Free Sexual Shift by Beverly Rae Page A

looked at her as though he could see straight into her soul. Just thinking about him made her yearn for him. She sighed, then rested her hands on the counter and bowed her head.
    She could still see the pain on his face. If only she hadn’t stepped away, but she’d reacted before thinking. If she’d taken him into her arms as she’d wanted to do…
    “Hilly.”
    She jerked her head up to find Tanner standing in the doorway of the bakery. “Where have you been? I didn’t know how to reach you.”
    He remained silent, his hardened features making her heart ache. For a moment, concern eased the hardness.
    “Are you all right? Have you had any more nightmares?”
    “No. No more nightmares.” It was both a lie and the truth. Memory of the nightmare had lingered, resurfacing in her sleep. But the nightmare was always cut short with his coming to save her.
    Several customers in the bakery turned toward them, their eyes wide, their faces filled with curiosity. Although she wanted to feel his touch, she stayed behind the counter and plastered on a smile.
    “Miss Hilly, is there something I can do for you?” Shana, the high school girl Hilly had recently hired to work part-time, hurried to stand next to Tanner. She studied him, her eyes lighting with interest.
    “Yes, there is. Would you mind handling everything out here for a bit?”
    Shana’s toothy grin grew wider. “Sure. No problem.” The young girl batted her eyelashes at Tanner, then twirled around and rushed to take care of a customer.
    “You didn’t answer my other question. Are you okay?” His concerned expression remained.
    “I’m fine.” She lowered her voice so the others couldn’t hear. “Are you?”
    He glanced away and when he looked at her again, his face was composed. “Of course.”
    “Tanner, I’m sorry about how I reacted. But before I could say anything you were gone.”
    “Don’t worry about it. I understand. I shouldn’t have overreacted, either. It’s not every day that a woman hears that the man she’s just made love to is part demon.” The corners of his mouth tipped up in a rueful smile.
    Her spirit lifted. “You can say that again.”
    He searched her face. “Can you handle knowing what I am?”
    “Yes. I think I can.” She shrugged. “We all have faults, you know.”
    His laughter gave her butterflies. She reached out to him, then dropped her hand, unsure if he’d fully forgiven her. Still, she had to ask the question that had plagued her since he’d sent her away. “Why didn’t you let me explain why I reacted the way I did?”
    He took her hand. She closed her eyes for a moment and let relief wash through her. “After the way you stepped back, like you were afraid…” He shook his head. “I hadn’t planned on showing you that side of me. At least not yet.”
    Seeing his wings had frightened her, but her amazement, her interest, had been greater than the fear. “I’m glad you did.”
    He glanced at the customers. “Can we talk somewhere private?”
    She bit her lip, fighting against her urge to grab the collar of his black shirt and slam her mouth to his. “Sure. Follow me.”
    “Lead the way.”
    She took him down the hallway and into the office, and closed the door.
    Tanner opened his mouth to speak, then groaned and cupped her neck, tugging her to him. His mouth crushed against hers, and she leaned into the kiss. Heat flowed from him into her. She responded, her body melting under his touch. Their tongues intertwined. She drank in his spicy taste, sucking on his tongue, then letting him suck on hers.
    A trace of the nightmare flicked at the edges of her mind, and she tensed. But just as before, the image was soon followed by the vision of incredible dark wings. He held her, the urgency of his touch wiping away the memories.
    She clutched his back, her fingers running over the smooth surface of his shirt to feel the rise and fall of his muscles. He broke the kiss, then lifted her, setting her on top of