Swallowing His Pride Read Free Page A

go.
    Ultimately, he lost his concentration once again as he chanced a glance at his lovely neighbor…and found her sneaking a look his way as well, which seemed to please his cat. That startled Dylan, but he offered her a small smile that she returned before she ducked her head and picked up speed.
    Did she think she’d outrun him? Good luck trying. Dylan was determined to get at least a formal introduction to the shy beauty.
    Looking beyond her, he noted her friend regarded him with a look of mild concern, her eyes shifting between him and the small woman next to him. That had his cat’s curiosity piqued. Why would the blonde bombshell be worried about her friend receiving some male attention? Was it because neither he nor his brother had even acknowledged her?
    Perhaps, he could have his brother charm her a bit while Dylan spent some time getting to know the female who had so firmly grasped the attention of his lion.
    Dylan would wait until she’d finished her run then invite her and her wary friend for a drink. Surely, she would accept. After all, he hadn’t missed the interest in her eyes. Now, he only had to convince her to act on it. And if one thing was for certain, as a Prime, he could be very convincing.
    * * * *
    With her legs the consistency of Jell-O and wobbly from her overly long run, Samantha moved over to the water cooler in the corner of the gym for a drink. Giving herself a mental pat on the back, she congratulated herself on exhausting her wayward hormones, along with the rest of her body. Now, she should be able to be in the presence of an attractive man without having her body’s sex drive shooting off the charts.
    She’d just refilled her cup and taken a long drink, when a man asked, “So, how long have you been a runner?”
    Startled, Sam turned to find Dylan standing a head and shoulders above her, which put her on level with his perfectly sculpted—and bare—chest. When had he removed his shirt? Moving her eyes over his shoulders and pecs, she dipped her gaze low enough to note his six-pack abs and the tantalizing little strip of hair that disappeared into the waistband of his shorts.
    Seriously?
    “What?” he asked, looking a little taken aback.
    Shit, had she said that aloud? And where the hell was Lynn? A quick scan showed her friend to be nowhere in sight, so it looked as if Sam would have to rely on her own addled wits to see her through. Great .
    “Sorry, I just lost my friend. I thought she was over by the free weights,” she lied.
    “Not a problem. I just wanted to introduce myself and apologize for my brother earlier. I’m Dylan.”
    He held out his rather large hand, and Samantha found herself eagerly reaching for it. Anything to touch this gorgeous man. To feel one of those big hands on her, just once, even if it was only an innocent gesture. Pathetic .
    “I’m Samantha, but you can call me Sam if you’d like.” Surprisingly enough, the very hormones she’d worked so hard to exhaust were now rearing their heads and panting for a whole different reason. As soon as her skin met his, a rush of sensual heat enveloped her, stealing her breath and leaving her slightly dizzy.
    Holy shit, I’m horny , she thought. Not just a gee-I-wonder-if-he’s-good-in-the-sack horny either, but the kind that led to tangled, sweaty bodies and sheet-clawing wild sex. She desperately wanted to experience that with this man.
    Terrified by her reaction, Samantha stumbled back a step, rubbing her hand on her shorts in an attempt to remove the tingling sensation from where they’d touched. No doubt about it, this man was lethal, and she needed to get away fast.
    “I’m sorry, but I’ve really got to—”
    “Have a drink with me?” he cut in, looking down at her with a positively sinful grin.
    “I don’t think that would be a good idea,” she replied with a smile, hoping he’d take the hint. No such luck.
    “Bring your friend with you. I have my brother, so we could all just hang out