the desire to succumb to the powerful attraction and chemistry building between us. No matter how handsome and charismatic this man appeared, I didn’t know him, and I couldn’t trust him, not yet anyway, but heck if I could stop responding to his fervent attentions.
It took me everything I had to place my hands flat against his chest and push him away from me. Even with my adrenaline-induced shove, he only moved back a few inches as our lips broke apart.
My thoughts and emotions were as erratic as my breathing, and I felt as if I might pass out from sheer panic.
He noticed right away and slowly pulled back, giving me an apologetic look as he did so. My breathing failed to even out. The distance he put between us almost made it worse. A terrible hunger gripped me as we stood a few feet apart.
The door behind me beckoned to be thrown open, but I couldn’t leave now. Not before I understood exactly what I meant to him, and what he might mean to me. His rough kisses had left me breathless and wobbly. I couldn’t have turned around and made a dash for freedom even if I’d wanted to, not on these shaky legs. But lust and desire weren’t emotions I could build a relationship on. Not a lasting one, anyway.
I wanted to shake myself when I realized where my thoughts had railroaded me. The reason this man had taken an interest in me had little to do with me personally and everything to do with my gift. He didn’t care about my safety if he was that intent upon involving me with a quest assigned by Basque witches.
Miguel ran a hand over his face in a frustrated gesture and then turned his chocolate eyes on me again, revealing uncertainty, something that belied his normally arrogant manner.
“Forgive me. I...this isn’t going the way I thought it would. I shouldn’t have...I’m sorry if I scared you...” he trailed off, looking uncomfortable and unsure of himself. It was so dang adorable I almost reassured him by walking over and wrapping my arms around those broad shoulders.
I threw my annoyingly compassionate side in a locked corner of my heart and steeled myself against Miguel’s overpowering presence.
“You’re sorry, but you’re still not going to let me go, are you?”
He shook his head. “No. I can’t let you go. I’ve waited too long. I tried to allow you a normal life before thrusting this burden upon you, but I can’t wait any longer. It’s too dangerous.”
I knew I didn’t have a chance in hell of getting out that door before he reached for me again, and I didn’t want to give him any excuse or reason to touch me or infringe upon my personal space. I didn’t understand my reaction to him. Normally, I had better sense than this, but it couldn’t hurt to find out what he needed me for as far as supernatural issues went.
“Fine, I will sit down on the bed and listen to you explain your situation so long as you stand by the door.”
He looked sad at my ultimatum, but I shoved any pangs of guilt I might feel into that compartment where my compassion sat imprisoned, locking them both away.
“If that will make you more comfortable, I am happy to oblige.”
“I won’t feel comfortable until there are several hundred miles separating us. For now, a couple of feet will have to do.”
My words irked him. I could tell by the tightening of his jaw, yet I could have sworn the corners of his mouth curled up in amusement as we passed each other and his arm brushed against mine. I hurried over to the bed and ignored the shivers skipping along my spinal column. Once I sat down and faced him, I studied his calm demeanor. He leaned his back against the door in a pose that any male model would have been wise to imitate.
I thought distance would allow me some breathing space, but simply looking at him constricted my lungs, hindering my air supply. He continued studying me as I battled to get myself under control. I had no way of knowing if he noticed the affect he had on me, but I felt certain that
It took me everything I had to place my hands flat against his chest and push him away from me. Even with my adrenaline-induced shove, he only moved back a few inches as our lips broke apart.
My thoughts and emotions were as erratic as my breathing, and I felt as if I might pass out from sheer panic.
He noticed right away and slowly pulled back, giving me an apologetic look as he did so. My breathing failed to even out. The distance he put between us almost made it worse. A terrible hunger gripped me as we stood a few feet apart.
The door behind me beckoned to be thrown open, but I couldn’t leave now. Not before I understood exactly what I meant to him, and what he might mean to me. His rough kisses had left me breathless and wobbly. I couldn’t have turned around and made a dash for freedom even if I’d wanted to, not on these shaky legs. But lust and desire weren’t emotions I could build a relationship on. Not a lasting one, anyway.
I wanted to shake myself when I realized where my thoughts had railroaded me. The reason this man had taken an interest in me had little to do with me personally and everything to do with my gift. He didn’t care about my safety if he was that intent upon involving me with a quest assigned by Basque witches.
Miguel ran a hand over his face in a frustrated gesture and then turned his chocolate eyes on me again, revealing uncertainty, something that belied his normally arrogant manner.
“Forgive me. I...this isn’t going the way I thought it would. I shouldn’t have...I’m sorry if I scared you...” he trailed off, looking uncomfortable and unsure of himself. It was so dang adorable I almost reassured him by walking over and wrapping my arms around those broad shoulders.
I threw my annoyingly compassionate side in a locked corner of my heart and steeled myself against Miguel’s overpowering presence.
“You’re sorry, but you’re still not going to let me go, are you?”
He shook his head. “No. I can’t let you go. I’ve waited too long. I tried to allow you a normal life before thrusting this burden upon you, but I can’t wait any longer. It’s too dangerous.”
I knew I didn’t have a chance in hell of getting out that door before he reached for me again, and I didn’t want to give him any excuse or reason to touch me or infringe upon my personal space. I didn’t understand my reaction to him. Normally, I had better sense than this, but it couldn’t hurt to find out what he needed me for as far as supernatural issues went.
“Fine, I will sit down on the bed and listen to you explain your situation so long as you stand by the door.”
He looked sad at my ultimatum, but I shoved any pangs of guilt I might feel into that compartment where my compassion sat imprisoned, locking them both away.
“If that will make you more comfortable, I am happy to oblige.”
“I won’t feel comfortable until there are several hundred miles separating us. For now, a couple of feet will have to do.”
My words irked him. I could tell by the tightening of his jaw, yet I could have sworn the corners of his mouth curled up in amusement as we passed each other and his arm brushed against mine. I hurried over to the bed and ignored the shivers skipping along my spinal column. Once I sat down and faced him, I studied his calm demeanor. He leaned his back against the door in a pose that any male model would have been wise to imitate.
I thought distance would allow me some breathing space, but simply looking at him constricted my lungs, hindering my air supply. He continued studying me as I battled to get myself under control. I had no way of knowing if he noticed the affect he had on me, but I felt certain that
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