A Reason to Stay (Oak Hollow) Read Online Free PDF Page A

wasn’t enough. One split second moment of bliss was not enough.
    The dull ache in her stomach that was a constant companion whenever Jake was near began to grow. It was like a monster throbbing inside her. It expanded from her middle to around her heart, branching out to her legs and arms until her entire body was filled with a pulsing, aching need for Jake. Warning bells went off in her brain. Don’t do it, they cried. He was just being comforting. It was just a kiss. It didn’t mean anything to him.
    But Ellie was beyond listening. It didn’t matter anymore if it was just a kiss, if it didn’t mean anything to him. She’d tasted a tiny bit of him, and she wanted, no, she needed more. Friendship be damned! It was probable that once they parted company tomorrow their friendship would be doomed anyway. Oh, they might call occasionally; maybe he would come to visit once or twice. But then they would get busy, and it would fade out. At least now she would know what it felt like to be kissed by him. But that hadn’t been a kiss, not a real kiss, not near enough to know what it really felt like to be in his arms.
    Wordlessly, and secretly praying she hadn’t read the signals all wrong, Ellie leaned into Jake. The moment their lips met his arms flew around her, dispelling all of her fears of rejection.
    Though it had been Ellie who had initiated the kiss, Jake quickly took control. Shoving his fingers into her hair, he pulled her closer.
    This kiss was nothing like the first. The shy exploration was gone, replaced by an almost violent passion, a need they couldn’t put to words. They drank of each other, tongues warring, plundering.
    Coherent thought fluttered from Ellie. She was a mass of raw emotional need, the need to taste and touch. Her arms had wrapped themselves around Jake of their own volition, and now her hands were exploring him through his t-shirt. Even through the thin material, his heat burned into her, beckoning her. It only took her a moment to slide her hands under the material and come into direct contact with his hot, smooth skin.
    As he tore his mouth from hers and trailed his tongue up to her ear to nibble on its lobe, her fingers played over the sharp contours of muscle in his back and chest. A deep, throbbing ache began between her legs. She leaned further into him, wanting to touch every inch of his body, but his hand came up between them. At first, Ellie thought he was pushing her away, and a deep sorrow began in her heart. But as she felt him gently cup her breast, the sorrow turned into hot desire.
    His touch set her on fire through the thin material of her nightshirt. Her breasts swelled and her nipples hardened under his skillful caress. She was sure steam would be rolling out of her ears any second now.
    Gently he pushed Ellie back on the couch, following her down, his lips never leaving the spot on her neck where he was tasting and licking. Grasping the hem of his shirt, she tugged upwards, wanting it out of her way so she could fully explore and touch him. He pulled away just long enough to peel off the shirt and toss it aside. The sight of him leaning over her, his chest bare and his eyes dark with desire, made Ellie’s mouth go dry.
    He lowered himself back down to her, but instead of returning his lips to hers, he brought them to her breast. One hand kneading her breast, pinching the nipple into a tight little nub, he covered the other with his mouth, wetting the material that clung to it. Fire shot through Ellie, turning her blood into rivers of molten lava. Jake's free hand was skimming up her thigh, but stopped at the hem of her nightgown. Putting one hand on the cushion on either side of her head, he pushed himself up and leaned over her.
    "Ellie, if you want me to stop, you have to say so right now."
    She stared up at him, her fuzzy mind not quite understanding. Her, want him to stop? Was he out of his mind? That was the last thing she wanted!
    He went on, "I want to take this shirt