Never Let Go by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page A

arms.
    “Damn it, hold still,” he murmured harshly, holding her tight against him. His breath was coming in ragged gasps, but he was far more concerned about what a sudden departure would tell the world about the state of his libido.
    “I will not hold still.”
    “Then I’ll have to makeyou,” he said ominously, slipping an arm across her bottom and tilting her into the cradle of his hips. Mallory stilled instantly, and he heard a tiny sigh whisper through her lips.
    His voice went soft and became tinged with amusement. “That’s better.” Actually it was sheer torture. At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to release her for hours.
    They stood that way for what seemed an eternity, every muscle in his body tensed with rampaging desire. His conscience was at war with the rest of him, but eventually it won, and his body began to relax. He wasn’t the least bit sure he was pleased about it. A lesser man might have given in, taken Mallory home and made love to her until both their passions were sated. Even as he loosened his hold on her, the idea seemed very attractive.
    With a sigh, though, he let her go. “It seems I keep doing this, even when I swear I won’t touch you again.”
    Surprisingly, the look he saw in her eyes now was amusement, rather than anger. In fact she looked exactly like a woman who was willing to concede the battle because she knew she was winning the war.
    “Perhaps you should try some counseling to figure out why,” she suggested.
    He laughed. “I don’t need counseling for that. Any old anatomy text would have all the answers.”
    “Ah, but would it tell you why you’re resisting?”
    “Perhaps not, but the reasons aren’t all that important.”
    “That’s where you’re all wrong, doctor. I think they are.”
    “Don’t push it, Mallory,” he said, and a certain tone in his voice must have gottenthrough to her, because she didn’t.
    “How about getting something to drink?” she suggested instead. “I passed a stand a little way back.”
    Justin hesitated, then gave in. What possible harm could there be in simply having a soda with the woman?
    They found the vendor, then took their cold drinks to a sunny patch of grass. They sprawled out side by side, staring up at the sky. Puffs of clouds played tag across the vivid blue.
    “Do you run often?” Justin asked at last, just to break the silence. There was something far too companionable about not speaking. It made him yearn for things that couldn’t be. It made him believe in possibilities.
    “I aim for three or four times a week.”
    “Have you ever done a marathon?”
    “Nope. I settle for my three miles. It makes me feel quite noble without seeming like a chore. What about you?”
    “I’m afraid my running schedule is pretty irregular. I never know when I’m going to be away from the hospital long enough to do it. I’d hate to be called in for surgery when I’m out here, dripping wet and out of breath.”
    “You’re not on call today?”
    “Nope. Actually, it’s the end of an enforced vacation. Dr. Hendricks told me to get my butt out of the hospital for four days whether I liked it or not.”
    “And did you?”
    “Did I what?”
    “Did you like it?”
    Not before now, Justinwanted to say. Until this afternoon, he’d been going stir-crazy with too much time on his hands to think, too much empty space to crowd in on him. As much as he’d needed the sleep, as much as he knew he’d needed to relax, he had itched to get back in the operating room. Those long, stimulating hours of surgery, when every one of his senses seemed alert and responsive, were what he lived for. The time off had been an intrusion into his well-structured way of life.
    “I survived it,” he said stoically. “I didn’t like it.”
    “Sounds as though you need to learn how to enjoy yourself.”
    “I do enjoy myself. I love my work.”
    “But all work and no play…”
    “Don’t finish that or I’ll take back every nice thing