Twist My Heart by Brooke Taylor (ebook audio reader .txt) 📕

to love?” I caught the flash of coy astonishment across his handsome face. “What? I can do math, admire artwork, and save your life from a ferocious hell-beast. Women are very good at multi-tasking.”

He tilted his head, curiously studying me. “You’re very good at a lot of things, aren’t you?”

Chapter Sixteen

Every time Nik seemed to get control over his urges, Thea found a way to crank the gas, fueling his fire for her up even hotter than before. He’d tried his level best not to get all worked up by her again, but taking notice of anything Thea related had the power to knot him up something fierce. And between needing to contact her fiancé and kissing her on the couch, he’d been more twisted up than ever.

His fingers clenched as he ached to tangle them in the haphazard loose spirals of her blonde hair. It was nothing compared to what he yearned to do with his tongue again. His taste buds roared to life as flashes of their kiss rushed back through his mind like the aggressive assault of spring melt-off crashing through the valley—forever changing the landscape, yet simultaneously feeding it with life.

Tasting her once wasn’t going to be enough. Hell, tasting only her mouth wasn’t going to be enough when he wanted every inch of her on his tongue. He needed to quench his desires on something else and quick or he’d throw her down on the kitchen counter and consume her whole.

He grimaced down at the soup. “Mom would be horrified at me for feeding you from Dad’s apocalypse provisions.”

“It’s good.”

“Don’t be polite or pretend.” He reached for her barely touched bowl and her lips parted as his fingers brushed hers. Long, dark lashes curled up as her eyes met his. Damn. She might as well toss another gallon of gas to the fire already out of control inside him.

He could barely think straight.

He should’ve been scouring the internet for more information, trying to find out exactly who Thea was and what she was up against. He really should’ve been telling her she was engaged to a man who was probably desperate to find her. Or figuring out a gentle way to inform her of her atypical childhood. But he didn’t want her to live with those memories. And selfishly, he wasn’t ready for her to become a memory he’d have to live with. To be gone from his life, like so many others. “Let’s get out of here,” he blurted. “Go out to eat.”

“You forget, I’m a fugitive with no shoes. It’s too cold outside for those stupid flip-flops.”

“Details.”

Within minutes he’d made the phone call to Antonio’s, apologizing for calling so close to closing time and promising to make it up to him. He selected a bottle of cabernet from the wet bar and grabbed up a couple of sleeping bags to help cut the nip of nighttime alpine air. After a quick potty break for Titan, they were back on Highway 36 curling down the mountain, headed for town. He sped along the familiar roadway, accelerating into the deep turns as they carved through the valley and cut along the edges of the Rocky Mountain National Forest.

Normally he took a back route, avoiding Estes Park’s tourist district with its colorful shops and eclectic crowds. At this time of night, he was able to drive along Elkhorn Avenue so Thea could see the charm of the valley town without much holdup. Past the parks and shops, he pulled into his favorite local pizza place, where Antonio himself hooked him up with an amazing pie.

It was another short, winding drive up Highway 7 before he pulled off the road and cut the engine. After letting Titan out, Nik went to the back of the Jeep and carefully balanced the oversized pizza box additionally laden with two tightly rolled sleeping bags, one of which protected the bottle of wine and a pair of red Solo cups, before coming around to Thea’s door. He turned and presented his back to her. “Hop on, Tigger.”

When she didn’t oblige, he looked over his shoulder to see her shooting him a quizzical look.

“Oh, this is one of those things you don’t remember how to do, isn’t it? It’s easy, wrap your arms and legs around me and I’ll take care of the rest.” He grinned over his shoulder at her.

She wasn’t impressed. And if her look didn’t relay it, her words sure did. “You’re cute when you try to flirt, but no, that’s not why I’m hesitating.”

Cute?

Try to flirt?

She pointed up at the imposing rock structure. “You’re seriously going to carry me and all of this?”

Okay, that was it. He turned, maneuvering his body between her knees as he reached up to set the supplies on the Jeep’s rooftop. Bracing his hands above her, he flexed his triceps as he loomed in close.

“You doubt my capabilities?”

The new vantage point offered him a nice glimpse of cleavage. God, he could have that flannel shirt off in… His tongue danced between his lips at the sugary-looking, pink blush glazing her skin. His gaze flicked to hers. Eye to eye.

The temperature of the slip of air separating their bodies shot up. Flame on scorching flame. Damn, it was fun playing with her fire. He always did enjoy courting danger.

“I’m just worried because… I mean, you’re already carrying all this stuff and I’m not…lightweight.”

Fucking adorable.

Heck, even Coop, weighing two-seventy-plus in full kit, didn’t worry about his weight when Nik had to drag his injured butt up a mountain. No, that asshole complained about how slow Nik was going the whole way.

“You’re doubting my strength, then?”

“N-no,” she stammered.

Now who’s being cute?

Nik reached down to run his finger along the bridge of her nose. It probably came off as patronizing, when really he just needed to touch those freckles. Where was I? Oh yeah, trying to convince her to wrap her legs around him.

“First off, in the short time we’ve known each other, I’ve had to carry