Free Slow Burn (A Madaris Family Novel) by Brenda Jackson Page B

can.”
    And then she did something she had never done before. She took the initiative by leaning up and covering his mouth with hers. Never in her entire existence had she wanted or needed to taste a man more.
    She felt her feet touch the ground when his arm moved around her waist to pull her even closer to the fit of him, letting her have her way with his mouth. She wasn’t sure just what the heck she was doing with it, but she knew she had to sample as much of him as she could.
    It came as a total surprise when she heard him moan from deep within his throat, which indicated whatever she was doing to his mouth she was doing at least partly right.
    Incredible .
    A part of her wanted to remember her prim and proper New England upbringing, but at that moment the only thing she could think about was how she felt in Slade’s arms and how her tongue had swept inside his mouth, tasting, teasing, and exploring one side to another.
    How long they stood there kissing was anybody’s guess, but when breathing became a task they could no longer ignore, she pulled her mouth from his and dropped her head onto his chest. He gave her time to get her breathing under control while he did likewise with his.
    Then he reached out and lifted her face to his and gently brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. He smiled and said in a deep, throaty voice, “That was some kiss, Skye.”
    She returned his smile and surprised herself by saying, “And you have one heck of a taste, Slade.”
    Slade laughed, and the sound echoed loudly through the trees, pastures, and meadows. She was something else, he thought, and an innate urge within him pushed him to kiss her again. He pulled her into his arms for another kiss, surging into the heat of her mouth like a greedy man yet always remaining gentle. And he knew at that moment that Skye Barclay was getting into his system and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.
     
     
    A short while later, back in the guest room, Skye lay across the bed trying to make the move to call her parents. Regardless of whether they had wanted her to come or not, they deserved to know she had arrived safely and was all right. And if they were to ask how things were going, she would tell them. But she wouldn’t mention anything if they didn’t care enough to inquire.
    She pulled out her cell phone and a few moments later she was holding her breath while the phone rang at her parents’ home. Because of the time difference, it was breakfast time in Maine and chances were her father hadn’t left for work. He had hired an assistant a few months ago, and on most days rarely went into the office before ten.
    Pretty soon an older feminine voice came on the line. “Yes?”
    Skye breathed in deeply. “Mom, this is Skye. I called to let you and Dad know I’m all right.”
    There was a long pause and then her mother said, “Did you accomplish what you went there to do? Did you meet him ?”
    Skye knew her mother was referring to Vincent. “Yes, I met him. He’s a nice person, and so are his adoptive parents. He knows the truth now and is fine with it. He’s not placing judgment on what his mother did when she was sixteen, and neither am I.”
    “Well, I still think you were wrong to tell him. Whatever image he had of his mother before has now been tainted by you.”
    Skye shook her head. “No, Mom, that’s not true. Why do you want to believe that?”
    Without answering, Edith Barclay said, “Your father hasn’t left for work yet. He’s here and wants to talk to you.”
    Skye could hear her mother passing her father the phone. “Skye?”
    “Yes, Dad.”
    “Are you okay?”
    Skye closed her eyes. Some days she didn’t know what to make of her father. This was one of those times. There were times she felt he was there for her, but lately, more times than not, he had sided with her mother against her on matters that were important to her. “Yes, Dad, I’m fine, and I’ve met Vincent.”
    “Did he ask you a