Wicked Man Read Online Free Page B

eyes
    stayed frozen upon her face. He didn’t blink. He didn’t move. She
    almost thought he didn’t even breathe.
    “Who let you in?” he finally asked.
    It was not the romantic words she was hoping for. He simply
    sat there, staring at her, and it made her a little nervous.
    “No one,” she replied and hugged herself in a protective
    gesture. “Am I bothering you? Should I go?”
    “Don’t you dare fucking move,” he said tersely. “I’ve been
    picturing you across from me for eleven years. I’m trying to
    determine if I’m hallucinating and if I am, I don’t want the fucking
    antidote.”
    Her heart melted. She knew exactly how he felt.
    “It’s me, Chadwick,” she whispered, and opened her arms.
    “I’m standing right here in front of you, but I was hoping for a hug.”
    Faster than lightning, he bolted from behind his desk to scoop
    her up into his massive arms. He pressed her into him, holding her
    tight as he bent over her smaller size and buried his face in the crook
    of her neck. His breath was hot upon her skin, sending shock waves of
    awareness down her body. He’d pinned her arms so she couldn’t hug
    him back, but it was okay because being in his arms was all she’d
    dreamed it would be.
    Perhaps it was a horrible cliché, immediately falling in love
    with someone by a single touch. She and Chadwick may have known
    each other before, but that was practically a lifetime ago. A previous
    existence where gold existed over the rainbow, and hearts and flowers
    could solve everything. Instant love was nothing but a terrible plot
    device for movies and books. But as she stood within his embrace, her
    body remembered him. Her heart tapped out his name in perfect
    harmony. And her soul… Christ! For the first time in eleven years,
    her soul felt whole. She didn’t know any other word to use to describe
    how she felt except for love.
    She already dreaded the day Billy caught up with her.

    Finally, after several moments, he let her go and took a step
    back, although he kept his hands on her shoulders.
    “What do you mean no one let you in?”
    “Don’t be angry with the boy at the gate door,” she said. “But
    you need a different security system.”
    “Hmm,” he replied. “I’ll be pissed at him later. Right now I
    can’t stop looking at you. Or touching you. I’m afraid if I do, you’ll
    disappear on me.”
    “I had to see you,” she murmured as she raised a hand and
    traced the sharp angle of his face. He closed his eyes and melted into
    her touch. Time had given him an edge he hadn’t had as a boy. The
    man before her was sexy, handsome, and he made her body ache for
    him in the most basic of needs.
    “Dear lord, Abbott,” he said softly. Achingly. “I’ve missed
    you. Where’ve you been?”
    “Everywhere,” she said simply. “But I’m here now.”
    “Yes.” He opened his eyes and she gasped at the fire that leapt
    from their depths. He cupped her face with his palms and tilted her
    head up. A predatory gleam caused her hands to shake, caused her
    body to shiver with anticipation. He ran his thumb across her lips and
    she saw his eyes followed the gesture. It made her half wonder if he
    prolonged her anxiety on purpose.
    Abbott didn’t think she could take much more of the sweet
    torture, caught in the purgatory between heaven and hell. She yearned
    for his kiss so much it was like a painful ache in her heart. She could
    barely breathe, barely think. He had such a wicked touch she felt like
    she was falling, so she closed her eyes tightly, needing to block him
    out a little to regain her footing in the world.
    “Look at me,” he commanded in a gruff voice.
    Helpless, she obeyed, and her gaze fell upon his mouth.
    Unable to stop herself, Abbott reached up and touched his face. His
    lips. With her thumb, she traced over the perfect line and they parted
    ever so slightly to kiss the pad.
    He moved his hands from her face to run down her arms, her
    waist, to settle on