Holding Out For a Hero by Mari Manning

Author:Mari Manning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, suspense
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2012-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

An icy wind rattled at the living room windows and crept under the front door. Seneca wrapped Momma’s old crazy quilt more tightly around her shoulders and punched up her pillow. But sleep was elusive on the scratchy living room sofa.

She opened her eyes and stared at the shadows of wind-tossed branches writhing against the faded wallpaper. She tried to close her eyes again. The glow of the porch light seemed to penetrate her eyelids and they popped open. Reaching over her head, she grabbed her wristwatch from the end table. Eleven-fifteen. Why wasn’t Collin back yet? Had something terrible happened to Peabody Hill?

A headlight sliced through the front window and flashed briefly across the living room wall. Then the Jeep pulled into the driveway. A door slammed. She rose from the sofa, pulling the crazy quilt with her as the front door opened.

He was surprised to see her. “What are you doing up?” He flung his field jacket on a hook by the door. Then he answered his own question. “Peabody Hill is fine. Doc just wants to keep him for a few days so he doesn’t put too much pressure on his shoulder.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

He limped across the room to her, and she realized for the first time the left knee on his jeans was shredded and bloody. “Where’s your father?”

“He went to bed. He’s sleeping in my room. It used to be his, and he wanted to sleep there tonight.”

He frowned. “You can’t sleep down here. You take the bedroom. I’ll get my gear and bunk on the sofa.”

“Don’t be impossible. It’s barely long enough for me. Besides, I’ll be fine down here. You go on up to bed.”

He limped closer until he was standing over her. Dark stubble covered his face, and weariness creased the corners of his eyes. Three butterfly bandages held an angry-looking gash together on his cheek. The scent of his perspiration stung her nostrils. He studied her until she was breathless.

She had to say something. “I mean it, Collin. Don’t try to be noble because I’m not going to let you.”

A corner of his mouth quirked up. His hands cupped her jaw. He lowered his head and kissed her hungrily, devouring her lips, her mouth, her tongue, her teeth. The crazy quilt slid off her shoulders when she let go to press her hands against his solid chest and kiss him back.

His hands slid down her throat and slipped the straps of her pajama top off her shoulders. She shivered as chilly air hit her breasts. His head dropped. He planted a soft, wet kiss in the hollow of her throat. Her legs wobbled, and her knees buckled. Her bottom hit the sofa.

He sank with her, hunkering in front of her, a soldier even in intimacy. He kissed the valley between her breasts, his beard brushing roughly against the sides of her tender skin. He traced a path up one mound to her nipple, wetting it as he sucked. Exquisite pleasure rose from below her belly.

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