Night Visions (Night Series) Read Online Free PDF

like it did that day on the dock. He resisted the urge to reach out and wrap a silky curl between his fingers. And her eyes… He could get lost in those big brown eyes. It took every ounce of strength he had to not grab her and pull her into his arms. He knew he needed to be patient. It was going to take time for her to trust him again. He couldn't do anything to jeopardize that. Unfortunately, the one thing he didn't have was time.
    Now he needed to figure out a way to convince her to leave with him. He had hours behind the wheel to formulate a plan, but seeing her now, his scripted verse vanished. Time should have healed her wounds, but her emotions slammed into him. Doubt crept up with a vengeance at the shimmer of tears in her eyes. He wished she would scream at him, slap him, pound on his chest. Anything but tears. He deserved this punishment. Deserved to feel his heart ripped to shreds as her lip trembled. He had betrayed his best friend. Had been the sole cause of her pain. He needed to fix this.
     
    * * *
     
    Mouth gaping open, Sam could only stare at the man before her. Her lips tried to form words, but they lay trapped in her throat. Only Ian called her Sammie. He told her she would be his Sammie forever. But forever never came.
    Ian.
    It felt like the air had been sucked out of her lungs. Leaving her hollow inside. If she took two steps she would be in his arms. How many nights had she dreamed of him holding her, only to wake screaming when he was torn away? Ginger was there to make things right. Countless nights she would curl up next to her, nuzzling her until the tremors subsided. Or until Sam fell back into a restless sleep.
    But Ginger couldn't protect her from this. No one could.
    “I can't do this,” she moaned, not ready to dredge up all of those old feelings. A steady thrum began in her head, working its way to her stomach until it churned in denial.
    Oh God. Please don't let me throw up .
    Sam blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. The first sign she was on the verge of losing it. She should run now, before her heart betrayed her. A coward's way out. But better than making a mistake she would regret later.
    As she spun toward her house, Ginger bumped into her legs. Sam flung her arms out for balance, grabbing the first thing her hand connected with. Ian's chest. Her attempt to pull her hand away failed as he linked his fingers through hers, anchoring her to him. He caressed her knuckles, each pass leaving her breathless.
    “Please, Ian. Let me go,” she whispered, pleading for him to understand the tornado of emotions twirling through her.
    Ian's eyes never left hers. His smile vanished, his mouth now pinched with worry. Could he possibly still care? What did it matter now? She refused to give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn't deserve it. Not after six years.
    She tried to pry her fingers free, but might as well have been fighting with a bear trap. His other arm slipped around, pulling her closer. The heat of his hand warming the small of her back, unyielding in its affect on her.
    Being this close to him, feeling his arms wrapped securely around her, sent a tidal wave of memories crashing over her. Her hands fisted, gripping his shirt. Holding him tight as if he were a lifeline, the only thing keeping her from drowning. She buried her head into his warm, solid chest, feeling the rapid thump of his heart against her cheek. Inhaling his all too familiar musky scent, sobs poured out. As hard as she fought to keep it from happening, all of the pent up emotions unleashed on his shoulder.
    She felt his arms tighten around her. If not for them, she would be in a puddle at his feet. His hand moved up to caress her hair, causing her skin to tingle. Her mind screamed to walk away, but her heart begged her to hold on and never let go.
    After what seemed like an eternity, Sam eased back. Not wanting to break contact with him, but feeling embarrassed for soaking his shirt with her tears.