Hot & Humid by Tatum Throne Page A

fluttered defiantly through her body, hitting her hard in the pussy. She could feel her body readying despite her reluctance. “I’m not frightened of you. Why would you ask me that?”
    He cast a doubtful glance her way. “Most women are.”
    “I’m not like other women.”
    “I know you’re not.”
    He turned the truck up a long driveway, giving her a long, assessing look as he parked. The pulse in her neck was raging to life at the way he was undressing her with seductive gaze. The memory of that stolen kiss at the museum had her parting her lips and her tongue licking out to see if she still tasted of him. They were swollen with passion. The move didn’t go unnoticed within the darkened car.
    The very thought of him touching her again had her clit thrumming hard. She wouldn’t do this. Not with him. She cleared her throat. She didn’t have sex with men she just met.
    The house was a beautiful cabin with giant pine trees around it. A black and gray husky paced back and forth on the front porch, wagging his puffy tail.
    “What are we doing here?” she asked.
    “Getting you cleaned up. I feel bad your dress got ruined.”
    He opened the truck door, but she didn’t wait for him to open hers. Fine, if he wanted to clean off the mud that was perfectly okay with her. It was just what gentlemen did. Brine wasn’t accustomed to men being concerned about her well-being. The dog jumped off the porch and came sprinting.
    “Easy, Shadow.” Thane scratched the dog behind the ears. “He’s friendly. Just excited.”
    Brine grinned as she hunkered down to pet the dog. She refused to meet Thane’s gaze. She’d look everywhere else if she had to. “He’s gorgeous.”
    “He’s the worst guard dog I’ve ever had.”
    She laughed and the sound surprised both of them. “He’s sweet. I like him.”
    “Do you now?”
    She could feel Thane searching her face for the honesty that slipped out. “Yes.”
    Shadow led the way up the stairs. Thane opened the front door and flipped on the lights. Wide-planked mahogany floors flowed through the house. Brown leather sofas, throws, and a huge fireplace were in a spacious living room. Artwork hung on the wall. A rectangular, bronze piece of the backside of a nude woman hung on a far wall. A staircase to the right led upward to the second floor.
    “Go upstairs. Take off the dress.”
    “Do you always order the woman in your life around?” she demanded.
    Thane took off his suit coat with a snap of controlled patience. He jerked his tie loose. Brine knew she was seeing the panther inside of him threatening to attack.
    “You know it’s a funny thing. You’re the only one in my life that drives me completely insane, and we just met! Explain that one?”
    “I can’t .”
    He was breathing hard as he backed her against the door, placing both palms flat on the glass. “Go upstairs. Take the dress off, or I’ll take it off for you.”
    He frowned as though he wanted to rip her clothes off. Thane turned away before she could protest further. He tossed his tie with the jacket. It was then that she saw how muddy he’d gotten, too. He pulled off his shoes. He undid his pants and dropped them to the floor. His shirt came next. The muscles of Thane’s back bunched and flexed as he moved. Ripped abs were corded steel, and his lats were thick twines of knitted muscle down the side of his abdomen. Black hair tapered over his abs.
    The only thing he stayed in was his black boxer briefs. Mud dripped from the rippled edges of her dress making a mess of his floor. There was really no cleaning it. She held up the edge and saw a tear, too.
    “I think I ruined my dress.”
    On a curse, Thane rounded. He lifted her over his shoulder and hit the stairs fast, taking them three at a time. The stairwell winded up to the second floor in a narrow curve. Brine dropped the handcuffs at the top of the stairs. He went straight to the master bathroom and slammed shut the door. The bathroom was a blur