Once Upon a Power Play Read Online Free Page A

made her feel. Not. One. Bit.
    Reaching out, he grasped the handle of her reusable shopping bag, forcing her to give it up. “It’s the least I can do after you saved my ass back there.”
    “Damn straight. And don’t you forget it,” she grumbled, resigned to her fate. Maybe letting Ryan walk her home wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Of course, she’d bathe in hot coals before acknowledging it. “Speaking of which, I cannot believe the cashier gave you that stupid lime for free. If anyone deserved free groceries, it was me.”
    His eyebrows shot up. “I don’t know. Maybe she likes…” He paused, looking uncharacteristically unsure of himself. “Lumberjacks?”
    Was he going to say something else? Did it even matter? They walked in silence for a while, the tension between them thick and wrought with something fiery she couldn’t quite name. The snow was accumulating fast, growing deeper with each fluffy white flake drifting from the sky. Normally she loved the snow, but tonight? It was wreaking havoc on her life.
    “Why does it have to be so freaking cold?” She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill.
    “You should wear a hat to help retain body heat. And it would keep you dry.” He brushed snow from the collar of her coat, catching her off guard with the familiar gesture. When his fingers grazed the sensitive skin at the base of her neck, heat blazed through her, warming her from the inside out.
    “What about you?” she asked, ignoring the sudden spike in body temperature. No way was she getting hot for this man. “It’s like ten degrees out here and you’re strutting around with no coat. What, are you from the North Pole?” It would certainly explain the scruff that lined his chin, making him look like even more of a Neanderthal. Yeah, Ryan definitely wasn’t her type. Even though it was sort of a turn-on how he’d tried to be the hero earlier. Plenty of guys, especially the ones she dated, would’ve turned a blind eye, too worried about their fancy shoes and pretty faces to step in, even with a woman in trouble.
    “Very funny. I’m from Minnesota.” He shrugged as if that explained it all. “The cold doesn’t bother me much.”
    “Well, this is me,” she said, stopping in front of her building and turning to face him. A dusting of snow covered his shoulders and the tips of his hair, softening the big, hard man in front of her. Should she invite him up? Offer him a drink? What was protocol for a near death situation among strangers?
    Before she could overthink it, he took the decision out of her hands.
    His lips descended upon hers, gentle at first, but growing hungry and desperate when she stretched up on her toes and kissed him back. Opening herself to him, she took the kiss deeper, tangling her fingers in his damp hair and pulling him closer. It was hot and cold and hard and soft all at once. Everything she’d expected and nothing she’d imagined. Unable to process the conflicting feelings, her brain shorted out from sensory overload. He snaked his arms around her back, gripping her ass and pulling her body flush to him as her tongue mated with his, caressing and massaging in response to his dominating thrusts. She was vaguely aware that he’d lifted her from her feet and the realization sent white-hot need tearing through her. The groan that rolled from his lips confirmed that he also craved more. Sucking his lower lip, she teased him mercilessly, enjoying the taste of spearmint on his breath.
    When they finally broke apart, she was breathless, gasping at the icy cold air that filled her lungs but did nothing to mitigate the scorching hot lust burning up her skin. “I’m Chloe, by the way.”
    “Nice to meet you, Chloe.” He grinned, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “You should know I’ve wanted to do that from the moment I first saw you.”
    For the second time that evening, she found herself speechless. That kiss? It had been seductive, and