Awaken to Pleasure - By Nalini Singh Page 0,11

be turned against her. She expected to see amusement in those dark eyes, but something else awaited her.

Desire.

Hot, rippling desire.

Scorching desire.

She was familiar with desire - Jacksoninspired dreams of such erotic power they left her drenched in sweat. But she was even more familiar with desire in men's eyes. After she'd turned fourteen, her mother's boyfriends had looked at her with eyes hot with wanting. Then there had been that ... she didn't like to think about that much. It still made her feel dirty and used.

"Cara."Jackson's husky whisper sent shivers racing through her, but she couldn't move away.

He tipped up her face with a finger under her chin and then bent down to press his lips gently against hers. Instinctive defense mechanisms kicked into place and she stood still, not fighting but not responding either. Frustration gnawed at her stomach as she realized that despite her age and knowledge ofJackson, childhood terrors still had a stranglehold over her.

He broke the kiss. "My apologies. I did not realize that you did not accept my kiss."

So formal, she thought, so icy, when his lips had been warm and soft. She felt suddenly bereft but knew it was her own fault - the fruit of cowardice. "I accepted."

He braced his right hand on the doorjamb, his face expressionless in a way she hated. "Like a statue. I won't touch you again if that is what you prefer."

That option didn't sound good to her. Nibbling on her lower lip, she looked down at the lush grey carpet and then backup. "I don't deal well with men wanting me." While she didn't trustJackson's desire, she trusted his intellect. He would never judge her for her fear, not when he'd been hurt so much by others. "I

... had some bad experiences when I was younger." She hadn't meant to admit that much but couldn't bringherself to regret the confidence.

Jackson's protective instincts were jolted awake. "Who?" he demanded, his tone barely above a growl.

Closing the distance between them, he put one hand on her hip. He'd expected her to recoil but to his pleased shock, one fine-boned hand fluttered to rest on his bare chest. Heat engulfed his body but he ruthlessly caged the fire, aware of the fragility of her faith in his goodness.

"I don't want to talk about that right now." Her answer didn't satisfy him, but then she said, "I wanted to talk to you about the phone call."

He was placated by that evidence of her trust. For this night, it was enough. "Who was on the other end?"

"Why didn't you press for more information before?"

"I figured I had no right to know." Her face was so solemn, so lovely in the frame of midnight-dark hair.

He lovedTaylor's thick, curling mane. Dreams of the silky strands spread over his arm as she slept beside him had tormented him since their first meeting. "Do I?"

Taylorknew what he was really asking. "I don't know if I'm ready to let you into my world."

He was silent for a moment. "Why?"

"You're..." How could she admit that she was scared of what he made her feel, what he made her ache for?

"You trust me, don't you?"

The answer came easily because he'd always been far more than just her boss, no matter what she'd tried to convince herself. "I'm here." And she wouldn't be if she didn't trust him on a deep, unshakable level.

That trust was rooted in the knowledge that he'd never coerce her to do anything against her will.

Jacksonwas a protector. And she needed his protection from Lance. More importantly, Nick needed his protection. "Nick is the most precious part of my world," she whispered, making a decision.

"I know."

"He's returning from camp in a couple of days," she told him. "Do you want to come pick him up with me?"

"Yes."

Taylorfelt something change in their relationship at that moment. With her invitation, she'd accepted Jackson's claim over her and made a claim of her own. But did she have any right to him when her whole being was wracked with fear over Lance's threats to take her brother away?

"You only ever speak of Nick." One big hand stroked her hair. Instead of fear at the intimacy, she felt a shy sense of pleasure because this was annoyingly protectiveJackson. "Do you have no other family?"

"Not in truth."

"Tell me what that means, piccola ." It was a masculine demand disguised as a request.

Taylorfound that she wanted to tell him. He'd never been given any privacy with his life