His Mating Mark Read Online Free Page A

words. Maybe he really was just a nice man. She needed to believe that people were good instead of evil. She needed to have more faith in humanity.
    “Well, I’m available most nights and weekends. Anytime you want me to cook just give me a call.” He handed her a piece of paper, and she noticed that his phone number written on it. Ducking her head, she smiled, shoving his number into her pocket. Maybe he could come over and cook for her again sometime.
    “Good to know.” She didn’t want to seem too anxious to see him again, but she really did want to.
    Josh pulled out a chair and sat down, and she was glad that he was staying. Focusing on her plate, Nicole picked up her fork, taking slow bites, wanting to savor each taste. The flavors exploded in her mouth, and she moaned, quickly taking another bite. Every taste was pure perfection, and Nicole ate faster. She stared at her empty plate and wondered if it would be weird if she picked it up and licked it clean.
    Looking up, she found Josh staring at her. His eyes looked wild, and she wondered what he was thinking. “I’m sorry for staring. You…you make these cute little sounds when you’re eating.” He winked, and Nicole smiled.
    “I couldn’t help it. The food was fantastic. Thank you.” Grabbing her plate, she stood up, leaned over, and picked up Josh’s plate. He reached out and grabbed her forearm, stopping her progress. She felt a jolt rush through body, hot and fierce. Jerking her arm back, she dropped the plates. They crashed to the floor, and Nicole backed away, needing some distance. Her arm tingled, and she could still feel his hand gripping her, even though he wasn’t touching her any longer.
    She kept walking away from him, putting more distance between them until her back hit the wall, preventing her from moving. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she pulled up her sleeve, staring at the bite mark on her arm. It looked fresh, and she quickly pulled her sleeve down, hiding it from Josh’s eyes. She didn’t want to think about that night. She wouldn’t allow herself to relive it, especially not in front of this man.
    “Nicole.” He whispered her name, and she flinched. He stood up slowly, holding his hands out a little, making sure he looked less threatening. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He kept his voice low, and she felt so embarrassed. He had come over, cooked her a nice meal, and here she was freaking out.
    “No. Please don’t apologize. I’m sorry. I’m so used to being alone and…jeez…I’m just sorry.” She smiled and walked back over to the table. Leaning down, she started picking up the broken plates. She shook her head and wondered if she would ever see him again after her crazy display. He probably thought she was a nut job.
    Josh brushed against her, and she shivered. Jerking her head up, she stared into his gorgeous brown eyes. He seemed to have an influence over her body. She felt calm and safe when he was near her. She caught herself staring at him as they picked up the broken glass together. He was so incredibly handsome, and she wanted him to kiss her. Wanting just once to have his lips against hers, she bit her lip to keep herself from moaning.
    She walked over to the trashcan and threw out the mess she had made. “Thank you, for dinner, I mean.”
    “No problem. There might be a little bit of leftovers. Uh, do you think we could do this again sometime?” She could tell he was holding his breath, anticipating her answer. It was amazing that this sexy man wanted to cook for her again. She nodded her head, smiling.
    “Good. Well, I’ll let you get back to writing now. I hope you have a wonderful night.” He moved toward her slowly, giving her enough time to pull away, but she didn’t. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close. She relaxed, exhaling, letting the stress leave her body. He felt fantastic. She rubbed her face against his chest, getting a whiff of his cologne mixed with