From the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

self-inflicted pain, wouldn’t he be fearless in battle? Ruthless? The survival of the tribe was the first priority.”
    â€œCultural necessity,” he said and nodded. “Yes, I see what you mean.”
    â€œVisions and dreams were an essential part of their culture. Men who had strong visions often became shamans.” Turning, she began rummaging through the books on the desk. “There’s a rather good picture . . . Blackfoot tribe . . . if I can remember which book.”
    â€œYou’re left-handed,” he observed.
    â€œ Hmm? No, actually, I’m ambidextrous.”
    â€œThat could account for it,” he said wryly.
    â€œFor what?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
    â€œFor the unexpected.”
    Kasey laughed. Her laughter touched something off inside him. “You should do that more often.”
    â€œDo what?”
    â€œLaugh. You have a wonderful laugh.”
    He was still smiling, and it pulled at her. For days, she had been able to keep her feelings regulated. Picking up a cigarette, she searched for matches. “Of course, if we laugh too much in here, your mother’s going to camp on the threshold.”
    He watched her pushing through books and papers. “Why would she do that?”
    â€œCome on, Jordan. You know she thinks I plan to seduce you and abscond with half your fortune. Do you have a light?”
    â€œYou’re not interested in either project?”
    â€œWe’re business associates,” she said curtly. She moved over to the desk, still searching for matches. She could feel the lightest flutter of nerves beginning. She sought to settle them before they grew. “And though you’re very attractive, the money is a strike against you.”
    â€œIs that so?” Jordan rose and joined her. “Why? People are normally attracted to money.”
    Hearing the annoyance, Kasey sighed and turned to face him. She thought it best for both of them if she made her position perfectly clear. “Normality is relative, Jordan.”
    â€œSo speaks the anthropologist.”
    â€œYour eyes get very dark when you’re angry; did you know that? Money is very nice, Jordan. I often use it myself. But it tends to cloud reality.”
    â€œWhose reality?”
    â€œMy point exactly.” She leaned back on the desk. “People with your kind of money never really see life as it is for the majority—day-to-day struggles, budgets, creditors, coupon clipping. You’re removed from all that.”
    â€œYou see that as a defect?”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œNot your place to approve or disapprove?”
    She blew the curls out of her eyes. How had she gotten into all this? “I’ll admit it makes me nervous, but that’s a personal problem. Don’t you think that money tends to isolate the individual from everyday emotions?”
    â€œAll right.” He pulled her against him. “Let’s test your theory.”
    His mouth came to hers. It was not the kiss she had expected from him. It was hungry and possessive and demanded a complete, unquestioned response. For a moment she resisted it. Her mind was set firmly against surrendering. But her body began to heat. She heard herself moan as she drew him closer.
    There was something almost savage in the way his mouth took hers. There was no gentleness, no seduction. He sought her response, thrived on it and demanded more. She gave. Her own needs left her no choice.
    His lips left hers a moment, and she drew back, trying to clear her thoughts. “Oh, no.” He kept her tight against him. “Not yet. I’m not nearly finished yet.”
    He exploited, he ravaged, he possessed. He was pulling something from her that she was not yet ready to give. She wanted to regain herself, break free, but her arms were around him. Her mouth was determined to have more.
    His hand was rough when he took her breast. His fingers