Gateway to Heaven by Beth Kery Read Free Book Online Page A

Mixed messages? Does that mean that at least part of you isn’t completely repelled by me?” he asked, a small grin pulling at his mouth.
    Megan knew that he was trying to lighten the suddenly oppressive mood. Still, his words and his composure only reminded her of all the parts of her body that were far from being repelled by Christian.
    She suddenly became acutely conscious of her breasts, of the slightly damp spot over her right nipple. She had to stop herself from reaching up to quiet the pinch of desire she felt there. It didn’t help that Christian’s gaze lowered knowingly. Sexual interest reignited like a flash fire, lighting his magnificent eyes. How was it that he seemed more aware of the sensations and reactions of her body than she herself was?
    “ Megan,” he murmured softly. “If that’s an example of a mixed message, it’s going to be well worth the wait to get your signal at a hundred percent.”
    “ Christian .”
    Laughter rumbled out of his chest. He stood and reached for her.
    “ I’m sorry,” he murmured. His embrace was warm, comforting…non-threatening. Tension slowly seeped out of Megan’s body. She placed her palms and cheek against his chest and began to enjoy the feeling of being held in his arms. She could see what hung on Christian’s gold chain from her new vantage point: a gold cross, similar to her own, but larger. It seemed strange to think that Christian had received his first communion at the same church where she had received hers. They’d murmured their confessions and received penances from the same man.
    She wondered if Christian could read her thoughts when he leaned back slightly and asked, “Megan, are you really religious?”
    She stared at him in surprise. “Why do you ask that?”
    “ Is that what this is about? You don’t want to sleep with me because of your religious beliefs?”
    Megan inhaled her incredulity and tried to speak at the same time, causing her to choke. “I never said… no , Christian. I mean, my religion does mean a lot to me. But that’s not why… I mean… I’m not a prude.”
    She stopped and tried to compose herself, taking a deep breath. “We hardly know each other.”
    His grin was devilish. “And I guess you don’t believe in getting to know each other at the same time that we’re having sex, huh?”
    Megan shook her head calmly enough, but inside, she felt like she was sinking. How could she make him understand without making a complete fool of herself? “Christian, you and I…we’re very different.”
    His facial features tensed. “Wait…is that a blow-off line?”
    She met his gaze earnestly. “No. It’s not. I just don’t think that—“
    “ What?” His grin disappeared, leaving his usual expression—hot eyes in an otherwise cold mask.
    “ We’re not alike.”
    He moved back fractionally in their embrace. It wasn’t a large movement, but Megan felt that small withdrawal deeply.
    “ What do you mean by that? How would you know whether or not we’re alike? Do you think you know something about me that you haven’t mentioned?”
    Megan stared in disbelief at his tone of stark suspicion. Irritation entered her awareness. “Of course not. Give me a little credit for being able to judge character. Just the fact that you even considered that we would sleep together when I just met you yesterday says a lot. It never even entered my mind to—”
    “ Don’t lie, Megan. It’ll be just one more sin you have to confess,” Christian said softly. He turned and picked up his jacket from where he’d draped it across the back of a chair. “I may not be as morally upright as you, but I know when a woman is turned on and when she’s not. And you were about sixty seconds and a few well-placed strokes away from exploding.”
    Her world seemed to swell and shimmer. He glanced at her and muttered an expletive. He started toward her, his hand outstretched as if to touch her, but seemed to think better of it. He raked his