Read Online Created In Fire (Art of Love Series) by Donna McDonald - Free Book Online Page A

would like that kiss now. I think I even need it,” she said, holding herself up and leaning into him, relieved to feel his heat and strength around her. They made her feel stronger.
    Carrie moved her lips cautiously across Michael’s, her heartbeat accelerating until she felt like she’d been running in a race. It felt good to have her mouth on his. It felt good to feel connected to the man who had defended her today. Michael was the only man she’d ever known who hadn’t backed down or away from dealing with her father and Kevin.
    So even though Michael didn’t want her gratitude, she was grateful all the same.
    Michael used one arm to scoop Carrie closer, and the other he ran up her back until he cupped the back of her head.
    “You have the most reverent kiss I’ve ever known,” Michael said, his heart taking over. “I feel your soul calling to mine when you kiss me, Carrie Addison.”
    “Reverent? I was going for hot and devastating,” Carrie said against his mouth. “I guess I’m too tired to do it right.”
    Michael laughed. “Honey, you always do it right,” he said.
    But Michael took over anyway, kissing Carrie back, kissing her until she was twining herself around him like a vine. He felt her slipping the band off that held his hair, gathering handfuls and wrapping them both up in it.
    Michael was shaking when he reluctantly moved his mouth away from Carrie’s.
    “I want you, lady. I always, always want you. But I feel like if we did this now, I’d be taking unfair advantage. As easy as it would be to sink into you, gratitude is not going to be enough. The next time you’re in my arms, at the very least I need you to want me back as much as I want you. I’d rather wait than mess this up.”
    Carrie leaned back against his hand that was still behind her head to look at him in disbelief.
    “Michael, why are you doing this? I’m finally willing again. Why are you suddenly locked in a moral dilemma about us?” she asked, almost hating him when he laughed at her consternation.
    Michael couldn’t help it. His instincts were clear, though he could understand Carrie’s confusion.
    “As you keep pointing out to me, I don’t have much of a moral compass about women, but all my morals seem to point to a need to be completely straight with you,” Michael told Carrie, sighing at her unhappy expression. “Can I just say I’m following my instincts and they’re telling me not to do this right now?”
    “Fine. If you’re not interested in having hot gratitude sex with me, go away so I can fall asleep,” Carrie told him, her tone scathing as Michael laid her carefully back on the pillows.
    “Well, I will still be here when you wake up. Maybe later?” Michael asked, his mouth quirking when Carrie made a disgusted sound.
    “My grateful mood will have definitely passed by then,” Carrie said firmly, listening to him laugh.
    She was too tired to be offended that Michael had turned her down. The medicine all but knocked her out every time. It was the trade-off for not throwing up.
    “I’ll take my chances on coaxing the mood back when the time is right,” Michael told her, knowing he’d enjoy every second of the coaxing.
    He went to a chest and pulled out a chenille throw, bringing it back and draping it over her.
    “Sure you don’t want to take a nap with me?” she asked, pulling the cover up under her chin.
    “Tempting—but not this time. I’m going to go call everyone in my family and tell them how wonderful they are,” Michael told her. “Even my brother.”
    Carrie laughed at the teasing in his voice. “Yeah, you have a nice brother. Shane’s just a big teddy bear. You can tell.”
    “More like grisly bear, you mean,” Michael said, brushing her hair back as she drifted off. “The man only shaves when he has a date, sometimes not even then.”
    *** *** ***
     
    Michael still wasn’t sure what he’d said on the phone that constituted an invitation, but at four in the afternoon