Switch Master: 6 (Ink and Kink) Read Free Page B

her and her head was tucked into the
cozy crook of his shoulder. It was so nice to be held, she didn’t fight it, she
gave in and held him right back.
    “Please don’t run away again, Samantha. I’ve missed you.”
    “Missed you too, Taran,” she confessed. “I’m sorry, I’ve
just been too afraid to take a chance on you. I’m still afraid.”
    “There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore. I’ve got you and
I’m not letting go.”
    “Don’t be nice, I’m like an onion. You’d be better off if
you never come near me again.”
    Taran’s arms were blessedly strong, yet he used no coercion
other than the warmth of a long-needed hug. Gently, he shifted, kissing the top
of her head.
    “An onion?” he asked against her hair, brushing his lips
back and forth.
    “Complicated, you know, you have to peel back the layers, as
in Shrek?”
    “I’ve seen the movie.”
    Sam sighed and snuggled deeper. His body heat was through the
roof. On a cold late-winter evening in New England, he’d certainly keep her
warm. Would he mind if she wore socks or warm PJs to bed?
    “You won’t need to wear anything. I’ll keep you warm.”
    “Did I say that out loud?”
    “Uh-huh, it’s okay. I’m still stuck on the onion thing.”
    “You hate onions!” she groused against his shoulder, drawing
in another deep breath and loving the woodsy scent of his skin and still-damp
dark hair.
    “You know this how?”
    “I’ve never seen you order onion rings at Cassie’s diner.”
Cassie’s diner in Salem was a combination of diner comfort foods and a used
bookstore. The food, the coffee, the customers were all great. “They are the
bomb! You remove any hint of onions from cheeseburgers and I heard you tell her
not to put them in pot roast.”
    “It’s true. I’m a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.”
    “Don’t you see? Onions are layered, complicated and they
make people cry. I don’t want to make you cry, Taran.”
    “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a Maddox,” he said,
loosening his hold enough to run his hands up and down her back. “We don’t
abandon our women when they need us the most.”
    Skillfully, his hands skimmed down to the upper swell of her
ass then up along her spine, under her thick leather jacket and tee shirt. His
fingertips and palms were calloused, the sensation of his caresses thrilling,
intoxicating.
    “I’m not your woman, Taran.”
    “You are. Do me a favor?” he requested, drawing back so she
could look up into his face. He withdrew his left hand from beneath her shirt
and touched her cheek.
    “I’ll try.”
    “If you’re going to compare yourself to food, choose my
favorite dessert. Like you, it’s layered, complicated and delicious.”
    “Are you comparing me to chocolate cake?” She’d seen him
order it at Book Haven Diner many times. He nodded, smiling softly even as he
trailed his fingertips to the tip of her chin, bringing her closer.
    “Double chocolate cake with fudge icing,” he answered,
lowering his head until his mouth hovered right over hers. His breath was
cinnamon fresh from toothpaste.
    “Aren’t you worried it would give you a toothache?”
    “Chocolate cake is my comfort food. Add in a big scoop of
French vanilla ice cream, I’m a happy man.”
    “Somewhere in that description is a compliment.”
    “It’s intended as one. You mentioned being complicated. Try
deciphering tort law if you want to talk about complicated or opening up my own
law office here at Maddox Ink once I realized my old firm was giving me the
bottom-of-the-barrel cases. I can handle anything you dish out.”
    “If I told you I have a juvenile record as a hacker would it
make you give up on me?”
    “No, that’s in your past. You’re a detective who refuses to
give up on finding missing persons, often children, and closing cold cases. I
respect your commitment to justice.”
    “Thank you. That means a lot.”
    “Good, then it’d be appreciated if you’d stop thinking I’m
going