Designing Passion Read Online Free PDF

moon,” she offered through clenched, chattering teeth.
    “We should find some shelter.” Concern filled his voice as he looked up to the flashing sky. “We’re too far from the hotel to turn back now; we’ll get caught in the storm.”
    Another flash lit up the sky, revealing a stone structure a short way down the beach. “The ruins; we may be able to stay dry in there.” He took her hand and led her toward the faded magnificence of a crumbling castle tower. A crashing bolt of forked lightning struck a tree at the top of the cliff; forcing them to run as a drenching rain began.
    Tawny clung to her date’s hand as they raced through the torrential downpour and into the stone archway of the castle tower.
    Panting with exhaustion, she wiped the cold wetness away from her face and smoothed down her saturated dress with trembling hands, pressing and ringing out the heavy material. The excess water dropped onto the hardened soil and stone slabs. The saturated coat over her shoulders seeped down her exposed breasts.
    “I guess it didn’t help much after all; let me get that for you.” A soft laugh emerged as he collected it from her shoulders, dropping it on the ground.
    “No, I suppose it didn’t. It’s dark in here.” Face to face with her suitor, the heat of his breath on her face quickened her yearning as she eyed the silhouette of his chiseled face.
    “I have a lighter.” The glow of the dancing flame glistened on the moisture trickling down his face and dripping from his hair. He paused in front of her, inspecting her cleavage with ravenous eyes.
    With the flickering lighter in one hand, the masked rogue brushed a strand of wet hair back from her cheek. Slowly, he trailed his fingers down her neck and along the outline of her dress. Tawny’s eyes followed his fingers to find the fabric had altered with the wetness of the material. It now gripped tighter to her chest, augmenting her fleshy mounds. Her muscles shivered and tensed wherever his fingers drew near. The internal tremble resonated throughout her body at his single touch.
    “Well I’ll be damned.”
    “What?” She shuddered as he stepped away.
    “It looks like we aren’t the only ones who have been here to explore.” Taking the light with him, he walked across the floor and clattered around.
    “What is it?”
    Another spark then a steady, bright glimmer.
    “Candles, lots of candles.” The mystery man lit wax tapers in iron candelabras soon illuminating the tower.
    “Wow, this is rustic, but beautiful.” Tawny walked around, inspecting the crumbling walls with her fingers, and eying the array of survival tools for their unexpected refuge.
    “Unbelievable, there’s a fireplace, too, and dry wood. It’s like someone expected us to end up here—” His voice trailed off. “Jackson, you son of a…” He shook his head, grinning.
    “Jackson?” Tawny joined him at the fireplace, shaking and chilled to the bone, watching as he stacked the pieces of wood into a tepee, pulling old papers from a box and crunching them up.
    “A well-meaning friend.” He snickered. “He knew I would explore this place. I have a thing for old ruins and—adventure.”
    “Oh.” She moved closer to the building orange flame and rubbed her cold wet hands together, trying to warm up. Hiding the chatter of her teeth wasn’t as easy as she had hoped.
    “You must be frozen.” He stood up, took her shaking hands into his, and chafed them briskly, creating warmth.
    “Thank you.”
    Giving an appraising gaze, he reached for her mask. Tawny reeled back, holding it in place, avoiding his hands.
    “I’m sorry—” she muttered when she caught the surprise in his expression.
    “It’s okay. I don’t really want to show myself either. It’s just, your eyes—I was tempted to look more closely. I can’t explain it, but I’m feeling so drawn to you.”
    “I’m sorry, I’m not good at this, and it’s been a long time for me.” She stepped closer, looking up