Free Breathless (Meadowlarks) by Ashley Christine Page A

ed up to me, the moonlight graciously giving me full view of him. He was wearing jeans and a tight white t-shirt underneath a black suit jacket.
    Oh, s hiiiit.
    His eyes were even more menacing in the light of the night sky, they pierced me as he gazed on me, like he had some sort of secret ability. I took two steps back when he got too close for comfort, and he smirked. “Well, the country life really is becoming of you, Riley. You look even more gorgeous right now than you did at The Club.” He grinned, and narrowed his eyes.
    “You wanted to talk, so talk,” I bit out, crossing my arms protectively on my chest.
    Dane rushe d me and wrapped his strong arms around me, forcing me to stay entwined in him, unable to move. His mouth assaulted my lips, totally devouring me and I cried out against his mouth. I didn’t want that, I haven't wanted that in a very long time.
    When he finally release d me from his onslaught, but kept his arms on me, I glared at him. My chest heaved now that I was finally able to breathe again.
    “Don't touch me, let me go!” I hiss ed, wriggling in the stockade of his arms. “I am going to scream in two seconds if you don't, and Alex will be out to find me.”
    “Oh baby, you think that little shit's got anything on me?” Dane laugh ed. “Don't fight me. Let me in.”
    I gape d. “I'm not letting you into anything! Not me, not my house!”
    He laugh ed again. “So quick to assume...I don't want in your house.”
    Dane's body was pressed so hard against me that I could feel the impressive length of the tantalizing ridge formed in his jeans. The thought of that perfect mixture of hard and soft in my hands again, in my mouth, and into the depths of my body made me want to do very bad things...
    I struggled and finally he let me go, but he kept his hands on my arms, holding me in place. I pushed away from his hands and when he attempted to grab me again I slapped his face, my hand prickling from the tingle of the forcefulness.
    He turn ed his face back to me, and I knew I should start running for my life, his eyes flared so wide they almost didn’t look real.
    I back ed up a few feet, and surprisingly he didn’t follow me.
    Just run, Riley, you idiot!
    “Go, Dane. Please,” I pleaded.
    “Guess I deserved that.” H e smiled. “After everything...”
    “ Go, ” I said, softly.
    He turn ed to leave, but stopped in his tracks and looked back at me. Dane narrowed his eyes and slowly licked his bottom lip, his tongue gently cascading over his soft flesh. “Tell me one thing,” he said, his voice raspy and low. “Tell me how it made you feel when I didn't want you anymore.”
    Someone order this guy a shrink, stat.
    I couldn’t handle the mind games and I forced a sarcastic smile. “You did me a favour then, and I want you to do another one for me now.”
    “What's that?” he ask ed, an eyebrow raised in interest.
    “Stop sending the money. In fact, take it all back. Isaac doesn't need it.” I turn ed and walked back toward the house, giving myself secret props for not turning around to see what his face must have looked like right at that very moment.
    Why after all these years did Dane want back in my life? We had been in the same state since my son was born and he didn't bother with us when we lived in Maine. Now that we were in Wyoming, almost two thousand miles away, he showed up and wanted to play house.
    Well, no way, buddy. Alex and my children were the most important people in my life, they were all that matters and if Dane thought he was going to show up and automatically get access—he was mental.
    I peer ed out the kitchen window to make sure that Dane's car had indeed driven away. A whisper of a smile crosses my lips as I envisioned his face when I walked away; I pictured him looking sullen or enraged. Either emotion would do, in hopes that I had got under his skin.
    How dare he do that to me!
    I was tempted to call Addison and spill my guts about Dane's audacity, but I