Temptation's Heat Read Online Free

intake of her breath as she reached up and put both hands on his chest. Her warm palms on his shower-cooled skin sent a ripple of electricity surging through his body like a lightning bolt.
    Then she gave him a good shove. “I’ve already been to that party. I’m not interested in a repeat.” Her eyes flashed. “And in case you’re wondering, I’ve seen a naked man before. You’re nothing special.”
    She turned and left before he could respond. He stood there in the empty room, wondering if the sting he felt was the cold or the fact that she had just made it abundantly clear she wasn’t the least bit interested in him.

Eight
    Scarlet could only hope she hadn’t given herself away. That it hadn’t been obvious how much restraint it had taken not to step toward Rowen, to press herself against that very male—and yes, as long as she was being honest she might as well admit it—very hot, body. Her palms had burned against his skin, cool and damp from the shower. She felt the heat moving between them. Could almost smell the animal attraction in the air.
    Then, he had turned all cocky, looking at her with the “been there, done that” gleam in his eye.
    And good thing, too. It was just the reminder she needed.
    She plastered a look of calm on her face as she entered the dining room. It was a cacophony of silver on porcelain, quiet murmuring, and a heated debate between Braden and Kane about the most expeditious way to dispatch a revenant with a sickle.
    Lily pushed through the door from the kitchen carrying a basket of steaming blueberry muffins. “Should I set a place for him?” she asked Scarlet.
    “I have no idea.” Scarlet took her seat next to Braden. “The man is infuriating.”
    Braden turned to her, grinning. “I always figured you for the infuriating type.”
    She grabbed a muffin from the basket and took a huge bite, chewing it angrily. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    His laugh was a warm rumble coming from his wide chest. “Just that nice and respectful hasn’t done the job. Obviously.”
    “Obviously?”
    “C’mon, Scarlet.” She was surprised to see embarrassment on his face. “You’re Ambrose’s daughter. Even those of us who can be dicks wouldn’t dare treat you with anything but kid gloves, but it’s not like you’ve been interested in what any of us were offering.” He took a swig of coffee, his big hand incongruous against the dainty floral cup Lily insisted on using. “Maybe infuriating is just your type.”
    As if on cue, Rowen walked into the room. Scarlet’s body betrayed her with a fresh slam of lust as she took in the tight black t-shirt and snug jeans, hugging his body like they were made for him, making no secret of the significant package between his legs.
    Then again, that wasn’t a secret anyway. Not anymore.
    She looked away, trying to concentrate on the omelet Lily slid onto her plate instead of the image of a naked Rowen Black, body still glistening from the shower, now seared into her brain

Nine
    Her arms were in mid-air. She was doing something to her hair, but it was her breasts that had him captivated. They strained against the fabric of her shirt, the perfect fullness of them outlined in lace.
    “You can watch from the sidelines, if you want,” Kane said to him.
    Rowen nodded, pulling his eyes away from Scarlet’s curves.
    He liked Kane. Sensed a fellow rebel in his flinty eyes, his gruff demeanor. And Rowen learned some things from talking to the other man. Turns out Rowen had been sent to replace some guy named Mikhail, a member of the Guard who had disappeared nearly two months ago. Word was Mikhail had been under suspicion for fraternizing with the enemy even before his disappearance. They didn’t have proof, but Mikhail’s invisible-man act was enough to indict him in the eyes of the rest of the Guard.
    Rowen stepped back against the wall as Lily led Ambrose Montgomery into the training room. Rowen didn’t know who looked more fragile, the