Slave To Love Read Online Free

clerk or concierge or manager. The way he wore the suit, no way could this man be told what to do by someone else.
    He moved slowly toward her, stalking her.
    “Um, you can use one of the candles to light your cigarette.” She hated the habit, but felt the need to be accommodating.
    The man looked down at the slender addiction between his long fingers. “I bummed this from some waiter out here, but I wasn’t going to smoke it.” He crushed it in his hand. “Old habits die hard.”
    Taren’s clit throbbed as soon as she heard his deep voice. That reaction alone made her sit up and take notice of this man. As soon as he moved in closer, she noticed his light blue eyes.
    Her heart pounded, and all at once, she felt like a schoolgirl again experiencing her first crush. No way could she feel this way over a stranger. She would blame this reaction on lack of food. Her dinner waited for her in the ballroom along with her parents’ overprotective nature.
    “Know what you mean.” Taren thought about her parents and their need to be so overbearing.
    “You look nice.” He scanned her from her head down to her toes.
    She thanked the Lord that she’d had a pedicure. Taren swept her hand over her hair that she had styled in an up ’do.
    “Here for a wedding or something?” He looked at the hotel. “This place is known for that.”
    “No, here with my parents.” She winced as soon as the words left her mouth. “My dad owns an insurance company. We’re here for some builders event.”
    “But you have no interest in that.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
    “Not really. I don’t know the person being honored. I don’t even know his name or the name of his business. I’m here to enjoy rubbery chicken.” She lowered her head and voice. “And be treated like a child.”
    “What was that?” He moved closer to her.
    “Never mind. Are you here for a wedding?” She smiled. “Are you the groom?”
    He shook his head. “Not really marrying material. What about you?”
    Taren shrugged. “If it were up to my parents, I would be married off to the goober at our table because he looks safe and reliable, which means he’s boring.”
    “Boring might be good for you.”
    Taren tilted her head at this stranger’s assessment of her.
    He continued. “You’re young.”
    “And?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
    “You don’t know what you want yet. Sometimes it takes someone who’s been there to help guide you.”
    Taren bolted to her feet. “The best decision you made tonight had to be that you didn’t smoke that cigarette. Other than that, you are dead wrong about me.” She started to leave.
    “So you didn’t want me smoking?” he asked from behind her.
    Despite her better judgment, she stopped and acknowledged him. “It really doesn’t matter what I want. If you wanted to smoke, I was being polite and letting you know how you can accomplish that. But I think it’s a disgusting habit. It ruins your teeth, your lungs, and your skin. You stink and you make everything around you smell.”
    “Had I lit my cigarette, would you have stayed or gone back into the hotel and rejoined your party?” He took another step closer to her.
    At his close proximity, she caught his intoxicating scent that reminded her of the outdoors, like honeysuckle and fresh-cut grass. “If you had smoked, I probably would have moved to another spot out here or gone back inside.”
    “What if I wanted you to stay?” He inched in closer. “You know. For conversation. Would you?”
    Taren returned his direct stare with one of her own. She wanted him to see that she wouldn’t be bossed around, at least not by him. She’d had fantasies about being a submissive for a strong dominant man. No matter how fine she found this man, he had another thing coming if he thought he could rule her.
    “No, I wouldn’t.” She hoped she sounded convincing.
    He looked like he struggled to not smile. “Interesting.” He sauntered to her.