Free Reunited (Tueday Temptations) by Helen Hardt Page B

Kathryn, you’re getting all fluffy and perfumey, like Michelle Bates. Can’t have that. Kathryn was not the frou-frou cheerleader type that Brett Falcone liked. She never would be.
    Yet, he seemed to like her. He liked kissing her and he was leaning toward her now.
    “Just a minute.” She backed away. “I’m not done with you, yet.” She squeezed some anti-bacterial ointment onto her fingers and rubbed it gently over his cheek.
    He winced.
    “I’m sorry. I’m trying not to hurt you.”
    “I know.”
    When she finished, she went to the kitchen and scooped Belgian chocolate ice cream into two bowls, then returned and gave one to Brett.
    “Here. You look hungry.”
    He laughed. “Shit, that hurt. I am, actually.” He took a bite of ice cream and winced. “Hurts to open my mouth, though.”
    “I know. I’m sorry.” She scooped some ice cream into her spoon, but on its way to her mouth, the cold custard glopped onto her neck. Nice. Be a clutz in front of the Italian Stallion . Could this day get any better?
    Before she could grab a tissue from the box on the end table, Brett leaned forward and licked the ice cream off her warm skin. Tingles shot through her. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his mouth to hers.
    Chocolate dreams…His tongue found hers and danced around it. His mouth hurt, she knew, but it didn’t seem to faze him. The kiss was raw and pure. Raw emotion and pure need. Pure love.
    At eighteen, could she really be in love? With the Italian Stallion?
    When his lips trailed kisses down her neck, licking up the last of the ice cream, she closed her eyes and sighed.
    Yes, I love him. She loved Brett Falcone.
    Her hand shaking, she reached toward the crotch of his jeans and touched the bulge underneath. It pulsed against her fingers.
    He moaned. “Kath, are you sure?”
    “Yes, Brett,” she said, her voice a raspy sigh, “I’m sure.”

Chapter Nine
    Nerves. Tingling nerves. Kathryn swallowed as she shut the door behind Brett.
    He turned to her and smiled. “I love you, Kath.” He cupped her cheeks. “I want you.”
    How easy it would be to surrender to him again, to let the lust take her away from what she faced.
    But no. She shook her head. “We need to talk first.”
    “Really?” His lips turned slightly downward. “We talked a lot at the restaurant. I want to be with you. Isn’t that what you want?”
    God, yes, it’s what I want, what I’ve always wanted . But she had to clear the air before she succumbed again. He deserved that much. “I do want you, Brett. I want to be with you in every way I can, but—” she choked back a sob “—there’s something I have to tell you.”
    “What, baby?” He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. “What is it?”
    “Let’s sit.”
    She led him to the living room, sat down on the couch, and patted the seat next to her. He sat down, his handsome face racked with concern. “Kath?”
    She swallowed again. “Please don’t hate me.”
    He touched her arm gently. “I could never hate you. Believe me, I tried. I wanted to hate you when you disappeared. I couldn’t.”
    Oh God . Queasiness seized her tummy. He had wanted to hate her for leaving, and he didn’t know why she left. When he found out…
    Could she put it off? Have one more night of passion with him before facing the piper?
    No. She braced herself and steadied her emotions. He had to be told.
    “I loved you then, Brett, and I love you now. I wouldn’t have given you my virginity if I hadn’t—” A sob caught in her throat. She cleared it.
    “I know that now.” His deep voice soothed her. “It’s okay.”
    “But it’s not okay.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid it will never be okay, what I did.”
    “Just tell me, Kath. I love you. That won’t change.”
    She didn’t doubt he thought he spoke the truth. But he had no idea what was coming. “I left town for a reason, and I started college late for a reason. The reason is…his