Free Taking Passion by Storm by Ravenna Tate

not
like our younger selves any longer.”
    “ Well, I still owe you an apology.”
    “ No, you don’t. I was that man, but I’m not anymore.”
He took her hands, and wasn’t surprised to find them a bit cool. He couldn’t
imagine the emotions racing through her mind right now. “You mentioned you used
visualization techniques, so I take it you’re familiar with them?”
    “ Yes. I don’t use them as consistently as I should,
though.”
    “ It takes conscious effort, like anything. They helped
me with my initial fear. So did verbalizing it, like you’ve just done in
telling me the details of your rape. By owning what happened to you, you’re
able to take better control of it.”
    “ You have to be right about that. I want to live my
life, not cower in fear.”
    “ You’re here, Nadine. On the surface. That’s a huge
step. Don’t you realize that?”
    As
understanding dawned in her eyes, he resisted the urge to pump his fist in the
air. “I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
    He
placed a hand on each shoulder. “Tell me what else I can do to help you.”
    She
smiled, and his heart skipped a beat. “You mean besides that lovely kiss?”
    “ Yes, besides that. Or, in addition to it, is more what
I meant.”
    She
stared into his eyes for so long that time stopped. He was afraid to do so much
as blink for fear this would disappear, or someone would knock on the damn door
or barge inside, and break the spell. He was actually surprised no one had done
that by now.
    Finally,
he watched resolution fill her face. Whatever was going through her mind, he
knew she’d just reached a momentous decision. She took a deep breath, and
Addison braced himself for whatever she was about to say.
    ****
    Nadine
didn’t think about his reaction. She knew he wouldn’t turn her down. “I want
you to make love to me, Addison. I might not be able to handle it, or I might
not be able to do everything you usually do, but I want to try. Can you do
that? Can you give me a chance, knowing I might not be able to get through all
of it?”
    The
look on his face nearly stopped her heart. Tender, yet so full of lust she
wanted to cry. This was what she’d waited for. Right here and now. He cupped
her face again, and she drew strength from his warmth.
    “ Oh, Nadine. Of course I will. I’d be honored to give
you that chance, and as many chances as you want, but I meant it when I said
that’s not all I want from you. It can wait until we’ve found your father and
are back underground.”
    She
shook her head. “No. I don’t want to wait. We might not find him. Not alive,
anyway. We might not make it back underground. We could all die up here. I
don’t want my last memories of having sex to be what that man did to me four
years ago. I don’t want to die like that.”
    He
brushed a finger along her lips again, and she moaned softly at his touch. “Are
you sure?”
    “ Very.”
    He
kissed her again, and this time she parted her lips right away. She didn’t
realize at first that the soft moans she heard were coming from her. Her pussy
was wet, and her entire body tingled. Nadine wanted to cry again because she
hadn’t even realized she could become that aroused anymore. He’d done this for
her. This incredibly gorgeous, patient man who had been attracted to her for
years. She’d never known the true depths of his desire for her, but she did
now, and that’s all that mattered.
    The
past would not ruin this for her. She would not allow that to happen. She would
embrace everything Addison gave her, and she’d replace the fear and anger with
new memories instead. He wouldn’t hurt her. She knew that as sure as she knew
her own name.
    He
released her mouth quickly as she heard the door open. Didn’t they lock? She
certainly hoped so. Merrill stood there with a neutral expression on his face,
for which she was very grateful. “George is here already. Thought you’d like to
know.”
    “ Really?” Addison stood, and her gaze