Free A Man to Trust by Cheryl Yeko Page A

saw the tears that filled her eyes.
    Jake fisted his hands against his thighs and fought for some semblance of calm, when what he really wanted to do was punch something. He struggled against the need to comfort her as she trembled and struggled for composure.
    Damn.
    Before he could remind himself that touching her was a bad idea for a whole shitload of reasons, he reached over and tugged her onto his lap, closing his arms around her.
    She stiffened and pushed against his chest. “Let me go.” Her voice shook.
    “Sshh.” He tightened his grip. “It’s okay to cry, Angel.”

CHAPTER 5
    At Jake’s comforting words, It’s okay to cry Angel, Angela lost the will to fight and went still in his arms as he cradled her head against his shoulder and began to stroke her hair. The gentleness of his touch tore her open.
    When was the last time she’d been touched with tenderness, the last time she’d allowed herself to cry? Having learned early in her marriage that crying only increased Scott’s sadistic pleasure she’d soon learned to keep her pain hidden. Not wanting to give him complete power over her, she had learned to shield her emotions and play the dutiful wife as she planned her escape.
    Jake’s softly spoken words and comforting arms shattered the shield she’d placed around her heart. A savage rush of emotion ripped through her.
    She collapsed against him and let her tears flow as her pent-up anguish burst forward. She let go of the pain, the fear, and sadness that had been her constant companion for far too long. For now, for this moment in time, with this man, her need to be comforted and held, won the battle that raged within her for caution.
    Angela wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his neck, breathing in his masculine scent. She allowed herself to cry, sheltered in his tender embrace, his soft touch and whispered words of comfort soothing her.
    A sense of peace flowed through her and her tears slowed to a stop. Jake continued to hold her, making comforting circular motions on her back. The feel of his hard body against hers, the strength of his arms wrapped around her made her feel safe. He was one of the good guys. Her heart thudded a powerful beat.
    She needed to move away from him, but froze as a burn started in her belly and traveled to her core. A sensation of need that she hadn’t felt since before the horrifying night of her wedding captured her. For just tonight, she needed to feel wanted, desired.
    Angela lifted her face until her lips brushed softly against his. He stiffened, his hand fisted at her back. She lifted her hands to his face and kissed him with a sense of desperation. He didn’t kiss her back, but he didn’t pull away.
    “Jake, please,” she whispered, looking into his heated gaze. Tension radiated off him.
    His eyes burned with lust and the evidence of his desire pressed at her bottom. Angela pushed away the sense of unease that shadowed her thoughts. Tonight, she wanted . . . something, she didn’t know what. But she was tired of being afraid and for just tonight, she wanted the promise of passion that Jake’s eyes offered.
    For a moment, he didn’t move, then he groaned and buried his hands in her hair, kissing her with a soft, gentle touch. When he licked her lips, she opened for him and he entered to caress the inside of her mouth with his tongue. His heady flavor mixed with the taste of her tears. The sensation of him exploring her mouth sent tingles of need throughout her and her nipples tightened. She welcomed his seeking tongue with her own and they moved together as one in a mutual exploration. Tasting, touching, as exploding sensations of need and desire rolled over her.
    Jake tore his mouth from hers. His gaze scorched her with their heat, molten hot. “You drive me wild.”
    He unfastened the first three buttons of her shirt and slowly slid the fabric from her shoulders and down her arms, until it pooled at her waist. A shiver of anticipation