Free Burned by a Kiss by Tina Leonard Page A

face, the way his strong arms held her close. And he’d admitted it, with that husky, gentle tone in his voice, the passion barely disguised as he spoke.
    A shiver ran over her.
    For just the briefest of seconds, Emma desperately wished she’d been brave enough to ask him to stay—in spite of everything.
    But unlike Sierra, she wasn’t the kind of woman who took a lot of chances.
    She’d never taken a chance on anything, she realized, as she looked around her pretty blue-painted bedroom with the white comforter on the bed, her one frivolous luxury in spite of the pets and her veterinary work. Everything else in her life could be furry, muddy, covered with cat paws—but not her room. This was her sanctuary, her reservoir.
    But life in Star Canyon was about taking chances. Half of them didn’t work out. Half of them did.
    Proceed with caution had always been her motto.
    Yet if she’d thrown that motto out tonight, Santana would be in this bed with her right now.
    A knock sounded on her door. She opened it, her heart leaping. “Did you forget something?” she asked Santana.
    “We need to get your Jeep if you want to get to work in the morning.”
    She could call Jenny. Jenny would be happy to come by early and give her a ride to the clinic.
    Or…
    She held the door open. “Or you can drop me off in the morning.”
    Heat flared in his eyes. She nearly melted on the spot, alive with wanting him. On a limb, waiting for his answer, Emma wondered if she’d done the right thing. Maybe she sounded desperate, considering the conversation they’d just had. It had seemed so final.
    All she knew was that she wanted Santana in her arms more than anything in the world.
    He drew in a deep breath. For one wild moment, she thought he was going to turn her down flat.
    He closed the door, his gaze strange with darkness, and pulled her up against his chest, kissing her with the heat she needed. Had been waiting for forever. She clung to his sheepskin jacket, lost in what he was doing to her mouth. Her soul.
    She heard a moan, realized it was her. He pulled her to him even closer, his mouth harder on hers now, searching, tasting. She pulled back. “Santana—”
    He ignored her hesitation, pulled her back to him, his mouth demanding on hers. She felt fire start taking her over, melted against him with a moan. His mouth felt so good. He held her so tight, so hard, that she knew he wanted her. And she wanted him, so much she felt like she was falling into an abyss. But he caught her before she fell, his arms strong, his kisses demanding and insistent, making her body awaken from a slumber she hadn’t realized had claimed her.
    “Take me to bed,” she whispered against his mouth.
    He stilled with a groan, his mouth angled against hers, then nudged her lips open, sweeping inside her, searching. Didn’t he want her? That thought was instantly perished as he crushed her up against her chest, carrying her down the hall to her room.
    He tossed back the white comforter with one hand and laid her down. He looked at her, his eyes dark and haunted. She waited, her breath coming in small pants.
    “Santana—”
    “You’re beautiful,” he said. “I’ve dreamed of seeing you like this. Being with you.” He pulled off her boots, dropping them to the floor. She moved, thinking to help undress him, but he pressed her back against the pillows. “I just want to look at it, just like this.” He picked up her hand, kissed her fingertips. “I’ve waited years for this moment.”
    Her heart raced in a mad tattoo. Slowly, he pulled off her socks, removed her jeans with the care that one would reveal a rare piece of art. She watched fire born in his eyes as he met hers, realized there was no going back from this precipice in their relationship. The dogs snuffled at the door, but Santana didn’t seem to hear. She lay still, wanting desperately to touch Santana, feel his hard muscles—recognized he was savoring every moment, every motion