EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by Debby Conrad Read Free Book Online

Slowly, her gaze climbed up his lean, hard body until she met angry, black eyes.
    Her scream stuck in her throat. That was the last thing she remembered before the room faded to black.
    #
    “Aw, shit!” Griffin swore, running his hands through his hair and releasing an audible sigh.
    He hadn’t meant to scare her, or had he? Either way, he certainly hadn’t meant for her to faint. Shaking his head in disbelief, he scooped her up off the ratty ass carpeting and carried her to his old bedroom.
    She didn’t weigh much more than she had at fifteen, in spite of the curves that had come with womanhood. Her wispy bangs brushed his cheek and he breathed in the scent of her shampoo and skin. He remembered that smell. It was sweet. Like apricots, and maybe a hint of vanilla.
    He deposited her on the bed, hearing the old mattress squeak in protest. Grabbing a blanket from the closet, he draped it over her body, tucking it around her sides and under her feet.
    Lifting the shade a few inches, the daylight came seeping in, and the dust mites danced in mid-air. Part of her face was now in shadow.
    While he waited for Hollin to recover, he studied her. She was still gorgeous. Shoulder-length, silky, blond hair framed her oval face and fanned across the pillow. Her dark lashes rested against her delicate cheekbones. There was a soft, coral shade on her sweet, curled lips and beside them that tiny mole that had always driven him crazy with lust.
    He propped his large frame against the doorway in case she had any ideas of trying to escape. As she started to come to, her turquoise eyes slowly zoomed in on him. And then she gasped, a look of horror crossing her beautiful features.
    A part of him wanted to offer comfort, protection. The other part wanted to punish her for what she’d done to him. He’d gone to prison for three years because of her.
    If only he hadn’t touched her in the first place. But that was a moot point now. He’d been obsessed with her from the first time he’d seen her. Although he was four years older, and should have known better, he’d thrown caution to the wind when it came to Hollin.
    She bolted upright, her eyes widening with fear. “What do you want?” she asked, her voice a hoarse whisper.
    “I was about to ask you the same thing.”
    Her gaze darted nervously around the room as she jerked one arm free from the blanket. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, and watched him warily.
    “Answer me, Hollin. What the hell are you doing here?”
    Her voice was small, weak. “Nothing.”
    “Stop lying! I’ve had enough of your lies to last me a lifetime.”
    She frowned, narrowing her eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”
    “It wasn’t me,” he said, pushing away from the door frame and taking a step toward the bed. “It wasn’t me that night, and you know it.”
    She held his menacing gaze for several moments, then looked past him to the door. He noticed the moisture building in those turquoise eyes.
    “Go ahead, try to make a run for it,” he said, sweeping an arm wide in invitation. “But we both know you won’t make it.” He dug in his pocket for her car keys and jangled them. “That was stupid, leaving your keys in the car.” He tucked them back in his pocket for safekeeping.
    “People know where I am. Brad. Rachel. They’ll be looking for me.”
    His voice hardened ruthlessly. “Do you know your lips quiver when you lie?”
    She chewed on her top lip, then burst into tears. “Please,” she begged, her voice broken and brittle, “let . . . me . . . go.”
    Watching her cry and sob made something twist and turn inside him. Griffin’s heart began to shatter. “Jesus, Hollin. I’m not the monster you think I am.” He went to her, sat on the edge of the bed, the worn mattress nearly collapsing with his weight. “Please don’t cry.”
    He reached for her, wanting to pull her into his arms and hold her.
    Big mistake.
    It all happened so fast he hadn’t seen it coming.