Moon Shadows by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

on spring break once.”
    Her lips curved. “That doesn’t count.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t say that if you’d been there. Anyway, I’m glad you decided on the East Coast, on here. Then again, if you’d stuck a pin in a map and ended up in Duluth, I’d’ve found you.”
    â€œDuluth?”
    â€œWherever. It wouldn’t matter.” He reached over, laid a hand on hers. “Do you believe in fate, Simone?”
    She looked down at his hand, strong fingers over hers. “Obsessively.”
    â€œMe, too. My mother’s always after me. Gabriel, when are you going to settle down with a nice girl and give me grandchildren? When my grandmother hears her, she tells her to leave me alone. Leave the boy be, she says, he’s already in love. He just hasn’t met her yet. Now that I have, I know exactly what she means.”
    â€œIt’s a long way from a spaghetti dinner to settling down. And you don’t know that I’m a nice girl.”
    â€œOkay, tell me the meanest thing you’ve ever done.”
    Blood, spurting warm into her mouth, devouring prey while the mad hunger, the wild thrill of the hunt burned through her like black fire.
    She only shook her head. “I can guarantee it tops cheating on a history test. My trip to Europe . . .” she said slowly. “Things happened there that changed me. I’ve spent a long time dealing with that, and trying to . . . find my way back.”
    â€œA mad affair with a slick Italian who happened to be married with five children?”
    â€œOh. If only. No adulterous affairs. No affairs that mattered.”
    â€œSomething makes you sad under it all. Who hurt you?”
    â€œI never knew him. But the good that came out of it is, once I dealt with it, I swore I’d never hurt anyone in the same way. Never.” She rose to begin clearing. “Which brings me to you.”
    â€œAre you afraid I’ll hurt you?”
    â€œYou’d be the first who could, because you’re the first who matters. But—”
    â€œHold that a minute.” He got to his feet, crossed to her. With his eyes on hers, he took the plates out of her hand, set them aside. “I can’t promise not to do something stupid, or screw up. Life’s full of stupidity and screwups, and I’ve got my share. But Simone . . .” He took her face in his hands. “I’ll do the best I can. And my best isn’t half bad.”
    â€œI’m afraid of you,” she murmured. “And for you. And I can’t explain.”
    â€œI’ll take the risk. How about you?”
    He leaned in until his mouth found hers, until he found the answer.
    That punch of need, a stunning blow to the system, left him shaken and reeling. It was as if he’d waited all his life for this one kiss, that everything that had gone on before was just a prelude to this single meeting of lips. As the ache followed, he drew her closer, delved deeper. Dark and dangerous and heady, the taste of her invaded him. Conquered.
    â€œSimone.”
    â€œNot yet, not yet.”
    She needed more, for what she drew from him was hope. It was light. Bright strong beams that vanquished the shadows she lived with, day after day. Strength and heart and sweetness, the essence of him streamed into her. And soothed.
    â€œI need you too much.” She pressed her face into his shoulder, memorizing his scent. “It can’t be real. It can’t be right.”
    â€œNothing’s ever felt more real, more right, to me. Let me be with you.” His mouth moved along her jaw, taking small, tantalizing bites. “Let me love you. I want to feel what it’s like to be inside you.”
    She let out a half laugh. “You have no idea.”
    Take him, her mind murmured as his hands moved over her. Be taken. What harm could it do? Maybe love was the answer. How could that be any more irrational than