Read Online Learning to Breathe Again by Kelli Heneghan - Free Book Online Page B

I
didn’t realize you were behind me” she tilted her head, the apology
falling away.
    Without thinking, he reacted. With her hands
on his chest and the tenderness in her expression as she peered at
him through her eyelashes, he couldn’t help himself. Lowering his
head, he kissed her. She gasped but didn’t try to move or push him
away. His lips covered hers. He wanted to be gentle. But this was
more than the chaste peck she’d given him last night. Tongues were
involved this time.
    He stroked her back with his
left hand, his right hand resting beneath her rib cage. He wanted
her closer, wanted to feel her against him. Her hands clenched
against his chest. Damn, she’s reached her
limit. Prepared to stop, she surprised him
by pulling him in closer, her hands now fisted in his shirt. He
stroked her tongue with his, retreating, pushing in…a dance as old
as time. And she responded to each movement. Against the hand on
her ribs, he could feel her heart as it raced and his own pulse
sped up. She moaned, or was that him? Hell if he knew, or even
cared at this point.
    He needed to put the brakes on now, before he
did something stupid, like sweep everything off the desk and lay
her down. That image should not be in his mind. He broke off the
kiss, resting his forehead on hers. Her breathing was ragged, but
it didn’t have that wheeze it would get with her panic attacks. His
hands rubbed over her back in soothing strokes, enjoying the moment
of holding her in his arms. The occasional car drove by outside,
and the ornate clock on the wall ticked, the sound loud and
obnoxious in the near silence of the outer office. It was just the
two of them for now. He simply held her and waited. Her hands
relaxed and he moved his head so he could see her face.
    Her eyes fluttered open, her green orbs soft,
and filled with hope and confusion. He pressed his lips to her
forehead. “Should I apologize?” he questioned.
    “ No, if you do, I may have
to do something physical and hurt you,” she breathed out a deep
sigh. “I’m not trying to be a tease” her voice wobbled and she
broke eye contact, as her eyes filled with tears. His arms
tightened, pulling her into his chest.
    “ I didn’t think that, and I
wouldn’t. We were both active participants,” his chin settled on
top of her head. The floral scent of her shampoo was wrapping
itself around him and he wanted nothing more than to nuzzle her
neck.
    He swallowed hard. “You could accuse me of
teasing you, as well, or worse, trying to get in your pants,” he
pointed out. “And on Monday, you tell Jason, he challenges me to
pistols at dawn, and then Nicole winds up a widow and you hate me
for life,” he deadpanned, getting her to giggle.
    “ Never know, she might not
wind up a widow,” she returned.
    “ Trust me, I’ve gone
shooting with Jason,” he frowned down at her. She stuck her tongue
out at him and he groaned.
    “ Lady, the things I want to
tell you to do with your tongue.”
    She gasped and her cheeks flushed.
    “ Christ, I’m sorry Bayleigh!
I shouldn’t have said that.” Heat rushed to his own face. What the
hell was wrong with him?
    She cleared her throat and stepped back. His
arms dropped, allowing her to step away. “So, I guess I’ll meet you
at your place around, say, five o’clock? To go to dinner?” she
fidgeted with her car keys, the jingling sound grated on his
nerves.
    Nerves that were calming down as her words
sunk into his overstimulated brain. She wasn’t running away.
    “ Yes. I’ll be home by five
o’clock. Oh the spare key for the back door is under the gnome on
the ledge. Call me if you get into any kind of trouble. Did you
charge your cell phone last night?”
    “ Yes, I found my charger. It
had shifted and slid inside of a shoe. My phone has a full battery
today.” She headed for the door. “I’ll see you at five, then,”
smiling over her shoulder, she stepped outside. Her footsteps
tapped out a steady beat down the steps before