escape the assault. But she only wrapped around him as if he were a
lifeline. Her tight, compact body molded against his until there wasn’t a breath
between them.
    “More. Please, Brice.” She moaned against his neck, taking
sweet little sucking bites of his skin. Her hands worked on the buttons of his
suit jacket. She pushed at him, trying to knock him back against another wall.
Trying to take control.
    No.
    “No.” There. Out loud that time. “Not gonna happen.” Can’t
happen. He sidestepped until they were standing as far apart as possible in the
small room. He watched the look of hurt, then anger pass over her face. Mary
Ellen was always the most expressive person he’d ever known.
    “What the hell?” She dabbed at the corner of her mouth.
    He felt a moment of anger at himself. “Did I hurt you?”
    She paused then shook her head. But he saw her run her
tongue over her gums, as if checking for blood.
    Just another reminder why they would never be anything more
than…whatever they were. His desires had no place in her life. And he struggled
too hard to keep his control around her. He opened the door, letting the light
spill back in.
    “This can’t happen again.”
    Hands on her hips, she shook her head. “I’m not a mind
reader. You care to tell me exactly why the hell not? I thought things were
going pretty well there.”
    “I’ll go pull the car around. Take your time.” He shut the
door behind him to give her a minute of privacy. And mentally shut the door on
the small glimmer of hope he ever had in them.
    * * * * *
    “You stubborn jackass.” He couldn’t hear her anymore, but it
felt good to say. Mary Ellen pulled the strap of her dress back up and dug
through her purse for her earring. Finding her shawl, she picked it up and
wrapped it over her arms and ran fingers through her short hair to fluff it
back out.
    There. She was back in order. Mostly. Poised, confident,
ready to face the world again.
    She let her back hit the wall and slid down until she was
sitting on the carpet. And indulged herself in one quick round of quiet tears.
Anyone would have been shocked to see them. She hadn’t cried in front of anyone
since the second grade when she got kicked for the first time by a horse. Hurt like
hell. But nobody took a crybaby seriously. Any tears she shed, she kept them to
herself.
    Wiping a hand over her cheek, she practiced the mental pep
talk again.
    You’re too good for him. If he doesn’t want you, it’s his
loss. You gave it your best shot. Blah blah blah fucking blah.
    Not helping. Didn’t matter what perspective she used. The
rejection still stung like a bitch.
    What warm-blooded man rejected a woman who was completely
into him? And what’s more, the guy was into her! For years Brice had given her
side glances, full of heat and longing. Snarled at any guy she hung around
with. Sulked when she discussed a man she was dating. He was the definition of
a dog in the manger.
    And yet.
    Here she was, sitting in a closet—alone—with her mascara
running. This was definitely not how she envisioned the night ending.
    So what the hell was wrong with her? Not being vain, Mary
Ellen still knew she was a decent-looking woman. Her body was proportional and
tight