"Anwar, Celeste - Born of Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anwar Celeste)

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Someone jostled her elbow from behind, sending her plastic cup flying from her grasp to clatter dully onto the ground.
УHey!Ф Jessica Talvert yelled, whirling around to deliver a blistering tirade.
A hand snaked out and snatched the necklace from her neck. Her throat burned as the chain snapped under the pressure. The thief took off through the crowd before she could even raise a hand to stop him.
Jessica gasped in outrage, following the thief without thinking. The necklace was her only physical link to her past. She was never supposed to take it off--never. She couldnТt lose it!
Jessica pushed through the milling throng, running after him as best she could. He stayed ahead of her, slippery as an eel, weaving through the bodies effortlessly while she was hemmed in. She soon lost him, and jumped up to look over the crowd, ignoring the angry looks she got. She spotted the hooded figure running toward an alley squashed between a strip club and a bar.
Heart pounding with adrenaline, Jessica squirmed through the closed bodies. It was like trying to squeeze through a crack in the wall, and she wondered how the thief had managed it so quickly and easily. After a minute, she broke through and raced past a man hawking naked girls and went into the alley.
An immediate feeling of danger clutched her chest, squeezing her ribs like two gods snapping a wishbone.
A narrow band of light stretched through the center, leaving the sides in utter blackness. Garbage littered the cracked pavement. A clatter of cans sounded deeper, stirred by wind or fleeing feet, she didnТt know. She heard the sounds of a scuffle, of meaty fist strikes and the crash of metal.
Jessica stopped halfway down the alley, catching her breath, wondering what kind of shit she was in now. Was it worth it? She thought the necklace was, but there was no way she could take on a grown man by herself. Or whatever was fighting up ahead.
Suddenly a man stepped out of the shadows and walked towards her with a cocky stride. Had she run headlong into more trouble? Jessica instinctively backed up a step, remaining wary and tense ... until she saw what dangled in his hand.
The silver medallion twirled on its chain, glinting in the failing light and the glare from a distant street lamp. Startled into immobility, Jessica looked blankly up from her necklace to the man. Whatever questioning words sheТd had fell forgotten from her mind.
A tension seemed to fill his body, belying his easy, relaxed stance. His left thumb was hooked in his waistband in easy confidence. He held her necklace with his right hand, playing with it as he watched her steadily with an unblinking stare that missed nothing and seemed to see straight through her clothes. Jessica didnТt stop to wonder why he was standing there, or what heТd done to get her necklace back. She shouldТve been grateful. She shouldТve demanded that he return it to her. But she couldnТt do anything but stare at him, dumbfounded.
The spunk sheТd always prided herself on possessing deserted her. She blamed it on shock, on unfamiliar surroundings, on being practically attacked. But those were lies. SheТd been all ready to kick ass and chew bubble gum until she saw him. She felt like sheТd been kicked in the gut and all the breath knocked from her lungs.
He easily outdistanced her own height, standing at least 6Т 2Ф , but that wasnТt what had her entranced. He was naked from the waist up, and though sheТd seen plenty of practically naked men and women running around the streets, this man put them all to shame. Thin, silver studded rings glinted wickedly from each nipple. His sculpted chest was sparsely covered with hair, hiding none of the beautiful planes, and it moved in a straight, purposeful dark path down his rippled belly and into his jeans--which were tantalizingly unbuttoned, as though heТd hastily thrust them on after carnal pursuits and raced out into the night.
That alone was enough to fuel the coldest womanТs fantasies--even her own. SheТd never seen a man with pierced nipples. She wondered what they felt like. Her fingertips prickled with the need to flick those rings.
The shredded, torn jeans he wore fit him like a glove and left little to the imagination. What they covered had her mind racing to find out his secrets, and hoping heТd slip and fall and tear the jeans the rest of the way off. A patch of skin on one hip showed, and one lingering glimpse at it told her he didnТt wear anything beneath those jeans. If the zipper slid a little lower, she could see everything....
SheТd been schooled to at least make a pretense of being a lady, to quash baser instincts. Lessens of Сgood girls donТtТ and Сbad girls doТ seemed to mesh in one confusing jumble, and she couldnТt for the life of her think of why any good girl wouldnТt do a man like this.
Jessica swallowed, working moisture down her tight throat as she tore her eyes away from his groin. Her eyes felt indelibly seared by that prominent bulge, just waiting to burst out at any moment. Slowly, she worked her astonished way back up to his face. The hard line of his jaw came into view, sharply outlined with black stubble. Full lips quirked at her in a cocky half-smile.
He closed the distance between them, but Jessica barely noticed, only knew he was coming closer. All the better to see him.
She frowned at his amused lips, then peered straight up at his eyes. Sleek, inky hair clung to his throat and streamed over his forehead in rakish abandon, looking mussed and incredibly sexy. Bedroom hair. Smoky bedroom eyes. Brown and flecked with gold, they were mesmerizing and glowed with sensual promise from the light behind her. He appeared to have trace Spanish blood in him--as did many of the locals, giving them darkly sensual looks and deep, bronze skin.
He looked as delicious and sinful as chocolate ... but with bite to it.
He was definitely a heart breaker. Women probably fell all over themselves for one peep at him ... just like her. She tried to be annoyed, but irritation was the furthest thing from her mind.
