Sweet as Sin Read Online Free Page A

and a slight blush pinkened her cheeks. If she ignored him any more, they’d be lovers by daybreak.
    John sucked in a deep lungful of relaxation.
    Evening started to fall. The first stars peeked through the deepening blue sky and the wind carried the hushed sound of leisure. Only a few remained in the backyard, couples mostly, who hadn’t hurried off with young children to the downtown carnival. They sat on blankets or in lawn chairs, waiting for the promised fireworks display. He listened with half an ear as Bill Truman bragged about his hybrid roses and Ethel Lowenstein complained about the Sorensons’
    poodle. Both elderly, they welcomed him with old-fashioned grace but sniped at each other like rivals.
    So far, everyone seemed open and friendly.
    The day’s humidity bled away and left a
    pleasantly cool evening. Time slowed to a peaceful crawl and, for once, the peace didn’t smother him. John’s chest warmed. Did
    contentment smell like burgers and breezes? He’d never known it so he wasn’t sure.
    Through the kitchen window, a blur of auburn hair captured his gaze. She’d barely sat all evening, working nonstop to make sure everyone had a nice outing. Her friends lounged in well-fed comfort and she was inside, still working. He 30
    Sweet as Sin
    sipped his beer and eyed the last remaining dessert before pushing away from the table. The time for playful ignoring was over.
    The sliding door whispered in its track and he stepped into the darkened room. Livvy stood at the sink running water over the utensils. She hadn’t turned on the lights and the rapidly fading sun left the room in shadows. Her spine stiffened when he stepped close, his chest barely touching her back.
    “Need any help?”
    “No, thanks, I’m almost done.”
    He set the tray aside and leaned his hands on either side of her body, bringing his mouth to her ear. She froze with her wrists buried in the water.
    Ginger curls brushed his lips. “Did you even slow down long enough to eat tonight?”
    “I ate some, here and there.”
    “Hmm.” His low hum sped her breathing. He plucked the last strawberry from the tray. “You fed everyone else, now let me feed you.”
    He gripped the green leaves and held it inches from her mouth. “Last one, all for you.”
    “Murphy, I don—”
    “It’s a strawberry, Livvy, that’s all.”
    Slowly, she rose up on her toes. Her rounded ass skimmed his groin. He deliberately held the dessert a fraction too high for comfort, forcing her to tilt her head back to take a bite. The long line of Inez Kelley
    31
    her neck shone like cream. The soft tug of her teeth on the fruit and the slight smack of her lips on the chocolate tightened his stomach. The oversized berry was too much for one bite and the light pink nestled in the dark coating thrust his thoughts to other paler, softer flesh he had yet to discover but desperately wanted to taste.
    “Mmm.”
    Her purring pleasure stroked a growing need inside him. “Can I have a bite?”
    “Oh…yes.” Her quavering voice was low,
    expectant.
    “You take another first.” This time, he brought the berry to her mouth, brushing his thumb along her lip as it closed around the chocolate. “Again.”
    “But there won’t be any le—”
    “Again, Livvy.”
    She nibbled the last of the dessert from his fingers. John tossed the leafed cap to the counter and cupped her throat, feeling her swallow, feeling the silky brush of her hair against his cheek. He let his hand trail down her neck. With one slow finger, he touched the strap of her tank and slid it down her shoulder. A thin black strap of a bra followed. The memory of the see-through number he’d seen hanging on the line rushed desire through him.
    He bent and held his lips just above the curve of her neck. “This is what I want to taste.”
    32
    Sweet as Sin
    She swallowed hard but didn’t move. His lips barely landed on her skin. She still smelled of frosting, and his tongue flicked out to taste her.
    Sugar.