Read Online Truth or Dare by Janis Reams Hudson - Free Book Online Page A

he was the first man she'd kissed since someone had nearly raped her.  He'd been so intent on his own pleasure, he hadn't worried about being gentle.  He'd let his hunger for her get control and fog his brain.  "I feel like such a bastard."
    "And I feel like a total fool."
    "You have nothing to feel foolish about.  What happened was not your fault."
    "It wasn't yours, either, Jared."
    Logically, Jared might someday be able to convince himself of that.  Someone from Rachel's past had traumatized her, attacked her, nearly raped her.  The rage that surged through Jared at the thought made him want to find the man responsible and make him pay.  With his life.
    But when he looked around the room, the only man present was Jared Morgan.  No matter what she said, he would always blame himself for that look of terror in her eyes.
    "Jared," Rachel said.  "I mean it.  It wasn't your fault.  Please don't blame yourself."
    Jared brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.  "Get some rest.  If you want to skip the meeting tomorrow — "
    "No.  I'll be fine."
    So she said.  But he wondered.
    *  *  *  *
    When the phone rang at seven the next morning, Rachel shot straight up, surprised to realize she'd actually fallen asleep sometime during the night.  She answered the wake – up call, then lost any semblance of alertness.  Groggy from only a few hours of sleep, she groped her way through the darkness to the bathroom.
    She flipped on the light, then groaned as a thousand needles of pain shot into her eyes.  Two giant hammers took up a rhythmic pounding inside her head.  A glance at the mirror confirmed that she looked as bad as she felt.
    She'd spent most of the night shivering in the aftermath of her panic, tossing and turning, trying to forget.  Sutton, Hank, Jared, Jared's mother.  The world's longest elevator ride.  The world's most disastrous dinner.  The world's most devastating kiss.  The terror that had followed.  There were a lot of things to forget.
    Jared's kiss had been so sweet, so hot.  And then she had panicked.  Damn you, Carl Sutton, what have you done to me?
    How was she ever going to face Jared again?
    I won't, she told herself.  At least, she wouldn't face him again the way she had last night — without her disguise, her protection.
    He hired a bag lady, and that's what he was going to get.  If he wanted a fashion model, he could damn well find one somewhere else.  If he wanted a normal woman who could share a simple kiss without go ing berserk, he'd have to look elsewhere for her, too.
    With her mind made up, Rachel showered, then resumed her hated disguise.  It was still early when she was dressed and ready to go.  She didn't want to wait for Jared.  She'd rather face him in a conference room full of people than here, alone, in her room.
    *  *  *  *
    Jared stepped from the shower, tucked the towel around his waist, and frowned at his blurred image in the steamy mirror.
    What the hell had happened last night?  Had that really been Rachel?  Was that gorgeous creature with a body that would make a monk break his vows really his secretary?  Had he held her?  Kissed her?  Had she really responded to him the way no woman had before?  And now that her disguise was out of the way   .   .   . now what?  Go on as before?  As if nothing had changed?
    But something had changed.  Last night they'd crossed a barrier he'd never crossed with someone who worked for him, but it was a barrier he'd gladly cross again — with Rachel.
    Rachel.
    He closed his eyes and pictured her as she'd been last night, all golden and soft and desirable.
    It was a full minute before he remembered how the night had ended.  He swore at himself viciously.  He should have known better, dammit.  The disguise, the fear in her eyes when he'd discovered her deception, her half – hearted explanation of the wig and glasses.  He should have known it was more serious than that.
    He looked in the