Betrayal (Phantom Protectors Book 2) by Kate Allenton Page A

Two place settings of fine china lay gracefully on the table. He removed a napkin and placed it in her lap giving her a quick kiss before turning to retreat into the house. “I hope you like Italian.”
    She got a good look at hi s backside as he disappeared back into the house. Gracie leaned back into her chair. He carried a casserole dish between two mittens in his hands and placed it on the table. “Dinner is served.”
    He removed the lid and served her a generous portion of lasagna before serving himself. He poured them each more wine, and he sat down next to her.
    “Smells great.” She opted for safe small-talk and tried to ease the mounting sexual tension between them, a tension they would have to deal with sooner rather than later.
    “I don’t get to cook much at the compound, so I hope it’s edible.”
    She stabbed the lasagna with her fork and blew the steam away. She placed the fork in her mouth and let her lips slid over the tines. The flavors burst against her tongue. She closed her eyes and moaned , letting the savory sauce linger in her mouth as she chewed. She opened her eyes to find Ridge with a forkful held over his plate, unable to take his eyes off her.
    He cleared his throat. “I should have cooked for you a long time ago.”
    He shook his head and took a bite of his own food. They ate in silence as the sexual tension mounted around them setting her body on fire. Unable to think straight she grabbed her wine glass, sipping for the courage she desperately needed. “Why are you doing this?”
    He s et his fork on his plate. “Is it so hard to believe I’m attracted to you?”
    She raised her brow s. “Yes.”
    He stood , picked up the plates, and disappeared into the kitchen, and she followed. He set the china in the sink and turned back to her. “I tried to fool myself into thinking I could take this slow with you.” He ran a hand through his hair and hesitated before he stepped closer.
    His admission left her without words. She threw every bit of caution she had into the wind. She stepped closer until the y met in the middle of the kitchen. He didn’t move to kiss her. “Gracie, tell me you don’t want this.”
    She placed her hands on his chest. “I’d be lying.”
    His hands ran a path up and down her arms. “Tell me it’s not a good idea.”
    She shook her head. “I can’t think of anything I want more.”
    She ran her hands up around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. She was being honest. Right here, in this moment, she wanted him. He lifted her behind the knees and carried her through the house and up the stairs, kissing her as he went. He kicked the door closed with his foot when he’d made it to his room. He gently sat her down on her feet. “We shouldn’t…”
    “We should.” She silenced him with her lips, pressing hers hard to his. Her hands tugged at the hem of his sweater, only moving an inch away from his searing heat while she tried unsuccessfully to remove the clothes obstructing her path. He reached behind him and tugged first the sweater and then the white shirt over his head.
    She let the palms of her hands slide down his washboard abs, her fingers trac ing the indentions as she went. He was perfect. Why he wanted her, even knowing she wasn’t perfect, nagged at her mind, but she pushed the thought away. He was offering, and she was taking.
    He covered her hands with his and stilled her downward progress. “Gracie, we should talk.”
    She leaned forward and kissed his chest. “Talking is overrated.”
    His lips found hers, and he kissed her like a man who was never going to see her again. He placed all of his passion in that one single kiss. He pulled back. “There’s stuff you don’t know about me, Gracie. Stuff I need to explain.”
    She slid one of the buttons on her blouse through the hook , exposing some of her skin. She held his gaze as she worked on the rest. “So explain.”
    She watched in fascination as his gaze rivete d to every movement