Hot & Humid Read Free Page A

even theme your days.”
    She kicked out again but missed wide when her boot went flying. He ignored the attempt.
    “Nice try.” He took another bite of food. “I wonder if your boss is aware of what you’re up to.”
    “Is that a threat?” she asked.
    Thane balanced his phone on his leg. “Just making conversation. Still determined to get that interview?”
    She didn’t care so much about the story anymore. She should but right now she didn’t. Comfort, food, and a long hot bath that would massage out the kinks were the things she wanted most. Then she’d curl up with her laptop, blog about her exciting day, and fall asleep in bed. Alone. “I need this interview.”
    He ate a few fries, then held one out toward her mouth. “Not going to happen. Hungry?”
    Brine pressed her lips together. She wanted to bite him. “I am, but I’d rather eat dirt.”
    “That can be arranged.” He grinned.
    “This isn’t funny!”
    “Oh, I think it’s highly entertaining. I have a beautiful woman…” She snorted and he paused. “…chained to my land. My land. My rules. My property. Everything on this land belongs to me. You’re mine.”
    You’re mine. A shiver ran down her spine. He was serious.
    “You don’t own me.” Brine words snapped like gunfire. She eyed the steaming fry he brought to his lips. She watched the thick cords in his neck work as he swallowed, making his Adam’s apple slide up and down. He picked up another fry and brought it to her lips.
    “Sure you’re not hungry?”
    She opened her mouth to tell him off and he shoved the fry in her mouth. Hunger won. The salty, sweet flavor spread over her tongue. Their gazes locked, and time took a slow dive to the bottom of nowhere. She fell deep, fast, all the while knowing she couldn’t surface quickly without throwing her body off. Thane’s gaze dropped to her lips when her tongue licked the sea salt off. A flutter of desire rippled through her body when his finger brushed her chin with a gentle touch.
    “Tell me how you got out here.”
    Brine swallowed the fry and blinked rapidly. Thane offered her the soda, and she took a sip. What a fool I am to think he’s interested.
    “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “I can wait.”
    Brine watched him take another bite of the sandwich. “Just let me go and forget this ever happened, okay?”
    His voice softened to a husky whisper. “Can’t do that either.”
    She fumed inwardly. The rational side of her brain shut off twenty-four hours ago. She cursed and looked away. Thane reached out and brushed her wet hair away from her face. His thumb skimmed the tear off her cheek.
    Thane held up a brownie. “Sure you’re not hungry?”
    Right then she hated chocolate and him. “I’d rather not dine with the enemy.”
    His grin was quick and surprisingly boyish. He shoved a piece of brownie in his mouth. “Too late for that. I think we’ve just had our first date.”
    “We are so not dating.”
    “Why? Are you married?”
    His gaze turned serious. She hesitated and thought about all the stories she could tell about men in her life, but there weren’t any. She just didn’t date. “Go away.”
    “Not going to happen. Like I was saying. You’re on my land. What’s on my land is mine. I own you.”
    Brine sucked in the corner of her lip. She could tell he was done playing games. The interview was out of her reach, but she could still get out of this with what was left of her pride.
    “The cuff key is in the bottle over there.”
    He picked up the bottle and shook it around. He dumped the alcohol and the key clanked into his palm. He arched a brow, but she just ignored his unasked question. He hunted in the brush and got her boot, too. He lifted up her ankle and slid the leather boot on.
    “Here you go Cinderella .”
    Thane leaned over her bare legs. Her fingers brushed his when he lifted up her wrist and unlocked the cuff from the chain. He did the same to the other. Brine rubbed her right wrist