Free Seductive Truths (Seductive Trilogy) by Becky Cairns Page A

understand? ’
         Something in the tone of his voice makes me stop.  It’s not just a demand, but a warning.  I unwillingly submit and a ‘yes’ squeaks out.
         ‘ Thank you, ’ he sighs.  ‘ Like I’ve told you before, I’m not here to hurt you.  God, that’s the last thing I wish to do.  I’ve hurt too many people in my life already.  I don’t want to add another to the list, especially you. ’
         I can’t speak.  If I speak I will break down.  When I break down I won’t be able to keep up this strong façade, though it is likely he can see right through it.  I am no longer the woman I know and I hate it.  Hate it!  I hate myself for being in this position in the first place.  What happened to “ safe and stable ” ?
         ‘ Alex. ’   He caresses my name and I soften.  There is tenderness.  Why is it there?
         I jerk my head backwards as I feel the tips of his fingers softly glide down my cheek.  It unleashes a whole cascade of new emotions.  What is this man doing to me?
        I quiver inside and my stomach drops.  However, it is an experience I want repeated again and again.  A guy has never had this kind of effect on me, not even William and I’m engaged to him!
         Arrrgggg!
         The emotions unwillingly develop and I find my curiosity getting the better of me.  I want to see him.  No, I need to see him.  I need to put a face to this torment.  Maybe if I find him repulsive to look at it will dull these unwanted urges.
         Before I can think on my course of action I hear myself say ‘please’.
         ‘ Please?  Please what? ’
         ‘ Please can I see you? ’
         His breathing hitches and he draws his hand away.  The warmth disappears with it.  Why am I so disappointed in that?
         ‘ Okay. ’   One word with so many meanings.  How does he do that?
          He is a dangerous man, in more ways than the one.
         There’s heat.
         He’s close.
         Leaning over me.
         The cloth slackens around my eyes then vanishes altogether.  I blink rapidly as the light stings my pupils and I find it difficult to see what’s right in front of me.  Vision is blurred.
         Then I see it - an outline of the man’s head and as my eyes begin to focus I discover more.  His face is framed with wet, dirty blonde hair, droplets dripping from their tips.  But as I draw my eyes towards his face I start, causing me to shuffle backwards in fear, almost colliding forcibly with the brick wall.
         In the slither of light illuminating his face I find myself trapped in an intense pair of bottomless pools of silver-blue eyes.  Their vibrancy is captivating.  Stormy, yet with a softness hidden beneath and if you were just a casual observer you’d miss it.  There’s fire and vulnerability, a dangerous combination.  His eyes reveal so much depth, so many layers to this man, but it is all cowering away behind a shield.  One I guess he very rarely lets down, if at all. 
         What I wouldn’t give to be the person to discover what lies beneath.   My heart skips at the thought.
         However, it’s not the emotions I see that shock me, but the familiarity.  I have been caught in these eyes before not so long ago and they are having the same effect on me now as they did then. 
         ‘ It’s you, ’ is all I can whisper.

Chapter Twelve
     
         What is it with this guy?
         First I spot him in the alleyway, and then he enters my friend’s flat and now this!  Is he to continuously shadow my life?  And how would he know anything about my brother’s death?  How is he involved?  Could he also be the…no, surely not!  Then again…
         ‘ Did you leave me a note? ’
         He just stares.
         Gritting my teeth I ask again, but nothing, just the static stare.
         ‘ For goodness sakes just answer me god dammit!  Did you