Free Tidal Falls (Wounded Hearts Book 1) by Jacquie Biggar Page B

you’re going to climb up there in that dress. I'll give you a boost up.” He dropped his arm behind her knees, and wrapping the other around her waist, easily picked her up.
    Breathless at the contained strength in those hard arms, she grasped Nick around the neck, bringing their lips millimeters apart.
    “I would cut off my own arm before I ever hurt you. I hope you realize that.” He said, the eyes holding hers, a crystalline blue.
    She sighed, not surprised at how their thoughts had overlapped. “I do know, Nick. It's…”
    “What? Talk to me sweetheart.”
    She knew he sensed something stood between them from her past. If they were going to move forward, she would have to trust him with the truth. Soon.
    “Take me home, Nick.” Wanting to forget, she bridged the gap between her lips and his. The shock of his warm, perfect mouth on hers made her gasp, and her hands tightened their hold against his neck.
    A deep, hungry groan was her only warning before he took control, kissing them both half senseless. A muffled cough and a giggle nearby broke them apart and it was hard to say which one of them looked sorrier.
    Choking out a giggle, she said, “Wow, you’re pretty good at that.” She smiled into his eyes. “Maybe you’d better, um…set me down now?”
    “Hmm? Oh yeah. I guess we should probably go.” As he settled her carefully into his pick-up, her hand caressed the side of his face down to the pulse she could see pounding in his neck.
    “I want to go home, Nick. With you.”

 
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Gripping the wheel, Nick kept stealing sideways glances at Sara as she sat biting her nails and gazing out the passenger window. As far as he was concerned, they couldn’t arrive at his place quick enough, but he had a feeling she was second-guessing her decision.
    He defini tely needed to get his lungs under some kind of control. Even to his own ears his breathing sounded like a freight train. For crying out loud, he wasn’t some callow teenager looking to get lucky here. He’d better get his shit together. She was different, special to him. Whatever happened between them, he wanted her to know she would be safe with him—he’d never hurt her.
    “Nick I hope you… ” Her voice drifted across the dark cab.
    “Sara, are you… ?” They looked at each other and laughed, releasing some of the growing tension. This was becoming a habit.
    “You first , this time.” She smiled.
    “I was just going to ask if you’re sure , about you know—this. You and me? I don’t want there to be regrets between us, so if you’ve changed your mind, I’m fine with that. Well maybe not, but I'll live,” he teased, hoping to ease her mind a little.
    “Wow , Nick, that’s pretty noble of you, offering to go without like that.” She giggled at his pained expression. “I'm kidding, of course I'm ready, or I wouldn't have made the offer. I just wanted to make sure this meant more to you than a simple fling. Because, it does to me. Mean something, that is. I haven’t done this sort of thing before.”
    He pulled to a stop in the driv eway of his rental and threw the truck into park, cutting the engine. Listening to her hesitant little speech had him almost reaching for her right there. Instead, he shot her a quick glance before hopping out to stride around and open her door.
    “Honey, I can guarantee there isn't anything simple about this. Sometime soon, we're going to have to be open with each other. There are things about me I want you to know. And I think it would do you a world of good to get whatever is bothering you off your chest. If there’s going to be something between us, I think we should talk.”
    His attention zeroed in on her pearly white teeth chewing her luscious bottom lip and he groaned under his breath. Leaning in, he gently kissed it better. Pulling her towards him, he let her slide deliberately slow down the length of his body. Letting out an inaudible growl at the soft warmth of her against