Free Vengeful Shadows by Bronwyn Green

She blinked, trying to get her mind to catch up with her mouth. It was nearly impossible when she could still taste him on her lips. “What problem? What are you talking about?”
    “When a client has an aversion to something, often a therapist will introduce the stimulus in small increments until the client becomes comfortable. Desensitized. The increments increase until the aversion no longer exists.”
    “Are you insane?” she snapped. She wasn’t as angry with him as she was with herself. She’d wanted more. Even now, her body tried to betray her by inching closer to him. Her pulse pounded in her head, and her nipples ached in frustration. Her clit throbbed, and she’d bet her underwear were damp. All from a single kiss. She was pathetic. She leaned back. “So you’re planning to spend the next twenty-four hours kissing me until I don’t jump when you touch me?”
    “That was the plan.” He was serious.
    Shaking her head, she turned from him and finished unlocking her door. “On what planet could this possibly be a good idea?”
    “On this one.” She heard the smile in his voice. With gentle hands, Zander turned her to face him again. He lowered his head, but his eyes remained locked on hers, like deep-green beacons, leading her toward shore. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to control her rapid breathing. He was so close each inhalation dragged her needy breasts against his chest. Pure torture but she couldn’t bring herself to move away.
    Cupping her cheek, he brushed the pad of his thumb across her lower lip. That simple touch made her want so much more. He slid his fingers into her hair and tenderly angled up her face. “So beautiful,” he murmured.
    It was all Tessa could do not to close her eyes and lean into his hand. She inhaled deeply, drawing him in. His husky voice caressed her senses, and her stomach tightened in anticipation.
    She should walk away from him. Away from the danger he posed. If she let him, he could shatter her hard-won self-control in nothing flat. She needed to get out of there, but her body refused to obey. Instead, it waited motionless for Zander to make his next move, silently begging him to touch her. Aching to feel his hands on her.
    Still holding her gaze, he leaned forward, giving her every opportunity to back away, but she couldn’t. He hovered a fraction of an inch from her lips, and his warm breath feathered across her skin. Expectation built, a palpable force in her middle.
    He took her mouth, softly searching. Teasing. Tasting. Gentle but insistent. She responded, pressing into his kiss, wanting to push herself against his body. Every muscle trembled as she held herself back from what she really wanted.
    He raised his other hand and skimmed the side of her neck. The kiss grew more insistent, deeper, and she opened beneath his touch. She grew lightheaded as he explored her mouth, steadying herself with her hands on his waist. The warmth of his body seeped through his shirt and into her palms. Melting against him, she drew on his tongue.
    He broke away, his eyes glittering darkly. She wondered if he was as affected as she was. Just as quickly, his expression changed. He straightened and grinned.
    Obviously, not. But why should he be? Compared to his usual dates, she was as bland as they came. Vanilla. Just because she’d been into the kiss didn’t mean he had. He was just a guy trying to keep his job, and she was trying to help him. The kiss was a means to an end, not a declaration of attraction.
    And why would it be? He called her angel as if he meant it. As if he actually thought she was pure and innocent. Generally, he treated her as if she ought to be standing on a pedestal. But this kiss… For a moment, she felt as though he truly wanted her. She’d felt as though she were something other than his virtuous, next-door neighbor. Something more than a friend. Someone he could be interested in.
    “So what do you think?” he asked. He stared at her through