“Oh. Psychometry. Yeah, I’ve heard of that,” Max mumbled sleepily.
Sarah closed her eyes. Hope spiraled through her solar plexus. “You believe me?”
His hand flattened out against her stomach. “Sure.”
Her abdomen flared to life. A feminine need ripped along her nerves. She’d forgotten what that felt like. She cleared her throat, opening her eyes into darkness. “You’re the first man I’ve told.”
“Oh.” His lips on her skin made her bite back a groan. “That explains why there’s no mention of a boyfriend in your file.”
Well, she had dated some. “People don’t like it when you can tell so much about them from just touching an object.” It was why she never shared her gift. “I learned to control it—through meditation and practice. Unless I’m really stressed, I can shield myself from most images.”
“But you can’t get intimate with someone with such a big secret between you, now can you?” Max stretched and slid his knees more securely behind hers. “I guess that’s why you became a teacher? Kids have their emotions right out on the surface—no big secrets.”
“Yeah.” She missed the kids. Missed teaching.
“You sound sad. Want to talk? Let it all out.”
Her smile came naturally. “Let it all out?” Who the hell was this guy? A guy who’d easily killed four monsters shouldn’t be so ... well ... likeable. “It’s just odd to talk about psychometry like it’s normal. I mean, that’s why my mom left.”
“Your mom left you?”
“Yeah.” Sarah had dealt with the anger and sadness a long time ago. But every so often, both crept up on her. “She was addicted to drugs and sometimes, when she was really high, she thought the devil had marked me with the weird gift.”
“Ah, sweetheart. I’m sorry.” Max brushed a gentle kiss on her ear. Comforting.
She shrugged. “One day, when I was two, she dropped my brother and me off at my grandpa’s and never looked back. I don’t even know if she’s still alive.” Probably not.
“But you have a brother.”
“Half brother. He hates me.” The words rang true. Andrew had always hated her. “Grandpa took us both in, but he and Andrew weren’t really related. I think Andrew blames me for our mother leaving.” For some time, Sarah had blamed herself.
“That’s just wrong.”
Enough with her sad tale. “Do you have family, Max?”
“Nope. My mother died when I was young, and my father was a real bastard who liked to hit. Had a problem with vodka.” Max’s tone stayed level.
“I’m sorry, Max.” That explained the old scars on his back. They were both alone. She snuggled closer into his warmth.
“No worries.” His breath brushed her ear and she fought a shiver. “Can you get images, or history, from all objects?”
“Usually.” Vibrations tickled her skin, and she let them in. “Many people have had wild sex on this cot.”
He stiffened.
Why in the world had she said that? She closed her eyes, yet the sight of his hard body flared to life behind her lids. “You’re hot, Max. This place gives me ideas.”
His heated exhale whispered across her neck. “If that’s an invitation, you need to be more specific and know exactly what you’re getting, sweetheart.” His breath lowered to a huskiness that had her thighs clenching together.
Curiosity followed need.
She was so not extending an invitation. What was she, certifiable? Again? “What do you mean?”
“I’m not the teddy bear I look like.”
She snorted. Teddy bear? “You look like a genetically enhanced killing machine created by a desperate government after an apocalypse.”
“Like I said, teddy bear.” He settled more securely around her. “I like large women ... females who can take it all night and are happily unable to walk the next morning. When I leave.”
Her nipples hardened. What the hell? His statement was not a turn-on. Okay, maybe the “all night” part was intriguing. “I’m large.” Her mouth had a life of its own.
He chuckled. “You’re tall. Slender and delicate.”
Was the guy blind? She had more curves than a racetrack—had always wanted to lose that last twenty pounds. Something feminine, something deep inside, sighed at his words. “We are not having sex.”
“Okay.” His lips skimmed her nape. “How about a kiss good night?”
Chapter 3
Sarah wanted that kiss. No sense in lying to herself. When was the last time she’d been kissed? A long time ago ... before being sent to the institution. Maybe she was crazy. Only insanity would have her rolling over to face him. “Okay.”
Max’s eyes cut through the darkness. So oddly light. Earlier his eyes had seemed to be darker than dark, yet surrounded by night, they almost glowed. A calloused hand swept hair away from her cheek, smoothing down to cup her jaw.
Anticipation skittered down her spine.
He leaned in, his mouth brushing hers.
Firm. Warm, sexy... . his lips heated her. He feathered a kiss on each corner of her mouth, taking his time, his air of restraint spiraling her need higher. She let him play, the breath catching in her throat.
Smooth, sure, he slanted his lips over hers, enclosing and seizing control.
It was the sexiest thing she’d ever felt.
His tongue nudged her lips open and he slid in to explore, his lips working hers. He released her jaw, sliding his hand down to settle in the small of her back, tugging her into heat and hardness.
She sighed. Eyes closing, both hands tunneled into his thick hair. Electricity lit her nerves on fire. She returned the kiss, pressing against him, need and want mingling into something only he could satisfy.
He deepened the kiss, a low growl in his throat. The hand at her waist flexed. Smooth, slow, so damn sexy, that hand slid inside the blanket and wandered. Flesh against flesh. Goose bumps rose on her stomach as he caressed north to palm her breast.
She sighed, arching into his hold.
With a twist of his wrist, he captured her nipple, rolling it between his calloused fingers.
Shock tensed her muscles. Fire zapped straight to her clit. She gasped into his kiss, then leaned back, her lips still tingling. Her eyes opened, widening on his. Lust, determination, knowledge—all swirled in his oddly light eyes.
A sudden thought occurred to her—his strength, his power was so much more than hers. And damn if her core didn’t heat more.
Keeping her gaze captive, he tugged her to him. Just enough to show dominance, just enough to catch her breath in her throat. Fire. Her eyes fluttered closed. Need flashed way beyond want.
Her mind spun, and reality disappeared.
A low growl rumbled from him—the sound full of hunger and frustration. Then he released her, and drew her blanket back together, hands fisting on the ends.
She gave a small gasp of protest, opening her eyes.
Desire and danger stamped hard on his rough face.
Butterflies zinged to life in her belly. Her body ached. Nerves screamed for relief.
“Sarah.” Gravel churned in his voice. “I’m going to roll you over, and you’re going to sleep.”
The erection pressing against her stomach guaranteed the man didn’t want to sleep. “Why?”
“Because the other option is in two seconds, you’re going to be flat on your back, getting fucked within an inch of your life. You’re not ready for that.”