Amber Redd Chasing the Mailman (pdf)

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from Usher s hand, made sure the safety was on, and returned
it to the top of the fridge.
Momentarily defeated, Usher leaned against the
refrigerator as Jarreth stretched to put the gun back. The
man s aroma slipped over Usher, tantalizing his senses,
taunting his prick. For an instant Jarreth s broad shoulders
blocked his view of the kitchen. Damn, he s built just the way I
like, too. A long, tall, drink of water with amazing shoulders.
Usher gulped. I don t know how I can just be friends with him& .
Assured the pistol was safely put away, Jarreth leaned
back and looked down into Usher s eyes. Now, let s keep the
Colt in its spot until it s truly needed, okay?
Yeah. The desire pounding through Usher rendered him
incapable of further words.
An odd light danced in Jarreth s dark eyes. Let s talk
about this
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106
It happened before Usher could stop himself. He leaned
closer to Jarreth. The man s cologne and personal scent
infiltrated his senses. The aromas crashed through his
defenses like a marauder storming a fortress. Unable to control
himself, he brushed Jarreth s lips with his, and before Jarreth
could protest, Usher tugged his head down and kissed him
again, this time harder. He rested his hands on the man s waist
and gently pulled him closer.
Oh, my& . The remainder of Usher s thought evaporated on
the desire that flamed through his body. Although Jarreth
didn t respond, he didn t push Usher away either. Taking the
opportunity, Usher deepened the kiss. Jarreth s beard stubble
rasped against Usher s chin like fine sandpaper as Usher
tickled the seam of Jarreth s lips with his tongue. The need
that surged into Usher s cock took his breath away, and a
sound of pure desire escaped him. He slid his hands up
Jarreth s sides, swept them over his pecs and up to the man s
shoulders.
Jarreth stood rigidly, but Usher wasn t defeated. He
threaded one hand in Jarreth s silky hair, reveling in the
sensation of it against his rough palms. Oh, how he wanted to
show Jarreth how much he cared for him, send him to
rapturous heights and then start all over again!
Usher pulled his head in closer, his mouth devouring
Jarreth s. The man sucked in a deep breath, his body trembling
from head to toe. Taking the shivers as a good sign, Usher
broke the barrier of Jarreth s lips and delved inside with his
tongue, tasting mint and the remnants of whiskey.
Another tremble passed through Jarreth, and he placed
his hands against Usher s chest. For a moment, Usher thought
the tables had turned, but Jarreth pushed away from him,
breaking the kiss.
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107
Don t! Jarreth said breathily. This isn t right.
The feeling of loss that hit Usher nearly sent him to his
knees.
I& I m sorry. I m so sorry. He wrenched away from
Jarreth. I couldn t help myself, and when you didn t pull away,
I thought& well
You startled me, that s all. Jarreth returned to the
counter and opened the bottle of booze. He poured some into
Usher s discarded glass and swallowed it. Kissing me was the
last thing I expected.
Heat singed Usher s cheeks and warmed his neck. Son of
bitch! I can t believe I just kissed him like that and freaked him
out so badly! What the hell s the matter with me? He started to
say something, but his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.
Jarreth gripped the Heaven Hill bottle as if he was thinking of
taking another slug from it. His body shook from top to bottom.
Finally, Usher pried his tongue loose and said, Man, I am
so sorry. I& I shouldn t have done that, and if you hate me, I
totally understand.
Jarreth stood silently. A long moment passed, and the
man sighed heavily. With his back still to him, he replied, I
don t hate you, Usher. I just didn t expect you to do that. It s a
little hard to wrap my mind around.
Mortified, Usher scrubbed one hand over his stubbly jaw
line as he desperately sought a method to rectify the situation.
I hope you don t leave because of me. You really shouldn t go
out on the roads in this weather. I promise I won t try
something like that again. His throat tightened with emotion
and his last words came out in a whisper. You can sleep in the
guest room and lock the door.
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Laughter tumbled from Jarreth, surprising Usher. He
gaped at the man s back. What the hell s so funny?
I m not going to lock the door, and I ll still sleep on the
sofa. Putting the cap back on the whiskey, Jarreth sighed and
then shoved the bottle away. Look, I really like you, Usher. I m
an outsider, a city slicker in the eyes of those who live around
here, so I don t have a lot of friends. I value your friendship and
don t want to mess that up. If you re okay just brushing this
under the rug and remaining friends, then I am too.
Intense relief fell over Usher. Are you serious?
Smiling, Jarreth nodded.
You re an amazing person, you know that?
I sure do, said Jarreth, and then he burst out laughing.
Usher started laughing too. He turned, opening the fridge
and withdrew the two liter bottle of Coke and a tub of chip dip.
Grab the chips out of that cupboard. He pointed to one
behind Jarreth. And let s find something to watch while it
snows.
Sounds like a plan.
Limping into the living room, Usher wished more than ever
that Jarreth could be his partner. He had fallen head over heels
in love with the man, but now he had to put those feelings
away in his heart and keep them under lock and key.
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109
Chapter Eleven
A LITTLE before eight o clock, Usher s cell phone rang. He
limped into the kitchen where he d left it on the table and
flipped it open.
Hello?
Usher, a woman s teary voice burst from the phone, can
you come and get me?
Hanna? An icy spear of unease stabbed Usher through
the gut. What s wrong? Where s Denver?
Tears of desperation filled Hanna s voice. He s& .
Fear replaced Usher s unease, and the hairs on his nape
stood up. Hanna? Where is Denver? Put him on the phone.
Denver is A sob floated over the airwaves. Denver is
dead.
What? Usher s knees gave out, and he collapsed into a
chair.
We were in the barn making sure the heaters were on and
that the cows were all right, she whispered. This& this thing
burst into the barn and slaughtered half a dozen cows. I swear
it s a werewolf, Usher! When Denver came out of the office with
a shotgun, the creature grabbed his arm and ripped it from his
body.
How did you get away?
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110
I dropped through the trapdoor in the back of the barn.
I m hiding in the grain bin. I remembered I had my cell phone
and called you.
Call the police!
I did, but the dispatcher said the sheriff and all the
deputies are out on accident calls.
With his legs quivering, Usher rose and flipped on the
back porch light. Snow fell so heavily he couldn t see beyond
the edge of the top step.
I m on my way, Hanna.
Usher, I don t know where that thing went, she said, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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