Passion's Law Read Online Free PDF Page A

itself on hers. Branding her with his taste, his touch.
    He kissed like a man who intended to possess her. She returned his kiss like a woman already possessed.
    She was shocked by the way she was reacting. If any other man had dared to take such liberties, she would have cut him off at the knees with a single harsh word, a killing look, a slap across the face. But this man was kissing her breathless, and all she could do was hold on while her heart hitched, and her breathing became ragged, and her body, her flesh, her blood grew unbearably hot. She could feel her flesh melting. Her bones dissolving. Her blood singing in her veins. And her pulse pounding furiously in her ears.
    Thad knew he’d crossed a line, both personal and professional, and yet he couldn’t seem to stop. He needed, desperately, one more taste of her, one more touch. And so he lingered over her lips, struggling with an almost overwhelming desire to take her, here and now.
    Even while the thought formed, he dismissed it as the cravings of a demented fool. Ever so slowly he lifted his head and watched as she struggled to compose herself.
    Her eyes snapped open. Her lips, those soft, perfect lips, looked moist and swollen, still bearing the imprint of his. For some reason he couldn’t fathom, that pleased him enormously.
    â€œI’d like to say I’m sorry.” He was surprised at how dry his throat felt. “But that would be a lie.”
    â€œAll right. As long as we’re being honest, I’d like to say I hate you for this.” She could barely get the words out over the pressure in her throat. Her heart was still pumping furiously, her mind still clouded. “But I’m as much to blame as you.”
    â€œWell, then.” He laid his palm against her cheek and saw her eyes go wide again. His smile was slow in coming, but when it did, it changed all his features. “Next time I’ll let you kiss me first. Then we’ll be even.”
    â€œGee, thanks.” But there was no anger in her tone. Only a hint of humor. She couldn’t believe the change in him when he smiled. Those icy blue eyes warmed and heated. His mouth, so often set in hard tight lines, looked surprisingly soft. And there was a cleft in his chin she hadn’t noticed before.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Feeling stronger now, he took a step back, breaking contact.
    He handed her the book. “I think this is what started all of that.”
    â€œYes.” She closed her hands around it, holding on to it like a lifeline, wondering if her heartbeat would ever return to normal.
    He grinned. “My pleasure. If you ever need any more help reaching and fetching, just let me know.”
    They both looked up at the sound of footsteps. Joe stepped into his office and crossed to his desk. “Thad. I guess this means the cameras are installed?”
    â€œYeah. I thought I’d show you how to operate this monitor.”
    Heather remained where she was as Thad strolled to Joe’s desk and the two men went over the controls.
    After a few minutes Joe looked over at her. “You’d better learn these, too, sweetheart. As long as you’ll be living here, you have to learn how to operate the security system.”
    â€œYes, of course.” She walked closer and was forced to endure the closeness of Thad’s body as he explained the controls.
    Each time he leaned forward to turn on another switch, she felt the sizzle of heat along her spine. And wondered if he felt it, too.
    She chanced a quick glance at his face. He winked, and she felt her cheeks flame.
    Finally, when she was certain she couldn’t possibly endure being this close to him for another moment, he stepped back. “I think you’ve both got the hang of it.”
    â€œWell, if we have any questions, we’ll knowwhere to find you.” Joe began sorting through the mail on his desk, which Heather had already opened and stacked. He looked up as