Free Passion Awakened by Jessica Lee

partner.
    “No. There’s been no cheating.” She twisted around and
studied the swaying, thin branches of the willow. “At least not on my part.
Can’t say that wasn’t his MO when Maddie’s father and I did have what I thought
was a relationship.” She tilted her head back and captured Creed’s blue gaze.
“Hence I’m a single parent. Not only did I have to experience that, but now my
daughter will never know what it’s like to have her father’s love as a constant
part of her life. Guess that’s why my heart went out to you earlier for you not
having known your biological parents.”
    “You’ve cared for her by yourself?”
    “Yeah. I have. I’ll admit it’s been tough. But carrying her,
giving birth and seeing her tiny face for the first time…those were the best
moments in my life.” She knew the smile on her face was huge, but she couldn’t
help it. “Not every author hits it big, so I’ve struggled at times. Thank
goodness for my mother. She has Maddie now while I’m up here working. She’s
been a Godsend.” Shayla allowed her chin to fall forward and refocused her gaze
on the far side of the river’s edge. “We’ve been close ever since my dad
abandoned us.”
    “Oh shit!”
    Okay, that was not quite the response she’d been expecting.
“What?” Shayla shot straight up and spun, going to her knees and facing Creed.
Her heart galloped at the distraught look in his eyes.
    “It never entered my mind.” Creed groaned, both palms going
to his face. “Never had any reason to.” He dragged his hands down and stared
back at her.
    “What are you talking about? You’re scaring me.”
    “Birth control, Shay. We never used any prophylactics.” He
reached out and smoothed the hair down the back of her head. “What if I… What
if you’re…?”
    Shayla sucked in a calming breath. Oh thank God. “I’m
not pregnant, Creed.”
    “How can you be certain?” His hand fell away and he drew
back.
    “Because I’m on the Pill. The birth control pill.” She
lowered onto her rear and pulled her legs in again. “You see, my extended
family shares this place.” She nodded in the direction of the cabin. “I’ve been
coming here since I was a little girl. My grandfather built it. So in the first
place, there’s no way I’d be hauling condoms up here or bringing a ‘guest’.”
She held up two fingers on each hand and did the air quote thing. “Besides, the
fact that you were a virgin from a society that has outlawed sexual contact,
odds were, you’re clean.” She chuckled.
    “Good point.” One second Creed sat beside her, the next, she
was on her back with her dark, sexy time traveler’s mouth next to hers. “ Were a virgin, you say?” His eyes narrowed and that sinful mouth of his curved at
one corner. “Sounds like someone’s been a bad influence.”
    Shayla gasped. “Really? So what are you going to do about
that ‘bad influence’?”
    He snaked a wide hand around both her wrists and pinned them
over her head. Creed pressed his hips into hers, his intent hard and evident.
“I’ll have to teach her about the consequences of awakening such primal desires
in a man.”
    Her pulse quickened and a rush of moisture soaked her
panties. “I can’t wait.” Oh wow, this was the man she knew dwelled beneath all
that rigid, rule-abiding exterior.
    His lips claimed hers, the kiss raw, unbridled. He moved
over her, his hips riding, thrusting against the vee between her legs. Shayla
arched into the hard length straining his denim.
    “You’re amazing,” he whispered at her lips, then shifted his
mouth to the length of her neck. “Don’t ever forget that.”
    Out of nowhere a lump formed in the back of her throat. His
words pierced deep, reminding her that the clock ticked, and he’d soon be gone.
Her breath hitched, and her vision blurred behind a veil of tears.
    I’m not going to cry.
    I’m not going to cry.
    Refusing to release the growing swell, Shayla slammed her
eyelids