He held her gaze, watching her intently beneath heavy, straight brows, eyes reflecting the tension in his body.
Jessica blushed so brightly under his intense, knowing stare, she was sure she glowed in the dark. She tore her eyes away from his and focused on his lips, blushed again at her errant thoughts, and dropped her gaze yet again to his chin. Her eyes kept straying down that belly to his unbuttoned fly. His fly bulged impressively, and she wondered absently if anything was going to jump out and bite her. And if sheТd really fight it off if it attacked.
УLike what you see, chere?Ф he finally asked in a velvet drawl, breaking her out of her stupor.
If sheТd had fur, she was sure it would ruffle and prickle under that stroking, baritone voice. With an effort, Jessica dragged her gaze back to his, hating that her interest was so damned obvious. Hating more that she continued to blush. She was so hot, she felt like sheТd break out in a sweat at any moment. What did she expect? SheТd probably been drooling at him like he was a juicy steak for at least five minutes.
Something changed in him, and his look turned to one of amusement at her perusal. His gaze dropped to her feet, and he roamed his way up her body, leaving her strangely flushed and aroused. She hadnТt thought it was possible to become aroused just looking at someone, let alone a stranger, and she didnТt like the feeling one bit.
Get a grip, she told herself, and fixed him with a stern stare. УDid you see someone run by here?Ф she asked, then immediately thought about how stupid that probably sounded. She didnТt know how long sheТd gaped at him, because her brain was strangely foggy, but he was holding her necklace and sheТd heard the brief fight.
Dammit. She normally curbed her impulse to ask dumb questions. It was hell being a blonde. Society just had no idea the burden they placed on already burdened minds.
He didnТt seem to notice her dumb blonde moment.
He leaned back on his heels. УI did. I found sometinТ you lost, cherie,Ф he murmured, cocking that smile again. He held up his hand, dangling her necklace before her eyes. The medallion glinted and twirled on its chain.
His husky, drawling accent caressed her ears like a melody, sending shivers up and down her spine like smooth silk. Jessica shook herself with an effort. It was time to stiffen her spine and stop thinking between her legs. She was as bad as a man. УThank you.Ф She reached up to take it, but he snatched his hand back.
УNoТ so fast, cherie. DonТ your champion deserve sometinТ in return?Ф
Maybe she did owe him something for the trouble ... but she wasnТt so sure about just giving in to his demands though. УWhat kind of rescuer would demand payment?Ф she asked, propping her hands on her hips.
His teeth flashed in a wide grin. УOne whoТs smitten with your beauty, chere.Ф
Jessica rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. Why did all Southern men lay the charm on so thickly? УOh puhlease.Ф
He looked hurt that she doubted him. УYou wound me, chere. Have you no heart? I have risked my life only tТplease, and you begrudge me so small a token as a kiss?Ф
УA kiss?Ф she exclaimed. Her heart tripped in her chest, staggered up, and started to run.
He rubbed a thumb against his jaw, measuring her. УYour name and ... a kiss.Ф
Jessica released an exasperated breath, trying to block out the breathless feeling in her chest at the idea of letting those sultry, pouty lips touch hers. She wasnТt going to play these games. SheТd give him what he wanted all right. УItТs Jessica Talvert, and hereТs your reward.Ф She stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. She dropped down and gave him a syrupy smile of satisfaction at outwitting him.
Who said she was a dumb blonde?
УSweet, but IТm noТ your brodder, chere,Ф he said in a voice brimming with enough sensual menace a delicious primal shiver skated through her body. He caught her arms about the same time she realized his intent, blocking her defensive ball busting move with one knee and her titty twister with an unbreakable hold. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself whirled around and thrust against one wall, hauled tightly against his body.
Shadows cloaked them, spilling across his face. He seemed a lot bigger and more dangerous so tightly against her. She shouldТve abandoned her necklace to him. УSome hero,Ф she gritted out, squirming in his hold, trying to free a hand. Despite her struggles, she insanely anticipated him stealing a kiss from her. DidnТt it make it all right to enjoy herself if she didnТt really give in? That was a rule somewhere, she was sure.
Something dark and predatory flashed in his eyes, like a slumbering wolf had been awakened. Her breath caught. All the silly little, nervous thoughts washing through her brain froze. He smiled ferally, then bent his head to claim her lips.
Jessica gasped, partly in outrage, but mostly from a surge of heat so sharp and drastic, her heart stopped for a breathless moment.
He seized the break in her defenses and plunged his tongue into her mouth, filling her with hot persuasion and the stroking glide of his tongue. He tasted spicy, like cinnamon and rum and something infinitely wilder and more dangerous. Jessica wanted to bite him, to fight him off, but he rubbed sensuously against her own tongue, silky, slick and rough. It took only moments for vengeful thoughts to disappear entirely and be replaced by the seductive call of desire. Jessica gave a shocked whimper when he retreated and sucked her tongue into his mouth.
She tried to pull back, but he captured the back of her head with an easy, merciless grip, holding her to the thrall of his mouth and his hungry, sucking kiss. Slowly, she began to realize a pressure that had never been there before built low in her belly. Arousal cramped her pussy with a jerking spasm of pleasure. She gasped into his mouth at the piercing, sweet agony, the awakening of some long slumbering beast inside her. His mouth drove her wild, made her respond in a way sheТd never dreamed possible. Heat rippled through her.