Once More (Mercy Heart #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Is it a religious thing?” he asked warily. 
    “No, it’s nothing like that.  It’s not that I won’t drink.  There just aren’t many occasions or events that I make time for.  I’ve always thought drinking alcohol was a social thing, and I’m not really a social kind of person,” she answered quickly and truthfully, with just a hint of humiliation.
    The awkward silence in the room was deafening.  She swiftly turned and went into the kitchen area, keeping her hands busy with getting two glasses and filling them with ice from the freezer in the corner, the cool air doing nothing to resolve the heat of the blush on her face.  As she turned to ask Clem if he’d like water or a soda, she was startled to see him standing in the kitchen as well.  
    “You know,” he said, in a low sexy voice that caused her temperature to rise impossibly higher, “I’ve already said it once tonight, but I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable or pass any judgments on you.  I just want to get to know you.”
    He bent down towards her, and she knew instantly what he planned to do.  She backed up and turned abruptly, avoiding his kiss. 
    “Thank you.  I appreciate that.  Would you like a soda or just some water?” she said, cursing her shaking voice as well as his warm, exasperated breath on her neck.  Now he is going to think I don’t like him!   Did she like him?  This dating nonsense was so foreign to her.  She didn’t know what she was supposed to do or how to act.  Her hands trembled as she poured herself a glass of water, and for a brief moment she wished she did have some kind of alcohol in her possession, as she had always heard it might help calm the nerves that were making her feel so jumpy.
    He stared down at the back of her head in disbelief.  Why had she turned away from him?  He was fairly certain that her introversion wasn’t a façade, though he did wonder for a moment if she was playing games with him. Surely that wasn’t the case, as he was almost positive that her shyness was genuine.  What was causing her to be so shy?  He placed his hands on her upper arms and began gently caressing her to soothe whatever tension she was feeling, but her immediate reaction was an increased stiffness.  Was she holding her breath?  He turned her around, and saw her biting her bottom lip in an effort to mask the trembling, though her attempt was unsuccessful. 
    Before he could speak, she whispered, “I don’t kiss…”, but then she stopped.
    He continued for her, stroking a wayward curl from her face, “On the first date?”
    “Um…well, that’s not entirely the case though it does seem to be accurate at this point,” she said, focusing her eyes on his chest so she didn’t have to look into his eyes. 
    “What are you saying?” he asked, and then, as if the realization had just hit him, his eyes widened as he whispered, “You’ve never been kissed, have you?” 
    Her tremulous silence was his answer, though it left him dumbfounded.  How is that even possible that this beautiful woman standing in front of him had gone her whole life without someone giving her such a simple, affectionate gesture?   He hooked his finger under her chin, pressed her head up and then, with a commanding purpose, he leaned down and brushed her lips with his own once, then twice.  By the third swipe, she hadn’t pushed him away, so he crushed his mouth onto hers, his tongue probing her soft, full lips until she finally let him in.  The kiss went from sweet to steamy in no time.  His hands held her face and then roamed down her neck, to her arms and down to rest on her hips.  Unsure of what to do with her hands, she placed them on his chest and felt his muscles ripple through his t-shirt. 
    Her mind raced as the kiss continued.  She had never made time to date when she was younger, and now she was so embarrassed by her inexperience that she had continued to avoid it for fear of any awkward moments.  Now