Loving Her (Keeping Her) Read Online Free Page B

bent down and took the
finger into his mouth before she could do more than gasp.  She felt the heat
and suction all the way to her sex and dropped her head to his shoulder with a
clunk.
    He grabbed her hand and
held it so that he could make a thorough map of her hand with his mouth and
tongue.
    “Do you have a PhD in
seduction, or what?”  She spoke breathlessly against the sleeve of his upper
arm, even as she felt Ben moving the hair away from her neck to make room for
his lips.  She pulled back, breathing a little heavier and reclaimed her hand
as Ben’s chin came to rest on her shoulder.  “And you wonder why I’m leaving
tomorrow.  You two should post warning signs at the gate.  You’re lethal.”
    She felt Ben tense behind
her before she noticed Macs sudden sharp gaze.  “I thought we had settled
this.  You’re safe here with us.”
    She raised her chin at his
tone.  “I can take care of myself.”
    “No.”
    “With the risk of sounding
like a child, you are not the boss of me.”
    “Yes,” Mac said, leaning
forward until their noses touched.  “I am.”
    Then she could do no more
than squeak as Ben pulled her back and down, holding her with one hand pressed
flat on her stomach so that her hair was spread across his lap and her eyes
were locked with his.
    “We can prove it you know,”
he said, then buried his nose in that spot beneath her sensitive ear.
    She whacked him on the top
of his head.  “Cut it out.”  But she was laughing.  She was completely turned
on and laughing.  It was a tempting combination.
    Mac stood up and reached
for her hand, hauling her up and out of Ben’s arms.  “I’ll show you where your
room is,” he said, keeping his grip on her hand as he pulled her up the
stairs.  She turned to see Ben still sitting on the stairs with a narrow eyed
look directed at them.
    ***
    The room Mac led her to was
big and bright with a lot of natural sunlight.  The bed was a standard king
four-poster.  The duvet was down and the cover decorated with sweet little blue
and yellow flowers.  An abundance of soft white down pillows in matching
pillowcases sat on the bed and wispy white drapes fluttered at the windows. 
The wood floors matched the dark wide planked pine of the rest of the house.
    "This is a great
room."
    "Clytie’s been slowly
introducing colors to all the rooms.  Things appear randomly throughout the
house.  like pillows and flowers, dishtowels."  Mac was leaning against
the doorjamb when she turned.  "She thinks we don't notice and it’s
hilarious to see her attempts at stealth so we leave her to it."
    Cassandra studied him, the
way he swallowed the space around him.  His oh so serious face and crossed
arms.
    "You and Ben, you've
been together a long time."
    He stepped forward until he
was close enough to touch.  "Ask what you really want to know."
    She blew out a breath. 
"Why do you share?  Women I mean.  Why do you share them?"
    "At first it was for
our own protection.  One man would always be aware enough to protect the other. 
When sex is done right, there is no more vulnerable time for a man or woman. 
Then we got into the habit.  Now I think it’s just how it was meant to
be."
    "What do you
mean?"
    "I think we were
always supposed to claim the same mate."
    Her breath stuttered in her
throat.  "That's quite a statement."
    "Yes," he said,
studying her face.  His hand going to brush back a curl that dangled at her
neck. 
    "I'm not ready for
this."  She said back quietly.
    "I know," he
said, kissing her forehead and stepping back.  "We'll wait."
    Cassie watched him until he
was out of sight then collapsed down in a heap to the bed.  "They're going
to be the death of me," she said to the ceiling.  On the other hand ... what
a way to go.
    ***
    "What was that
about?"  Ben asked as soon as Mac came into the control room.
    He didn't pretend to
misunderstand.  "She needs time."
    "And you're the judge
of that I take it."
    Instead of answering,