Predator's Kiss by Rosanna Leo Page A

have, thanks to my brother.”
    She felt the blood rush from her head at his words. “You mean the press is after him too?”
    “The press is always after Soren,” he replied in dry tones. “Unfortunately, others are too, now.” He recounted the tale of Floro Valdez and his buxom bride.
    Lia’s head swam as he finished his story. “So there’s no way I can avoid reporters at this rate. Scott will find me.” She felt her hand tremble involuntarily against her thigh and clenched it to quell the tremors.
    “Hey,” Ryland said softly as he reached for her shaking hand and stroked it. “Maybe Scott’s given up hope of winning you over. I mean, he did break into your home so he could manhandle your panties. That’s gotta give one pause. Maybe he’s come to his senses.”
    “He won’t stop. I just know it,” she replied, feeling so cold, even though the slow strokes of his fingers were warming her up. With her free hand, she reached into her back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that looked as if it had been folded and refolded over and over again. “It would be easy to convince myself that he’s lost interest, but I can’t let down my guard.” She looked at the paper and handed it to him. “I keep this to remind myself that he’s capable of doing bad things.”
    Ryland took the note, unfolded it, and read.
    My lovely Lia,
    I saw you today at the rec center when you went for your weekly swim. You looked so pretty in your blue bathing suit. You know what was even prettier? The sight of you peeling it off in the change room afterward. You thought you were alone, with only that old lady in the next stall for company. But I saw everything. The way the water from your hair dripped over your body. The flowery beach towel you brought to dry yourself off. The mismatched socks you had in your bag. So adorable. And when you slid out of that wet suit, I know you were posing just for me.
    The next time you go swimming, I’ll be there to slice that bathing suit right off you.
    With undying affection,
    Scott
    “Sick bastard.”
    Ryland’s comment was whispered, but there was more threat in that whisper than Lia had ever heard in any shout or bloodthirsty cry. It awed her Ryland could feel so deeply on her behalf. And she couldn’t deny it excited her too, as much as her fear was doing its best job to dampen her raging desire. “I don’t know what to do, Ryland.”
    She wouldn’t have thought their bodies could get closer without her spontaneously bursting into flame. However, he moved closer, to within an inch of her. Somehow she stayed intact, even though her brain already screamed for release. He shoved the note into his own pocket and tipped up her chin. His steady gaze acted like a hammer, breaking down walls inside her. As he stroked her chin with his thumb, she began to wonder if a chin could be classified as an erogenous zone, because his touch was playing havoc with her already frazzled nerve endings.
    “No one is going to hurt you,” he uttered in a soft voice. “I’ll personally see to that.”
    For a deliciously uneasy moment, neither of them said another word. Then Lia watched, helpless, as Ryland’s lips parted. Hers parted as well, in sync with his. For a second, she expected Soren to burst through the door and interrupt them again. He didn’t. No one did. It was just her and Ryland, and she had the distinct impression he was going to kiss her this time.
    His potent gaze held her captive. She couldn’t have moved away from him if she’d wanted to, and she didn’t want to in the slightest. And then, just when she thought the intensity of his stare might kill her altogether, his eyes crinkled at the corners and the smallest grin graced his lips.
    He pulled away, killing the moment as definitively as a newly sprung trap killed mice. “Did you get any writing done today?” There was a small sigh in his tone, as if writing was actually the last thing on his mind.
    Her mind reeled with