Awaken to Pleasure - By Nalini Singh Page 0,13

his free hand and stroked her hair off her face, shifting his body closer to hers at the same time. "What exactly does he want?"

"Nick." Pain devastated the pure blue of her eyes to a dull shade. "I'll fight him 'till I have nothing left, but I'm afraid. He's Nick's father. I'm only his half sister." She leaned just a little into his stroking hand.

He was pleased that she saw him as a source of strength. "You've raised him."

"You don't understand. Lance isn't some riffraff - he's rich. He always was, though he never gave us a cent. I suppose he married my mother because she was so very beautiful and he wanted her. But, then, he threw her away. He didn't care about Nick then." Desperation was apparent in her too-fast speech.

"He told me that he'd remarried and had a stable home for his son. I think he only wants Nick because he can't have children with his new wife." She was shaking, as if with rage. "I can't let that happen! Lance will hurt him. I saw him hit Nick when he was a baby!" Releasing his hand, she clutched at his forearm. "I saw him!"

Gently disengaging her fingers, he took a chance and wrapped his arms around her. After a momentary hesitation, she softened. "You must not worry so, piccola . I am here." Her pain tore at him. "How rich?"

"He's a partner atHegerty Williams. He's theHegerty ." She named a prominent law firm. "He knows judges and psychiatrists. He said he'd have me declared unfit if I didn't give him Nick, and that he's convinced judges who are friends of his that I have a bad lifestyle.

"I've tried to fight it but all my motions to the court keep getting denied and his accepted. I've fought every way I can but I don't know how much longer I can stall him. I'm so scared. I can't lose Nick. I can't."

Jacksonfelt his instincts growl in warning. How dare anyone threaten this woman? This strong, beautiful woman, who, unbeknownst to anyone, belonged to JacksonSantorini . He pulled back and tilted her face up with a finger under her chin, his anger intensifying when he saw that her eyes were shiny with tears she refused to shed.

"Do you trust me, Taylor?" If she didn't, he was damn well going to teach her to, even if he had to cuddle her in his lap all night long.

She nodded. "Yes." Then she scowled. "I don't think I should've admitted that."

He was pleased with her despite her dark expression. "Then believe me when I say I'll help you."

"I'm sorry to ask this of you. I know how people always want things from you. I don't want to be like them!" Her frustration was clear.

"I know you don't think like that." He'd always had to fight her pride to give her the smallest consideration. Stroking the cool smoothness of her cheek, he said, "Come now, piccola . Where is my little tigress?"

Her full lips curved upward in a rueful smile. "I think she's in hibernation."

"That's more like theTaylorI know." Without stopping to think, he pressed a hard kiss to her lips, withdrawing the instant he remembered what he'd done. "My apologies again..." His gut twisted at the thought that he might've broken her fledgling trust in him.

Her fingers on his mouth stopped him. "I ... I don't mind when you touch me." Her eyes widened, as if she was surprised by her own words.

He was touched by the admission. "A woman should enjoy her man's kiss, baby, not merely allow it."

With her face bathed in the soft light of the moon streaking in through the window, she looked indefinably vulnerable.

"I'm not sure I know how to enjoy." Her words were brutally honest. "C-could ... you..."

He leaned closer, enclosing her with his body. "What would you like, piccola?"

"A kiss. Like it's supposed to be," she whispered.

Her words betrayed that for her, kissing had never been a pleasure. One day soon, he'd find out who had abused her, but for tonight, he would kiss her as an innocent was meant to be kissed - with tenderness and just a stroke of passion. Just enough to tantalize.

WhileTaylor's heart pounded so hard that she could feel every beat in her throat,Jacksonmoved one big hand to cradle her head and lowered his mouth to hers. Braced for pressure, all she felt was a teasing graze of lips on lips that left her with no