Second Nature Read Online Free

strength. She wouldn’t let her world tumble around her that easily…not again.
    She pushed away from Nicholas despite how good he smelled. She could be strong. She’d been waiting a long time for her chance. She faced him, shaking her head. Five years of built up fury guided her actions, surprising even her. Her hand shot out of nowhere and slapped him hard across the face. Her fingertips trembled. She’d never done anything like that before.
    Nick rubbed the red spot on his cheek, his mouth dropping wide open.
    “You’re an ass!” She proceeded to move toward the door. “I’ll walk home.”
    His hand quickly snaked out and grabbed her wrist, whirling her about-face so fast she almost tripped over her own feet. “I don’t think so, little lady.” He then smothered her lips with his until she couldn’t form a coherent thought. She sighed in consent. Damn.
    Her hands instinctively moved to his shoulders, running her fingers in small circles on the nape of his neck and up into his clean-cut hairline. They fit together like they’d been made that way. Nick finally released her lips and brushed his cheek against hers. Through an enticing haze, she breathed in his very distinct scent, intoxicating her senses with a mix of the salty air, his spicy musk, and pure male.
    As he nuzzled her neck, right below her ear where he knew would make her crazy, he whispered, “I missed you.”
    Dana inhaled a deep breath, knees wobbling as she took in more of his scent. His lips caressed her neck. She exhaled. “I missed you, too.” Her voice was a mere whisper.
    “Really?” He raised his head.
    She snickered. “Yes, really. Don’t look so shocked. I always told myself I didn’t miss you, and I figured I’d never see you again, so I forced myself to move on. I thought I’d put thoughts of you behind me.” She sighed. “Then I saw you tonight and—”
    Her words were cut off by his hard and intense lips, drowning out any other reasonable thought she had except how good he tasted as he devoured her. Heaven help her, this wasn’t just any kiss…more like a homecoming. She had often lain awake at night trying to remember what his kisses felt like against her lips and skin.
    The kiss doesn’t mean anything. It can’t. Too much water under the bridge, and I’m not sure if I can ever forgive him.
    Dana struggled with her thoughts until Nick wound his fingers into her hair, tilting back her head while his tongue pressed against her slightly parted lips, demanding entrance.
    Live for the moment—just the moment!
    Her lips parted without hesitation, allowing him to deepen the kiss. His tongue delved in search of hers, eliciting a moan from deep within her throat and encouraging him further.
    With his other hand against her lower back, he pressed her closer yet, her full breasts tight against his chest. He pushed his arousal to her stomach. She ran her hands frantically over his shoulders, gripping his biceps as his fingers moved over her hips and down the silky satin covering her thighs.
    Nick’s lips left her whimpering mouth to trail hungry kisses down the length of her neck and over her bare shoulder. He fidgeted with the hem of her dress, as if hesitating. Did he want her to stop him? She had no intention of stopping him. She couldn’t. She wanted him so bad. When Dana didn’t cease his wandering hands, he continued. His hands slipped under the hem of the black satin and pushed her dress up her hips to grasp her firm, round bottom—bare except for a thin strip of lace.
    “Damn, woman! A thong?”
    He found her mouth again as he gently kneaded her bottom. He pulled her snug against the heat straining his zipper, pushing firmly into her pelvis and making her aware of his need.
    A gasp escaped her lips as a cool breeze swept through the patio doors. Nothing covered her backside but his warm hands.
    He gazed into her eyes as he smoothed her dress down over her bare skin, before running his fingers up and down her