Free Taking Passion by Storm by Ravenna Tate Page A

shot straight to
his crotch. She averted it quickly but not before she noticed his erection.
Would Merrill see it? “Wow. He made great time. We’ll be right out.”
    “ Okay, boss.” Just before Merrill turned to leave, she
caught his grin spread, and her face burned with embarrassment again.
    She
stood. “I’m sorry.”
    He
pulled her into his arms. “Why? We haven’t done anything wrong.”
    “ Don’t these damn doors lock?”
    Addison
laughed, maybe a bit too loudly. Was that from nervousness or another reason?
“Yes. Have no fear. We won’t be disturbed later.”
    “ I hate to bring up something to clinical, but you
should know I was tested for STDs afterward, and then again six months later,
even though he used a condom.” She hadn’t wanted to ask him earlier about his
own status, but knew she would have to eventually if this was going to happen,
so she hoped he’d take the hint.
    “ And?”
    “ Oh, I’m all right. I have none.”
    “ That’s good. I don’t either. I’ve always been very
careful.”
    There
was nothing standing in her way now. She stared into his eyes. “Is this really
going to happen?”
    His
expression grew serious. “I sure hope so, but you’re free to change your mind.
I won’t be upset.”
    “ I haven’t changed it, but you might.”
    He
gave her a look of incredulity. “Why on earth would I do that?”
    “ I don’t know. You might decide this is more work than
you care to deal with.”
    He
brushed her hair with one hand. “You’re not work. You’re a human being, and a
woman I’ve wanted for a long time. No matter what it takes, or how long it
takes, we will get you through this. We will get you past your fears. I will
make love to you, Nadine, and you won’t be afraid or hurt. I promise you that.”
    His
words reverberated in her brain as she listened to them both breathing softly.
She almost forgot that George and the others were waiting for them. “Thank
you,” she whispered. Nadine wanted desperately to believe him.
    She
had to believe in something. Four years was a long time to hide in fear and
anger. If she’d never come along on this trip, would they have reached this
point eventually? Doubtful, considering he’d never acted on his feelings until
now, and she’d never imagined something like this happening to her. This trip
might turn out to be life-changing in more ways than one.
     

Chapter
Eight
     
    Nadine
loved George Markus on sight. His weathered face and the way his gray eyes
twinkled reminded her of her grandfather. Everyone seemed to know him, and they
were all gathered around him, sitting on the floor in the main room at his
feet, as though he was an ancient wizard about to impart the secret of life to
them.
    Addison
introduced her, and he shook her hand, his eyes narrowing. “You look so much
like your father. Prettier, of course, but you have his eyes and his coloring.”
    The
others laughed so she did, too, but hearing him mention her dad brought back
why they were all here. Guilt washed over her as she heard her voice thanking
George. She’d been about to make love to Addison when they all should be outside
right now looking for her father. What the hell was wrong with her?
    “ I hope you all don’t mind if I catch my breath for the
rest of the day before we go in search of Dixon. I had to dodge a hurricane on
the way here.” He shook his head. “Can you believe that? An inland hurricane.”
    Addison
and Nadine took a spot on the floor next to Gina and Merrill. “Did you travel
here all the way from your home in what used to be Tennessee?” she asked.
    “ No, I was in a shelter near what used to be Salt Lake
City when I heard from Addison that your dad went missing. I was there helping
some of the Storm Troopers try to access one of the weather satellites that
started sending signals again about two weeks ago.”
    “ Oh?” Addison sat up straighter. “Was it the same
situation as the one from which we collected