Stripped Defenseless Read Free Page A

was a
statement, not a question. He stared at her with a blank expression. “Why? And
for how long?”
    His
leather blazer opened as he reached inside to pull out his own key. She fought
back the urge to wrap her arms around his waist and cuddle up against him,
indulging in the warmth of his body.
    “Uh,
not too long. My house is, um, being fumigated,” she said, using the same lie
she’d used at least a dozen times in the past couple of months.
    “Your
house? Is it near here?”
    “Why
do you want to know?” No one else had cared to ask, and she hadn’t quite worked
out that detail of her fabricated life yet.
    “Just
curious.” His mouth quirked up to half a grin. “Want to get out of the cold?
Your lips are turning blue.” He rattled the bag in his hand and caressed her
face with a gaze that warmed her insides. “A beer and some company on a chilly
night?”
    Company.
What a concept. Besides work, she didn’t allow herself to have that.
    For
a good reason.
    She
opened her mouth to say no, but a pang of loneliness deep in her chest forced
her to close it. Her dark, dreary room was all that awaited her. The stiff
comforter that never quite warmed her. The small television that had a lousy
signal. The romance novel she’d read for the hundredth time. The telephone that
never rang.
    It
all sounded so bleak and depressing. And cold. God, why was she always so cold?
    She
looked at Kade and could almost see the warmth emanating from him. How would it
feel to be wrapped up against him for one night?
    What
could it hurt? One night with a gorgeous man.
    Ava
nodded once and gestured toward his room. Her room was out of the question
since she couldn’t remember if she’d hidden her contact case or thrown away the
bottle of medium auburn brown hair dye—or any other self-incriminating
evidence. Not that she was a criminal. Far from it. But she was a
survivor. If anything was true, it was that. And she didn’t want to make any
stupid mistakes to jeopardize the only thing she had going for—her beating
heart.
    Beating
faster every second she was in Kade’s company.
    As
Ava Lureau, never would she have thought of going into a strange man’s hotel
room, but as Lily, it almost seemed natural. Besides, what if he turned out to
be someone she could trust? How wonderful would it be to have someone on her
side? To protect her, to keep her safe...to fight for her. Maybe she was being
unrealistic and foolish, but what could she possibly have to lose that she
hadn’t already? Just this once she’d allow herself to play out a fantasy to see
where it took her.
    He
led her to his room, unlocked the door, and waved a hand toward the dimly lit
room. “After you.”
    * * * * *
    Kade
pulled the six-pack out of the paper bag and set it in the mini refrigerator
that also served as a nightstand. “Would you like a beer?” he asked as he used
his foot to nonchalantly slide his duffle bag farther under the queen-sized
bed.
    “No
thanks.”
    He
eyed Lily, taking in her nervous lip biting and the way she tapped her three-inch
heels on the carpet. She stood guarded by the door with her arms crossed.
Tomorrow he needed to find out exactly how long she’d been living out of a
hotel room, where this mysterious house of hers was or if it even existed.
    But
tonight the only burning question on his mind was if she was going to scream or
score her nails into his back when he made her come. It was all he could think
about ever since he’d had a taste of her. Whoever she was.
    After
draping his coat over the wooden chair by the desk, he closed the distance
between them and lifted his hand to cradle her flushed cheek. His other hand
wrapped around her tiny waist and gathered her up against him.
    “I’ve
never done this,” she murmured just as he was about to kiss her glossy
rose-colored lips.
    “Done
what?” He pecked at them, sampling their strawberry flavor and wanting more. It
was just how he’d imagined they’d taste.
    “Had
a one