Free Surrender My Love by Lisa Eugene Page B

could feel the sting of tears in her eyes and she struggled to contain them.
    “ Put you clothes back on.”
    The steady command of his voice whipped her to action and she hastily shrugged back into her bra. After snapping it on, she pushed her arms through her sleeves and struggled to button her dress. Chloe was so distressed, her jerky fingers found the task impossible. She felt him move close and his hands came to her aide. He brushed her hands away and, through tears, she watched adroit fingers work the buttons, easily slipping them through each hole. Her brain screamed for her to pull away, to run from the shame of what she’d just done.
    Tears rapidly filled her eyes, and she became even more mortified when they slipped down her cheeks. He was leaning over, his face lowered, so close she could smell his fresh masculine scent. He secured the last button and straightened, his gaze landing on her face. He didn’t seem surprised by her tears, and mortified, Chloe eagerly swiped at them. She wanted the ground to open and swallow her up, a giant maw that would consume her, anything to avoid those piercing eyes. She turned to flee just as his fingers curled around her wrist, stopping her with a firm grip and pulling her to him.
    “You’re a beautiful girl .”
    “Please…you don’t have to say that...” she whispered.
    She was pressed against him now and could feel the jut of his erection stabbing into her abdomen. Her gaze focused on his gray and red tie, but her heart struck a frantic rhythm in her chest, sending blood swishing through her veins. He hooked a finger beneath her chin and tilted her weepy gaze up to meet his. She couldn’t read his expression. His face was irritatingly impassive, and she drowned in the endless ocean of his eyes.
    “Forgive me.”
    Chloe didn’t trust her voice. She wasn’t sure she could even speak around the lump of emotion lodged in her throat. Memories of a deeper hurt overwhelmed her, stirring a collision of long buried emotions. His thumb brushed away a lingering tear, then he dropped her wrist and stepped back.
    “I was completely out of line.”
    All she could manage was a brief nod before she turned and raced from the room, feeling the biting sting of another man’s rejection and a confusing mix of emotions that brought more tears to her eyes.
     
     
    Brad swore violently. What the fuck had he been thinking? He knew better than to engage in sexual play with the nurses. He’d made it a rule. He never liked the idea of sleeping with anyone he worked with, but he was intrigued by Chloe. There was something very magnetic about her, something in those golden eyes that tugged at him like a strained rope. Although she had a stubborn streak and the audacity to confront him several times, he sensed a brittleness to her emotions. It was almost as if her bravado was a façade to some deeper vulnerability, a sturdy band-aid to deeper, more complex feelings. He’d sensed that from the beginning. He’d seen a hint of it today…and taken full advantage of it.
    He felt like a fucking jerk, but he exhaled a breath and his tongue ran along his lower lip. God…she’d tasted good!
    He hadn’t meant to push her, but the thought of all that creamy skin had been irresistible . She was simply beautiful, an unpolished gem that one might easily skim over, but on further inspection was found to be a spectacular treasure. Her breasts were the perfect size to fit the palms of her hands. Not overly large, but high and firm. He’d been wrong about her nipples. They were a dark, dusky rose instead of the pink hue he’d expected. The provocative sight of her hands on her body had made him so hard he was ready to pound nails. He’d had to fight the urge to toss her onto his desk and sink into her willing body. Thank God he’d come to his senses. He’d only be taking further advantage of her. Bea was right. She seemed like a sweet girl. He didn’t do ‘sweet’ girls. She’d left in tears.