Free SCARRED - Part 2 (The SCARRED Series - Book 2) by Kylie Walker Page A

beginning to set and as he agonized in his own heart over the pain and confusion in her eyes, he wondered if the beauty of the landscape only intensified it. Chloe was probably feeling that there was nothing beautiful right now about her crazy, mixed-up world. He knew that she’d been hurt and badly from the scars he had seen and felt. He knew that she didn’t seem to have anyone in her life other than a small handful of friends that she made at a place she despised.
    She should be a teacher, sharing her knowledge with children and reaping the joys that – that would bring to them. Instead, she was stuck in a job she hated with people that as far as Derek was concerned, had no right to even be in her solar system. The defiant sky continued to adorn itself with the brilliant colors of orange and red and he watched her face as she glared at the swirls of color. Her eyes were pink from crying and only made darker by the reflection of the sky.
    “This is good,” she said after picking through it several times and finally taking a bite.
    “Thanks,” he said, “It’s my secret sauce that makes it.”
    With a smile she said, “What’s so secret about it?”
    “No one but me knows the recipe. I keep it in a locked box and have security guarding it around the clock.”
    She laughed and he loved the sound of it. “It’s not really that good,” she said.
    He grabbed his heart with his right hand and said, “Oh my God, that was a direct hit.”
    She laughed again. “I was kidding, it’s fantastic.”
    “It is,” he said, “but maybe you don’t get that because you’re not tasting it right.”
    “I’m not tasting it right?” she said.
    “Yes, there’s a certain way to eat certain delicacies...” She cocked an eyebrow and he said, “In some countries, my stir-fry is considered a delicacy.”
    “Oh I’m sure,” she said with a grin.
    “As I was saying, there is a certain way to eat it that intensifies both the flavors and the experience.”
    “And how is that?” she asked.
    “May I show you?”
    “Okay...” Derek got out of his chair and took her by her hand. He pulled her to her feet and then reached down and picked up a spoon off the table. He slathered it with peanut sauce and then swiped it across his lips.
    Chloe rolled her eyes and said, “What a lame way to get a kiss.”
    “I’m completely serious here. It tastes ten times better this way. Don’t you want to try it?” He realized he was holding his breath, worried he was going to frighten her away again when suddenly she was on her tip toes and he felt her warm tongue run slowly across his bottom lip. She pulled it back in, smacked a few times and he said, “So what do you think?”
    “I can’t be sure,” she said. Then she lifted up again and this time she ran her tongue across his top lip and again across his bottom. He could feel himself getting aroused and he was sorely tempted to open his mouth and join her tongue. He didn’t though; he stood still, waiting to see what she would do.
    When she finished cleaning off his lips she said, “It’s definitely got more flavor that way. Stick out your tongue.”
    “My tongue?”
    “Yes, stick it out.”
    He did as she asked and she picked up the spoon and ran it over his tongue. Then without further preamble she wrapped her hands behind his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers. She let her tongue slip into his mouth as their lips met and she tasted him like he was a sweet piece of dark chocolate. He wrapped her up in his arms and held her tight while they kissed. She felt so good in his arms and he resolved then and there that he was going to do whatever it took to keep her there. 
    Taking a step back, she looked up at his towering frame and then her eyes fell to his chest. Chloe started unbuttoning his shirt. The material was thin but one could tell it was expensive. On the fourth button she could feel her hands start to tremble, not from fear, but uncertainty. Her eyes roamed his