Free Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes Page B

sorry she’d fought back. She only regretted that it had ended with the loss of a life. Jared had been terrible to her, but she could never bring herself to wish him dead. All she’d wanted was to leave, but he wouldn’t allow her. She’d had no choice. She knew that. Unfortunately, that didn’t make it any easier.
    She had no idea how much time passed before she glanced at her surroundings. Nothing looked familiar. She had no idea where she was.
    She dug through her purse for a tissue and then angled the rearview mirror so she could wipe the tears and streaked makeup from her face. After she pulled back onto the road, it didn’t take her long to find a sign for Route 40. All she wanted to do was get home and have a large bowl of double chocolate fudge ice cream.

     
    As soon as she left, Chris locked up the office, jumped in his truck, and pealed out of the parking lot.
    He pushed the speed limit as much as he dared to get to the house. He figured he’d try there first. If she wasn’t there, he had no idea where to look, but he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
    Luckily for him her car was in the driveway, and as he hopped out of his truck, he realized she was still sitting inside. Slowly, he walked over and knocked on the glass.
    She jumped and just stared at him, looking shocked. Her eyes were red.
    Seeing her hurting caused an odd pain in his chest, and he felt compelled to comfort her. Before he could think it through, he opened her door and guided her out of the car and into his embrace. Her arms hung limply at her sides at first, but then she wrapped them around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
    She felt good against him—right. She always smelled feminine. He wasn’t sure if it was her perfume or just her, but it pulled him in no matter how hard he tried to resist.
    Suddenly, as if realizing where she was for the first time, she stiffened and he released her. She stared up at him, but neither spoke. Minutes passed, and that pull he felt for her returned again, even stronger than before.
    Ever since Elizabeth Marshall had walked into this life, he’d wanted her, and no amount of avoiding or denying was working. At that moment, he didn’t want to avoid. He didn’t want to deny. He wanted her. Now. Even if he woke up tomorrow kicking himself, he’d take it. All he wanted was to stop fighting whatever this was, just this once.
    When he finally kissed her there was an energy he’d never felt with another woman surrounding them, and something inside him wanted to get as close to her as humanly possible.

     
    The moment their lips met, she couldn’t think clearly. His lips were soft, gentle, and tentative in such contrast to his size. He cradled her cheek as if she were the most precious thing before sliding his hand back into her hair to pull her closer to him.
    The feel of him so close wasn’t as scary as she’d thought it would be. Jared had never touched her like this. He’d never made her feel alive like she did now. She felt vulnerable and strong at the same time. Chris guided their movements, but allowed her to lead.
    She gripped his shirt as she lost herself in the sensations. A warm, tingly feeling ran from her lips down to her feet.
    He pulled back and she opened her eyes. He stared at her with a strange look on his face. His hand was still in her hair, sending warm pulses down to her feet. She wanted him to kiss her again.
    They stared at each other until the spell was broken by the sound of a car door slamming.
    “I knew you were screwing her!” Carol stomped toward them with a look of fury in her eyes.
    Chris took a step back but didn’t release Elizabeth completely and kept a hand protectively on her waist. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
    “Not even going to try and deny it, are you?” Carol was acting like a jealous wife.
    “If memory serves, you’re the one who had trouble keeping your pants on, not me. We aren’t married anymore, so what I do or