Free Immortal Darkness (Phantom Diaries #3) by Kailin Gow Page B

lips he took a step closer while his eyes darkened and narrowed.  “What are you turning me into?” he said again with longing. His gaze dipped down to my breasts and a sharp intake of breath shook him. “You're so beautiful, Annette. I don’t even know how I should respond to you when you're like this.  I want to protect and preserve the Annette I met, the sweet and innocent girl who arrived in New York with wide eyes and great dreams.  But I’m just a man…”
    His hands travelled up my back then down to my buttocks.
    “There’s only so much controlling of my urges I can accomplish.  What you're asking of me now, to be with you, to see you like this, so open and ready, so willing, all while remaining frigid and aloof; it’s impossible.”
    He pulled me into his arms, his hands and fingers working over the flimsy fabric with feverish movements.  He was at times heated and passionate at other times awkward and unsure.  Either way, he pulled me into his kisses, into his warm embrace and I wanted to lose myself in his hold.  He was like the childhood friend I’d known all my life, the friend I’d trusted and felt so at ease with, had so much fun with.
    And now, we wanted to discover other possible avenues for our relationship to take.
    As our passionate embrace brought us further into the dressing room, as he clumsily led me to the sofa, I got a glimpse of us in the mirror and immediately saw the wanton beast Kristine had been.  My eyes were narrowed with lust, my back arched as I pressed my breasts to Chace’s chest and my hands clawed their way up his biceps and over his shoulder.
    The sight shocked me and I pushed Chace back.  “Stop.  We can’t do this.  Not here.  Not like this.”
    He persisted, keeping a tight hold of me.  “You can’t stir me up the way you do and let me down cold.”
    “Chace, I’m not kidding.”  I pulled free and ran my hand nervously through my hair.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to let things get so out of control.”
    “I could feel it in your kiss, Annette, how much you want me.  You want this as much as I do.”
    He reached out for me, but I backed away, avoiding his touch.  “I don’t know what I want,” I snapped.
    That zapped the passion and lust from his eyes.  Confused, he glanced away.  “Are you turning me down because you're staying with Aaron? Is there more going on between you two than you're telling me?”
    “No. Nothing is going on.”  I was angry at myself for allowing this to happen and I let that anger out on Chace.  I couldn’t let Kristine take over again, in body or in spirit.
    Chace clenched his fist, his own anger rising.  “I’ll bet he’s even holding the production over your head.  Has he threatened to cast someone else in the role if you don’t do as he says?”
    “You make him sound like a monster, Chace.  That’s not who he is.  He’s been nothing but kind and generous. Please stop turning this into something it’s not.”
    “Then why did you push me away?  Why can’t I get close to you?”
    I turned away and saw the seminude reflection of myself. “I’m going to have other costumes to try on, Chace. Can we talk about all this later?”
    His fists slackened and I caught the dejected shrug of his shoulder. “Fine,” he muttered softly.  “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to put any pressure on you. I know I’m overreacting, just like I did when I saw Aaron in your apartment; when I smashed my violin on his head.  Emotions aren’t always so easy to contain, and I guess you bring out a whole band of emotions I’m not used to dealing with.”
    “I’m not mad, Chace,” I said, softening my tone as I turned to him.  “I’m just as confused about all this as you are.”
    I looked at him, trying to ignore the power Kristine still had on all of us.  She was slowly seeping back into my life, and she was toying with every man who entered my life.
    “You know what,” I said with a strong desire