Parallel Fire Read Online Free PDF Page B

her, sent fire into the deepest part of her being; burrowing closer, she took a longer, deeper drink of the man’s aroma—and her entire being exploded into thousands of particles of desire. A wave of such keen need and longing swept over her that her knees almost buckled. Sliding a hand behind the small of her back, Nevin steadied her.
    Oh gods, it was the pheromones. He was covered up in them, so heady it was all she could do not to jump him without another word. It had to be the hormones from his recent maturity change.
    â€œY-you should have warned me,” she hardly managed, pressing her face into the folds of his uniform shirt—but instead her lips met warm, soft skin where his shirt had fallen open.
    One large hand skimmed along her back. “Warned you about what? That our scents would be such an explosive”—she heard him swallow—“maddening mix?”
    â€œAbout your gods-forsaken pheromones!” She bunched his uniform in both fists, yearning for another inhalation of his scent. Frustrated to an almost painful level. “Your hormones are at a fever pitch…you should have said something.” She twisted his shirt in both hands, a plaintive cry of frustration escaping her lips.
    He pulled back, staring down into her eyes and gave a light shake of his head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    â€œI felt what happened! When I scented you! I may be inexperienced, but I’m not stupid—I know about men in their maturity, how compulsively sexual you are.”
    One corner of Nevin’s full mouth turned upward in gentle amusement. “Anna, I hate to break this to you—but I’m not emitting any pheromones. What you felt?” he cupped her cheek meaningfully, tilting her face upward until her gaze locked with his. “That was just me.”
    She shook her head, intending to back away, but instead tightened one hand about his upper arm. “That’s not possible.”
    Wrapping both arms about her, he fixed her against his chest. “What have you heard, exactly, about men in their maturity?” He wasn’t mocking her; the question was gentle. Genuine. At utter odds with his purely masculine body, his intense and arousing scent that had almost leveled her to the very ground beneath them.
    â€œThat you rut like fucking stallions,” she blurted, then, wincing in embarrassment added, “Is that true?”
    â€œI wouldn’t know,” he whispered against the top of her head. “I’ve not been given the opportunity to find out.”
    She shoved at his chest, stepping backward. “Oh, just stop it, Nevin.” It seemed ridiculous to call him “sir” or bother with their military formalities. “You must think me a stupid little fool.”
    He cocked his head sideways, watching her. “Do I strike you as a man with much time for relationships? For any sort of emotional entanglements whatsoever, Anna? Truly?”
    She blew out a breath, staring at the ground between them and wishing that her face weren’t blazing so hot.
    â€œAnna?”
    Slowly she shook her head. “I’ve never known you to have any women in your life.”
    â€œI won’t lie to you,” he said softly. “I think you’d know that about me by now.”
    â€œDo you think the speculations are true?” She barely dared to look up at him. “About men of your…well, um, your age?”
    He scowled. “How old, precisely, do you think that I am?”
    â€œThirty-eight,” she volunteered easily. “You told me that day in the meeting room.”
    â€œYou remember that day?” His voice deepened, filled with emotion.
    She closed her eyes, hands trembling slightly at the memory. “Of course.”
    â€œYes, thirty-eight, and perhaps truly too old for you. In my maturity now, as you can plainly see.” He raked his fingers through the silver spiking hairs atop his