Touch of Fire Read Online Free PDF Page B

Nicole folded the bath towel and hung it over the rail.
    Garrett placed his hand on her shoulder. “It was something. You’re something.”
    “Flirt with me all you want, mister. I cooked. You’re doing the dishes. It’s only fair.”
    “Gladly.”
    *****
    “Night, cutie.” Garrett turned off Sam’s bedroom light and kissed her on the forehead.
    “She’s so sweet,” Nicole whispered. “You must be very proud.”
    He looked up to see her leaning against the wall in the hallway. Garrett softly shut the door to his daughter’s room. “She’s everything to me. I wish…”
    “What?”
    “I wish I could give her what she deserves. There are so many ways that I fail her.”
    “It’s normal for parents to doubt themselves. Let me assure you, you’re doing a fine job.” Nicole walked toward the bedroom.
    “She should have more.”
    “Shh.” Nicole crooked her finger, beckoning him. “Close the door.”
    Garrett followed her into his room, then turned toward the door and with great trepidation pushed it partially closed.
    Nicole searched through the shopping bag Brenda and Angela had left, coming up with a toothbrush. “Be right back.”
    Left alone in his room he was at a complete loss as to what to do. He followed her to the bathroom, watching from the open doorway as she cupped her hand under the stream of water, capturing some and rinsing her mouth.
    Nicole glimpsed him in the mirror and jumped.
    “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
    She dabbed her mouth with the hand towel. “It’s all right.”
    “I’m…not sure what to do.”
    “About?” She patted her face dry with the towel.
    He hesitated before answering. “The sleeping arrangements.”
    “Do you have any moisturizer?”
    “Men don’t moisturize.”
    When she responded with a raised eyebrow, he caved. “In the medicine cabinet, nothing fancy mind you.”
    “Of course not.” Nicole retrieved the bottle from the medicine cabinet, poured a dollop into the palm of her hand, and began to apply it to her face. Before she could finish the lights went out, shrouding the space in darkness.
    “Power failure?” she asked nervously.
    His heart was hammering in his chest. “No. I—I can’t do this with you looking at me.”
    “Do what?”
    “I want to sleep in my bed,”
    Nicole leaned back into his chest and tilted her head to the side. “I can take the couch.”
    “You don’t have to.” Garrett resisted the urge to run his finger down the length of her neck.
    “No?”
    “I feel like I’m suddenly back in junior high. My heart is beating so hard I swear it’s going to break my chest. I can walk through fire, but I can’t bring myself to…”
    Nicole turned around. She was trapped between his body and the bathroom counter. “To what?”
    “To touch you. I so want to touch you.”
    “You’ve already touched me, many times.”
    “Not in the way I want to now.” Garrett stepped backwards, retreating toward the door. “I promised Mrs. Thompson that I’d pick her up from the hospital. It’s getting late. I should—”
    Before he could finish his sentence Nicole crushed her lips to his in a smoldering kiss. Caught off guard, Garrett stumbled back into the bathroom door. He gasped as he heard it slam, concerned momentarily that it might have woken Sam. Then he felt Nicole’s tongue brushing across his lower lip, begging entrance. She pulled his head in closer, weaving her fingers through his hair. It had been so long and she tasted so sweet. For a moment he was overwhelmed with grief and sadness as he realized that he had almost forgotten how good it felt. How essential it was to be touched. How deeply satisfying it was to feel wanted.
    Nicole deepened the kiss and Garrett’s cock hardened instantly, straining against his jeans. Her tongue began to rhythmically stroke his. He felt like he was on the verge of losing control, and it felt wonderful. Garrett wrapped one arm around her waist, slipped his other hand around the back