Double Dating with the Dead by Karen Kelley (best fiction novels to read .txt) 📗

stink.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“I’ll bathe you.”

She liked the sound of that. Even better than the thought of going home to her mother.

“Lean on me,” he told her.

Before they went upstairs, he had her sit in one of the kitchen chairs while he checked her for injuries.

“You have dried blood in your hair, but the cut looks superficial.” He ran his hands over her body. She winced when he came to her ankle. “It doesn’t look broken, no swelling.”

She shook her head. “Just a little tender.” She was more concerned with how she looked and smelled. “Can we just go upstairs? I really need a bath.”

He nodded and helped her to stand.

They made their way into the house and up the stairs. He had her sit on the toilet while he ran her bath, and then he undressed her. Slowly, one article of clothing at a time.

When she began to shiver from reaction rather than the cold, he talked to her. She didn’t focus on his words as much as she did the sound of his voice.

And after he helped her into the tub of warm water, he began to bathe her, and a different feeling washed over, stealing away the fear she’d felt after she’d fallen into the well.

She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think, didn’t want to remember…she only wanted to feel the soapy washcloth as Trent glided it over her.

He brushed the rough cloth over her nipples, and they immediately tightened into sensitive nubs. She moaned, thrusting her chest out, wanting more.

“I didn’t run the bath and start washing you just so I could have sex,” he said.

She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was sincere. Even though this had to be affecting him, he wouldn’t go any further. He would go to his bed without release.

He might, but she wasn’t about to.

It was okay they didn’t think the same way. And maybe she was gullible or stupid…but she believed him when he said he wasn’t going to write a book condemning her to the world.

She trusted her instincts and she trusted him. Taking his hand, she brought it to her chest and hugged it close.

“I know you won’t write the book.” Her hesitation was brief. “Make love to me.”

He knelt down, sliding his hand behind her head and bringing her closer before touching his lips to hers. He kissed her long and deep, his tongue stroking hers, heat inflaming her senses. Her body tingled to awareness as his other hand cupped her breast, his thumb brushing across her sensitive nipple.

He ended the kiss, then lowered his head and brushed his tongue across her hard nipple before sucking it into his mouth. Just when she thought she would explode, he moved away.

“Don’t stop.”

“I couldn’t if I wanted to, but I want you crying my name, begging me to enter you.”

“Torture,” she cried.

“Revenge for making me think you were a knife-wielding maniac ready to carve my heart out.”

“I was good, wasn’t I?” Selena was damn proud of her acting abilities.

“I’m going to make you pay for that stunt.”

Oh, God, she hoped so. Anticipation built inside her. She was ready to call his name right now, beg, whatever it took to have him inside her. She’d never wanted a man as badly as she wanted Trent right now.

But she could only watch through passion-glazed eyes as he took the bar of soap and worked up a lather. She knew without a doubt he was going to run the suds over her body, between her legs. She bit her bottom lip as expectation began to build.

He slid the bar of soap over each breast. “I like the way your body arches,” he said. “The way your nipples tighten at the briefest touch.”

He lathered each one while the fire inside her threatened to consume her. He slid the soap lower, over her abdomen, then lower still but not low enough. No, not nearly low enough.

“You like that?”

“Lower,” she breathed.

“Here?” He brushed just across the top of her mound.

“Lower,” she cried out in desperation.

“Open your legs.”

She immediately did as he asked, but there wasn’t enough room. “Can’t.”

“Can you stand?”

“I…I think so.” If she couldn’t, it wouldn’t be from her fall, the well hadn’t been that deep, but rather from the weakness he’d made her feel.

He helped her to her feet. “How’s your ankle?”

She put weight on her foot. A slight ache, nothing more. “It’s okay.”

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

A flush of embarrassment washed over her, but the thought of him touching her overrode any inhibitions she might have.

He knelt in front of her. Taking the soap, he lathered his hands, not getting in any hurry. Or so it seemed to her. “Please, Trent.”

“Please what?”

“Touch me before I die.”

He laid the soap down and pressed his palm against her sex, applying slight pressure.

“Yes, that’s it.” She moved against his hand, closing her eyes, letting this little bit of release wash over her.

Slowly, he began to move his hand; then his fingers tangled in her curls before sliding over her sex. She slid her hands down her thighs and back up as the pleasure built inside her.

Suddenly, he stood, scooping her into his arms, and carried her dripping wet to his bed and laid her gently on top of the covers.

“I’ll soak them.”

“Then we’ll move to your bed later.”

She watched as he stripped out of his clothes. “I want you.”

He lay on the bed beside her, but rather than immediately taking her into his arms, he brushed the hair from her face, caressing her cheek.

“I started taking notes the first day. I thought you were like Celeste.”

When she opened her mouth, he lightly placed a finger over her lips.

“No, I need to say this again. I had planned on writing the book, but the more I was around you, the more I knew I couldn’t. You’re a good person, Selena James, and it shines through.”

He raised on one elbow and kissed her. His lips were firm, yet gentle, sending pulse waves