Read Online License to Shift by Kathy Lyons - Free Book Online Page B

you’d already left.”
    She couldn’t fathom it. “Six weeks? No way.”
    He dipped his chin. A quick jerk down and to the side. He was embarrassed. So she touched his cheek, bringing his gaze back up to hers.
    “I never know if you mean what you say. Six weeks in the woods?”
    He shrugged. “Call me the original mountain man.”
    “Because you freaked out.”
    “Yup.”
    “I don’t know whether to be flattered or pissed that my naked body could freak someone out for six weeks.” A month and a half. Because of what they’d done together? Which hadn’t even been the full deed. Sure, she’d gotten off—multiple times because he gave the best oral sex she’d ever had. But when it had come time for more—for him—he’d gotten all weird and run off. “Tell it to me one more time. You freaked out why? And disappeared for how long? No bullshit.”
    He took a deep breath. “I wanted you so bad, Julie. I knew if we did… it , I’d never stop. I’d change and I’d be…” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Just trust me on this. You were here for the summer and no more. There were things you don’t know about me. I just couldn’t control it around you, so I ran. It’s hard at that age not to…you know…hurt a girl.”
    She searched his face, reading the truth in his expression. She’d thought he’d run off because he couldn’t face being with her that way. He was saying it was because the feelings were too intense. That he had wanted her too much. That was so…so… wonderful . Adolescent love is so pure and passionate. She’d always missed having a teen love like in books where the need was all encompassing. Sure, she’d felt that for him, but she had no idea about him. Or rather, when he’d disappeared, she figured he didn’t feel the same.
    What if she’d gotten it all wrong?
    She stroked her hand up his jaw, a slow caress over clenched muscle and bone. “So we both got confused back then. Care to try again?”
    He looked at her, need hot in his eyes, but his body remained still. “I can’t promise anything, Julie. I’m not going to last much longer.”
    She swallowed away the lump in her throat. “I can’t promise anything, either. I’m just here because of my father. I have a life in Chicago. Just got a good raise.”
    “Congratulations.”
    “Thanks.” She stepped closer to him. Then she dared press a light kiss to his lips. He clung to her, pressing against her, but not taking over. And certainly not devouring her the way she remembered from when she was sixteen. So she pulled back. “Mark, I’m an adult and I don’t do this ever. But I know I want to. Let’s fix what we broke years ago. Let’s do it right, okay?”
    He nodded, a quick jerk of his head. “Okay.”
    She smiled. “So—”
    She didn’t get more words out. He picked her up, swinging an arm beneath her knees. He was so amazingly strong.
    She squeaked in alarm and threw her arms around his shoulders while everything inside her went liquid with pleasure. To be held like this—so easily—and carried straight to her bed was like all her romantic and erotic fantasies coming true. Then he set her down gently without strain. And while she sank into the mattress, he came down over her. She lifted her face to his while his eyes roved over her. So intense. So hungry.
    “Mark…” she murmured, gently stroking her finger across his mouth.
    He licked her finger, a long curl of his tongue before sucking her inside. Meanwhile, his hands began to move, rolling up her waist onto her breasts. He held her in both hands and pinched her nipples. Even through her bra, she could feel the sharp bite of it, and she gasped in pleasure.
    “God, yes,” she whispered. “Do that again.”
    He paused a moment, then abruptly grabbed her tee, lifting it off her in one quick pull. A moment later, he’d unhooked her bra and set her free.
    “God, yes,” he echoed as he looked at her breasts. Then he grinned. “I’m going to do