Free Banishing Shadows by Lorna Jean Roberts Page A

his, they parted. Her tongue swept inside and the stream of desire for him flowing through her body became a torrent.
    Overcome by need, she reached down to caress his chest and shoulders. His hand grabbed hers and she stared at him, perplexed.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked huskily.
    “Nothing. Nothing at all. I just want to be sure you know what you’re doing. This has to be something you really want and I’m not sure you’re ready for where this is going.”
    She leaned back, breaking his hold, reality seeping in. What was she doing? She wasn’t ready for sex, was she? She was doing the one thing she’d told herself not to, throwing herself at him.
    Kayla curled into herself, feeling embarrassed, confused. What did she want? She longed to touch him yet she wasn’t ready for sex. Was she?
    “Kayla, look at me.”
    She shook her head.
    “Look at me.” His voice deepened, became an order she couldn’t refuse.
    “What’s going through that pretty head of yours, hmm?” he asked as he ran a finger down her cheek.
    “Rejected again,” she muttered before she could stop herself.
    “No, no, God, no. This is not me rejecting you. Kayla, I swear, every fiber of my being wanted to continue, wanted to fuck you until neither of us could breathe. And I would have, if I thought you were truly ready for this, if I thought you’d still let me touch you tomorrow. I am trying to do what is best for you. Even if it fucking kills me. Please tell me you understand that.”
    She was shocked by the begging in his voice. She gave a little nod.
    “Thank God,” he muttered. “Never think that I don’t want you, sweetheart. I really think this being noble shit is going to kill me. Or at least that’s what my dick is telling me.”
    She snorted faintly.
    He stared at her intently. “Do you want to be held?”
    Kayla surprised herself by nodding. Cord sat up and patted his lap, resting back against the headboard. She crawled over and his arms came around her.
    As she wriggled, he let out a hiss. She stilled, feeling his thick erection against her hip.
    “Sorry,” she whispered, realizing how uncomfortable he must be. Yet here he was, holding her, comforting her. Any resolve she had left about keeping him at a distance started to dissolve.
    Cord chuckled and ran a hand over her hair. “You know how much you mean to me, right? I care for you, Kayla. I only want what’s best for you. When you’re ready, you’ll know and I’ll be here. Until then, I think cold showers are going to become a regular fix in my life.”
    * * * * *
     
    Kayla sat in her office, staring at her computer without really seeing it. Her mind was in turmoil. What had she been thinking? She’d practically thrown herself at Cord.
    Again.
    Did she have no pride?
    He was staying with her to protect her, not soothe her fears or jump her bones.
    I care about you.
    Could she truly believe that? Would he have held her all night if she was just a job to him?
    Her body screamed no .
    He wanted her.
    But like he’d said before—happily ever afters weren’t for him. Perhaps she should take what he offered and sleep with him. The thought of having sex with another man, of having someone touch her, terrified her. But with Cord it was different. He’d never harm her. His touch brought only heat not fear.
    When he was around, she could feel her wounds begin to heal over. The fear, the panic, the memories dulled. They didn’t go away, not completely, but they lessened.
    It was becoming harder and harder to remember why she should resist him.
    She trusted him to stop if she wanted him to. But she had to remember that this was all physical. Physical attraction. Physical trust. Love had no part to play.
    “Ready to go?” Cord stepped into her office and she looked up, amazed to see it was five o’clock already. Cord had actually left her on her own in the office for a few hours. Not that she’d been truly alone. Both Quinn and Joe had ducked their heads into her