Terms of Desire: Tempt Me Twice, Part One Read Free Page A

to look away.
    Austin chose that moment to return. “Sorry about that.” His gaze sharpened as he looked from me to Liam and back again, and nerves rioted throughout my frame.
    What was wrong with me, that I was so drawn to someone other than my husband?
    I felt dirty and guilty as hell, even though nothing had happened. Hanging my head, I let penitence wash over me before forcing myself to push it away.
    I rose my head to find both men staring at me. I couldn’t quite interpret either man’s stare.
    Liam turned abruptly, remaining silent as he tucked the cardboard box of pepper back into the black case that I now assumed was his roadside emergency kit. He was packing up to leave, and I didn’t understand why every cell in my body was screaming, yelling at me to beg him to stay.
    Truth be told, it scared me a little. Enough that I took a deliberate step back, far enough away from him that I could no longer smell the masculine tang of his sweat as it mixed with the spicy notes of his aftershave. Far enough away to at least fool myself that nothing had happened here, that our knight in shining armor hadn’t twisted my innards into knots.
    I could feel Austin’s presence beside me, and I cringed inwardly, certain that he knew the traitorous thoughts that were rioting through my head.
    He said nothing to me, instead extending a hand to Liam.
    A jolt of heat shot through me when the two men clasped hands. My mouth went dry.
    “Thank you so much for your help.” Austin extended a hand, and I murmured an assent, reflecting that therein lay the problem. Liam was our knight in shining armor, me and Austin’s. Because of that, I couldn’t express my feelings. Couldn’t slyly slip him my cell number, or ask for one in return. And I really wasn’t sure what to do with the fact that that disappointed me so, to the point that tears were stinging the backs of my eyes.
    “Not a problem. Get that car into a shop as soon as you can.” He swung his long body up into the driver’s seat of his truck. “Later.” He nodded at Austin. To me he simply said my name, the two syllables rolling off of his tongue like they’d been dipped in chocolate and he was savoring the taste.
    His dark eyes burned with enough intensity as he said my name that I knew I hadn’t imagined it all. He felt the pull too.
    I was a disloyal slut. I chastised myself as I buckled the belt back over my lap, settled my sticky skin against the prickly upholstery of the seat again. I felt tired, listless as Austin gunned the engine and the Crown Vic roared out of the dingy parking lot. And I was slightly pissed off at myself for the extremities of my emotions.
    Had my marriage really deteriorated that far? Had it gotten so bad that I was using some stranger, a handsome stranger but a stranger nonetheless to drive a wedge into the gap that already existed between me and Austin?
    I couldn’t, I told myself. More so, I wouldn’t. Sneaking a glance at my husband, I reminded myself of how handsome he was. How desirable. Maybe the romance had faded, maybe he deferred to me a little more often than I liked in recent years, and maybe I questioned him more than he cared for.
    Fantasy was normal, wasn’t it? Could even be healthy, if used appropriately. Well, I was worked up and then some right now, thanks to sexy Liam with the tattoo around his hard arm. Why couldn’t, indeed, why shouldn’t I transfer some of that excitement to my husband?
    Keeping our earlier debacle in mind, I kept my hands to myself. Instead I began to inch the soft cotton of my tank up, bit by bit, exposing skin for Austin to look at, to lust over.
    He didn’t notice. I coughed and raised my top higher, offering a view of my braless breasts, small but firm. Austin glanced over, did a double take and swore.
    “Dammit, Callie! Why do you always do this when I can’t do anything about it? You never do when we’re alone. Always creating a barrier. Do you even want to have sex with me