Riveted (Art of Eros #1) Read Online Free Page B

wanted to make sure he saw things correctly. He scrubbed his face with his hands. Yep, that was her. Marabella. The beauty he couldn’t forget about no matter how hard he tried. She was his first thought that morning even after a night at the bar of tits and tequila. How could he ever forget how she affected him on the flight down? With his hands folded in prayer over his nose and mouth, he breathed out heavily, trying to figure out what the hell his next move was going to be. The pull to her was gravitational.
    He studied Mara from across the pool; flanked by two women he assumed were her sisters. He vaguely remembered seeing them push their way toward Mara on the plane as he made his escape. Both were beauties in their own way. To her right was a very tall woman with shoulder-length blonde hair with an athletic build. She appeared to be the calm one in the group. The other one had light brown hair and a curvy body. She waved her hands around, clearly the spitfire. But neither one of them moved him the way Mara did. This mystery woman more than piqued his curiosity. Mac had friends with benefits for a reason. It was easy and he preferred it; that way no one got hurt.
    This woman wound him up somehow and yet settled him down. Mara rolled over him like a warm ocean wave that lulled you into a peaceful content place down to your soul. She stirred his emotions, making him off-balance. For some inexplicable reason, he couldn’t turn away from her. The gods of torture had placed her right in front of him. He couldn’t stop himself even if he wanted to. This was either going to be one hell of a train wreck or the most beautiful sunrise ever.
    After her sisters left, he watched her from across the pool. She seemed to be playing with something in her hands. Her clothes had been hiding her very well toned legs and generous cleavage. They were exposed by a black one-piece bathing suit with a short pink sarong. As her focus zeroed in on something in her hands, the sadness never left her face. It punched him in the gut as it radiated off her from across the pool. He noticed the almost-empty umbrella drink, thinking a refill may be in order. It was his excuse to get closer. He wanted to disprove the hold she had on him. As he grabbed the pink drink from the outdoor bar, his hand shook slightly.
    Mate, since when do you get nervous about getting a woman a drink? You know why? Because this isn’t just any woman. This is the one who makes your palms sweat and shake. It makes you want to ravage her in a whole other way.
    He wandered over, glancing at the pool, imagining what it would be like to get her wet. He set the fruity drink next to her on the small, white plastic table.
    Mara glanced over as recognition lit in her eyes. He watched as her eyes followed a big forearm with tan skin and a smattering of dark hair. Her eyes journeyed upward to be confronted by his huge shoulders under a black t-shirt, messy brown hair and a sexy-as-hell smile. The sunglasses hid the most amazing moss-green eyes. Mac. Goosebumps formed on her skin, ambushing her senses, and he hadn’t even touched her.
    “Is that drink for me?” Her tone was soft, afraid he might be an apparition.
    “Aye, I’m not much of an umbrella drink kind of chap. I thought I would keep your appetite wet.” Mac smirked, trying to gauge her reaction to his double entendre. His job had taught him that you had to be able to read people well or suffer the consequences—which, in this case, may well end with his shattered heart. His body tensed, aware of the tug between staying and fleeing. As much as he wanted to turn away, staying seemed to be winning this war.
    “I took you for more of a whiskey guy. Like the whole bottle, from the looks of it,” she finally gave him half a smile.
    “I want to thank you for putting up with me on the flight. You’re a real gentleman. There aren’t many of those left in the world.” She peeked up at him through her thick lashes, her eyes