Page 19 of Reaching His Heart (The Sartoris 3)

She longed to run away and to stay right there. One word. One gentle word, and she would melt into his embrace. Why was she so soft?

“I can say nice words like I used to.” The man read her mind. “But if you stay, you can do it because you wanted to. I know I can make you feel good even though—”

She kissed him, smothering his words and slid a hand over his chest, feeling the scars but actually turned on by them. She peppered his warm skin with small caresses. He tasted good, and she liked the rhythm of his heartbeat as it pounded beneath her palms.

“I know you can make me feel good,” she said. “We shouldn’t.”

Blue eyes glittered in the dim lighting that peeked through the window. “Is that your last ditch effort to resist?”

“You’re impossible, Cason.”

“Impossible to deny.” His voice dropped to a dangerous low. “Come closer and let me show you what I can do.”

* * *

“Mommmm.”

Solette opened her eyes, looked down at herself, and panicked. She didn’t have a stitch on under the sheets, and she was still lying in Cason’s bed. What in the world had she done? Just because of a stupid storm? Her career was over. Her prospects for the future were dim. Once the agency that she worked through found out she’d slept with her patient, they would probably spread the word. They might even do everything in their power to get her license revoked.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” she whispered and rolled over to bump into Cason. He lay on his back, eyes shut, and his long lashes brushed flushed cheeks. She reached out to touch his forehead but paused to take him in. His chest was bare because the sheets had slid down to his waist. She recalled how slow they had taken their lovemaking and how gently it had been because of Cason’s condition. It was good—really good. As much as she regretted her weakness she wouldn’t forget it.

She traced a finger over one of the scars on his chest. Cason had a rugged and dangerous look to him that he hadn’t had before. She’d seen pictures. Before the accident, he was a playboy, always smiling. Now, he frowned more often than not or simply offered a cold stare. She didn’t imagine after their night in each other’s arms, he would change. If he woke and made some cruel comment, it would hurt her.

She touched his head and found he was only slightly warm. A quick check of his pulse found it steady, so she climbed over him and snatched up her nightgown. At the door, she listened to see if she heard anything. The call for “Mom” hadn’t been repeated, and she began to think she’d just dreamed it. Maybe if she hurried to her room, no one would be the wiser about her night’s activities. She eased the doorknob to the left.

“Slinking away in shame?”

She jumped but didn’t turn around. Cason didn’t speak again, and instead of facing him, she did exactly what he claimed she was doing. She slunk back to her room. The only positive thing that came out of her foolishness was that no one caught her before she made it to safety.

Solette spent the rest of the morning hiding in her room after she made sure Joseph ate with the family as had been arranged. She knew she’d have to show her face at some point, but she hoped Cason would somehow not need her that day. Then she could spend the rest of the time trying to get her mind together.

Unfortunately, close to lunchtime, someone knocked on the door, and without waiting for an answer, Joseph stuck his head in the door. “Mom, are you going to hide in here all day?”

She frowned at him. “No one’s hiding.”

He shrugged and walked into the room, leaving the door wide open. Kids! “Joe, close the door.”

“Joseph, Mom. And we’re going anyway.”

“Going where?”

“Mr. Cason wants us to have lunch with him.”

Her stomach dropped. “We?”

“Yup, we’re going to eat in a room that he says has a secret passage to the second floor and then up to the secret third level.”

“Joseph, I’ve never noticed a third level to the mansion. Is it invisible?”

“Mom, be serious.” He looked at her as if she had challenge written on her forehead.

“Well, it sounds like he’s more willing to come out of his room today.” Goodness, had her sleeping with him brought on that much willingness to live? She had no idea her hoohoo had so much power. Guilt again washed over her. This was no time to joke about her situation. Cason probably didn’t call her to have lunch with him to shame her about unprofessional conduct. He wouldn’t bring the subject up at all in front of Joseph, would he? She wasn’t so sure.

“Come on, Mom. I’m hungry.”

She sighed and stood to slip her shoes on. “You ate breakfast, didn’t you?”

“Forever ago. A growing man needs food.”

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