Disarmed Read Online Free PDF Page B

sat upright quickly, and scooted into the corner of the couch, far away from Jessie. Almost off the couch.
    She was angry. It wasn’t that she never got angry before, but this time the look in her eyes crawled over Jessie’s flesh. He read her thoughts through those eyes. She was worried and in pain. He knew from the distance she’d placed between them, she needed a moment to pull herself together. She wouldn’t cry in front of him. She was too proud for that. He wanted to tell her that his retreat into his world wouldn’t be swift this time, but that would be of no use. What she was looking for was forever.
    Forever wasn’t something he could give Mavis. His forever was promised to Uncle Sam. Even if she thought it unfair, he knew she would end up like one of those women who lived on base. Waiting for men to come home, only to find that each time they returned, they’d left a little more of themselves on the battlefield.
    “Well, I better get ready for work,” she said, rising and glancing toward the door.
    “Okay.”
    He knew she was fighting back tears. Her lashes were heavy with them and her eyes held the secret to why men hate when women cry. Each time he’d hurt her was evident in their depths.
    “Call you later?” He stood, reluctantly.
    “Sure. I get off at about eight-thirty.”
    “Can I meet you there? Maybe we could take in a movie or something?” He was grasping.
    “Um, I’m a little tired right now, so by the time I get off work I’m sure I’ll be beat.”
    “Right. Okay. Well, have a good day, then.”
    Mavis turned away.
    Jessie panicked. A sickening thought popped into his mind. I may lose her . Grabbing her around her waist, he pulled her backward to him. Her soft body pressed against his chest. Running his hands through her hair, he twisted her to face him. The smooth skin of her face cool on his fingertips. Closing his mouth over hers, he licked her lips, then slid his tongue inside her mouth. A tiny whimper escaped her, the sound musical in Jessie’s ears. He wanted to make love to her mouth. Kissing her became the singular focus of his body, his mouth massaging and suckling her.
    Something changed during their kiss. Her body stopped relenting and pressed closer to his. As he pulled away from her, she stumbled forward, seeking more of his embrace. He could have stayed, but he wanted her to say the word. As he stepped away, her reaction told him that it was killing her inside. The expression in her eyes grew darker as she folded her arms in front of her.
    “Call me if you change your mind about that movie.” He turned, walking out onto the porch and forcing himself to concentrate on placing one foot in front of another.
    She didn’t say a word when he left, even though Jessie needed her to run after him.
    Placing his helmet over his head, he took a seat on his bike. Before pulling away from the house, Jessie glanced up and caught Mavis staring at him from the doorway. She looked as if she were about to shatter into a million pieces.
    He didn’t want her to love him, but a part of him wanted to possess her. It was a difficult situation to find himself in but he was doing the right thing, protecting her from a lifetime of sorrow should he die in the war, or even worse, if he were to come home disabled and broken. She would have to pick up all those pieces. As difficult as it was to leave her standing in that doorway confused, he needed her to understand that all he could give her was the time when he was home. A painful lesson, but one that he must teach her, slowly and carefully.

Chapter 6
    The two days since he’d spoken to her were painful. Jessie had been running, working on his father’s old car, playing Texas Hold ‘Em on his iPod, anything and everything to keep his mind off that kiss. He’d been so stupid to think it wouldn’t have the same effect on him as it had on her, but he didn’t regret it. Since that time, his balls had been so heavy with need he could nearly