Take Me Back Read Online Free PDF

immediately reminded of MJ and Maddie telling me they saw an orb and thought it was a ghost. Ingrid’s ghost.
    I lean forward until my nose hits the screen. Could it be her? Did I bring her back in boxes of old dishes and pots and pans?
    The light nears, and I hear the crunch of dry leaves and mulch underfoot. Then you step out into the clearing and look up at the window. Right at me.
    But you can’t see me in the darkness of the bedroom.
    I watch you cross the lawn in long strides, scanning your flashlight back and forth. Your dark, brooding, handsome face catches the light and my stomach flutters. I’ll never not get butterflies when I see you. You affect me like no other man ever has or ever will.
    When you disappear around the corner, I turn and wait until I hear you climb the stairs. I hold my breath and listen for the door to open. When it does, I hurry and climb back in bed, close my eyes, and pretend to be asleep.
    I don’t know what to say to you right now.
    You step into the doorway of the bedroom and stop. I can feel your eyes on me, staring at my back, probably contemplating waking me. I take deliberate, measured breaths like I’m asleep.
    “Rachael,” you say. “I know you’re not asleep. I saw your shadow in the window.”
    Oh damn, now I’ve not only lied to you, but I’m avoiding you by pretending to be asleep. “I’m awake.”
    The opposite side of the bed sinks with your weight and I roll over to face you. My heart slams against my rib cage at the desperate look on your face. “Merrick, I’m s—”
    “No.” You hold up a hand. “Rachael, I’m the one who’s sorry. I was pissed that you left without telling me, but I know why you did. It was my fault. You couldn’t tell me. I made you feel like you had to sneak around behind my back with this whole Ingrid thing.”
    You lie down beside me and run your fingers through my hair. “I’m so sorry,” I say. “I should have told you. There’s no excuse for it.”
    “Shh…” You pull me to you and hold me tight against your warm chest. You smell like laundry detergent and limes. I breathe deeply and feel myself relax. No more tears. You’re here. We’re going to be okay.
    “I’ll never let you sleep here alone.” Your voice rumbles in my ear pressed to your chest. “This is
our
place. Not mine. Not yours. Ours.” You press your lips to the top of my head and nuzzle your nose in my hair.
    I tangle my legs with yours, needing to be closer. “Thank you for being here. I didn’t know what to do. I thought I’d ruined everything… ruined us.”
    You pull me back and take my face between your hands. Your dark, serious eyes probe mine. “There’s no ruining us. Don’t ever think that.”
    My eyes well with tears because my emotions are overflowing. “I love you,” I whisper. “I’m sorry I’m not good at this. I’ve only had one other relationship…”
    You laugh and wipe my tears with your thumbs. “There’s nobody worse at relationships than me. You know that. You’re our only hope.”
    I laugh through my tears because I know you’re joking, even if you are terrible at relationships. “We’re in so much trouble.”
    You kiss me, laughing with me as our lips meet.

Chapter Seven
    Our laughter relieves me, and your kisses soon deepen, spurring a desire in me to be as close to you as possible. I shove my hands up your shirt, bunching the hem as I go. You tear it off over your head and do the same with my sleeveless slip of a nightgown.
    Your hands run over my chest, pulling at my nipples, making electric currents of sensation zing between my legs. I hook my thumbs in the waistband of your basketball shorts and pull them down along with your boxer briefs. “Help me,” I say, panting between desperate kisses. “Kick them off.”
    You do at the same time I tug my panties off and throw my leg over your hip. I grasp your cock. You’re so hard and I’m so needy. I guide your tip through my folds to my