Free A Love Worth Living by Skylar Kade

around each word, a slow-motion seduction she couldn’t resist.
    She kissed him with a groan of acceptance and a smidge of resentment at how easily her body caved to him. Her hands slid around his neck until she held him tight against herself. Every inch of his body seared hers until she was sure he’d leave scorch marks.
    Stupid, stupid, stupid , her brain taunted, even as the rest of her cheered. How was she ever going to regain her footing and her control if she had to spend any more time with him outside of work?
    It was hard to convince herself that indulging in her desire was a mistake, though, when her body came alive under his. For the first time in a long time, she felt connected, awake…human. She ached to do more than jump from one case to the next and hope she wouldn’t crash along the way.
    Now she was on a collision course, speeding headlong into the immovable—and freeing—David Cameron.
    Before she could delve into such a frightening future, her stomach rumbled. David chuckled against her lips as a blush warmed her cheeks.
    “I guess we need to eat real food, huh?”
    “I’ll just grab my purse, okay? Then we can get food downtown.”
    “Sure thing.” He still didn’t let her go.
    “I should really go do that.”
    He nodded, his jaw clenching. “Ah.” David reached to the back of his neck and locked his fingers around her wrists, gently dragging them to her sides before he took a step back.
    Her chest ached as space grew between them. She’d just have to get used to it, because that distance had to grow, sooner or later.
    She couldn’t let him in. If her past had taught her anything, it was that caring about someone was too great a risk.
    She closed her eyes and took three deep breaths to find the calm white space in her head. She opened her eyes to see David glaring at her. At least her heart didn’t ache as much with her mental barriers in place.
    He pointed a finger at her. “That’s not going to fly for much longer, Care. Don’t get used to running from me, because it’s not happening.” He pressed his hand against her chest, right over her heart. It gave a little jolt as if reaching for his warmth. “I’m going to show you how to feel alive again.”
    She shut her eyes against his words. It wasn’t fair that he could reach into her head and see the outline of her secrets.
    His other hand stroked her cheek. “Look at me.” His voice compelled her compliance. “I’m not doing this to be the good guy. I’m being selfish, stealing as much time with you as I can. I need you too.”
    Her knees wobbled, but his body held her in place. “I’ll just go get my things.”
    This time he let her go. She darted across the hall, breathing easier but aching more for him with every foot of space between them.
    Needing him was scary enough, but him relying on her? That was asking for trouble. He needed to run from her, not to her. She’d just have to try harder to push him away.
    It was better for both of them.

Chapter Eight
    David kicked himself for speaking too soon. He knew better than to throw his emotional baggage into the mix, but he’d been desperate. When Carrie went blank on him, she shut out the world. She stared off into the distance instead of absorbing the little details of her surroundings. She never got that thinking-too-hard furrow between her eyes. He’d wanted to shake her, to kiss her—anything to shock her back to life.
    As they walked to the Metro, emotional distance continued to grow between them like a virus. This yo-yoing wouldn’t lead anywhere productive.
    His brother had done that, recovering a little, then relapsing. Each time, his lows got lower.
    Back then, David had been too caught up in his undergrad studies and the baseball team to focus on his brother’s problems. He had known Aaron was having trouble after the mortar accident, but his parents hadn’t told him all of the details until later. And his brother, who’d looked up to David his whole life,