SeducetheFlame Read Online Free PDF Page A

washed up on the shore. Bleached and
parched.” Heaven help her. She’d gotten all maudlin in her cups.
    “Clarissa.” Ray’s impatient tone yanked her right out of
that little well of drunken self-pity.
    “I’m done. You’re never going to get over this fear you
have.” She whirled around toward the door. Escape. That was what she needed. A
clear head and to move the hell out of CTF.
    A grip pulled her back. Ray always pulled her back.
    “No. I’ve never threatened to leave before. Have I? You know
I mean what I say, when I say it. I mean it now. You haven’t followed through
on this thing between us but the first time you see me flirting with a man, you
go all green-eyed-monster on me.”
    “That wasn’t flirting.” Ray’s gorgeous mouth deepened in a
darker frown. “That was an open invitation to put his hands all over you!”
    “We hadn’t even started dancing. What hands?” She glowered
at him and the urge to teach him a lesson wouldn’t leave her. She stretched her
arm and spread her fingers wide.
    Water from Vince’s pitcher gurgled into the air. A
translucent ball the size of her fist sparkled and bobbed. Curling her fingers
in a subtle cue, the liquid flew across the room and slapped Ray in the back of
the head. Drops splashed all over, his hair soaked through immediately and his
mouth dropped open. Steam erupted around them and his eyes flickered to full
red.
    His mouth barely moved as he spoke while his jaw worked.
“What did you just do to me?”
    “Thought that dirty brain of yours could use a good washing.
Well now you’re all wet, asshole.” This was ridiculous. The man had no right to
say whom she could dance with or how she could dance. Especially since he
didn’t make his own moves.
    Ray glared as his thick brown hair dried in a woof of hot
air blasting through the room. “Listen. This is my brother’s wedding. You
should act with decorum.”
    “Oh, you mean the brother who was palming his bride’s ass
while he tongue-tied her tonsils in front of the entire reception? You’re just
jealous.”
    “I am not.” The glare went red again. His irises flared so
brightly it took her breath away. Such raw, natural beauty this rugged man had,
but he bottled it all up and kept it neat and tidy around him. “That man you
were dancing with was practically mangling your shoes.”
    “I meant your brother. Jealous of having the courage to
claim his para-talent partner. He took a chance you’re not willing to take. He
knew they’d balance because he let himself trust the woman he loves.” The
entire world seemed to settle onto her shoulders. Pain shot from the tendons in
her neck.
    “He took a chance. Not everyone is willing to risk it.”
    “Nobody else doubts me.” That was it. She couldn’t do this
with him anymore. She couldn’t deny who she was any longer. The swirl of water
danced in her head, turbulent and dark. “I can’t do this anymore. Every day you
hide from me is an insult. You don’t trust me.”
    “No.” He ran a hand over his face. “That’s not it.”
    “I’m done talking about it.” She reached the door, but the
surge of dark water overtook her. A whirlpool caught her, sucked her to the
bottom and strangled the air in her lungs. Her hands shot out and the little
bits of moisture in the air coalesced.
    Pipes groaned from the clinic room’s attached lavatory.
    “I do trust you. Calm down, Clarissa.” Flames danced in his
eyes, so alive and compelling that yellow flickered, calling her, but she
resisted.
    A wrenching and a loud ping heralded a roar. Water surged
from the bathroom and splashed into the floor. Calling to the beauty of her
element, she sought it. Collected it.
    “Stop it now. Now!”
    He couldn’t tell her what to do. It wasn’t his right. If she
wanted to fill this room with water, she would. The cold liquid sloshed around
her ankles and quickly climbed to her knees.
    “Stop it.” Ray grabbed her upper arms and shook her. “Stop
it