“No.”
‘Then why do you think I would?”
At that he turned and looked into her eyes. “I haven’t trusted anyone other than those guys in a long, long time.”
“Then it’s time you did.” She reached out and touched him, placing her palms above the barrier of his arms, onto his chest. Fingers spread wide, she gently pushed on him as if she were trying to push her way into his head. “You have to decide if I’m worth the risk. If you can believe in me.”
She ached for him to believe in her. In himself. In them.
He didn’t take his eyes off her. His chest rose and fell quickly, like he was running. Or panicking.
“I’m afraid,” he finally admitted in a rough whisper. “I’m afraid that one day I’ll wake up and you won’t want me anymore.”
His heart pounded beneath her palm. A light sheen of sweat gleamed on his forehead. Dani’s heart broke for him all over again. Because she knew that had happened to him once already. Because she understood that fear herself.
But admitting it? Baring his soul to her like this? That took such courage. Such trust. It was so precious. And she had to go so carefully.
Swallowing hard, she lifted her hand, gently framing his face. “Your mom was so, so wrong.”
He closed his eyes, turning his cheek into her palm. Instinctively she stroked her fingers against his rough stubble.
“I’m so sorry you were hurt like that.” She rose up on tiptoe as tears filled her eyes. “I wish I could take it away.”
She wished she could carry that pain for him. But she could promise him better.
“I’ll never hurt you like that,” she whispered, willing him to hear her sincerity. Her love. “I know you find that hard to believe right now. But it’s true. I won’t let you down. I won’t leave you.”
He suddenly moved, wrapping his arms around her so quickly and so tightly she lost her breath.
“You’d better mean it. I can’t let you go. I’m so sorry.” His arms crushed as he lifted her clean off her feet and hauled her close.
Heavenly close.
“I want you so much.” He muttered fast, rough, emotional in her ear. “But I want you to be free, to make your own choices. Be here for as long as you needed me. That’s all I want. To be here for as long as you want me. I don’t want you to feel pinned down.”
She wriggled her arms free and wound them round his neck and clung tight. Sheer relief had rendered her legs useless anyway.
He wanted her. He just didn’t want to hinder her or hold her back from making her own choices.
He was her choice. Maybe now he’d know it.
She smiled, understanding at last that he’d already given his heart to her. That he wanted to do and be what she wanted. Just as she wanted to do and be what he wanted. What he needed.
“I’ll make my choices. I can waitress, study part-time... I can work hard.” She wanted to. She’d make a go of it all.
“I know.” He smiled back at her.
She showered his face with tiny kisses until his arms loosened. Until his breathing quickened again, for an altogether different reason.
She pulled back, so filled with joy her blood hummed. “And sometimes,” she peered up into his face with a sassy look. “I like it when you pin me down.”
His intensity finally broke into that gorgeous smile.
Enraptured she kissed him hard on the mouth. Hard, hot and hungry.
“I’m going to need you for a long, long time,” she assured him breathlessly, tracing her hands over his tight bunched muscles. “I’m going to need you forever.”
He looked at her, his bottomless eyes filled with an emotion that sent her heart soaring.
“Dani,” he breathed into her mouth—into her soul. “I’m going to love you forever.”
THE END
Be sure to read the other titles in the ‘Be for Me’ series:
Breathe for Me
Beg for Me (coming June 2014)
Bared for Me
To keep up to date with Natalie’s release schedule, subscribe to her newsletter.
And if you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review online with your favorite e-book retailer.
Now turn the page to learn more about Logan!
Coming June 2014 – Logan’s Story!
BEG FOR ME
One mistake means she’s his to marry?
No one needs an image overhaul more than Logan Hughes. His notoriety has reached epic proportions thanks to a sex clip circulating on the Internet. But when his newly contracted social media manager inadvertently tweets his happiness at his engagement, he—along with the rest of the world—is astounded.
With one wrong click of a button Min Jones just committed career suicide. Mixing up her client’s account wouldn’t have been so bad if he had only a few followers... unfortunately he has almost a million. Summoned to meet with him face-to-face, she’s more tongue-tied than ever when he announces that his engagement is to stand and that she’s to be his supposed fiancé.
With her career on the line Min agrees but she isn’t going to hide away meek and mild. If Logan Hughes wants a fiancé, he’s going to have to play by her rules and that means he’ll have to learn to handle some restraint…
BREATHE FOR ME
The last thing Chelsea Greene wants is to be rescued, but that’s exactly what happens when she’s caught wearing nothing but her swimsuit during a midnight emergency evacuation drill. Turns out her ‘hero’ is a former lifeguard who has no hesitation in offering the kiss of life. So not happening, right?
But for emotionally chastened Chelsea, one touch changes everything. She discovers a desire to satisfy this arrogant, demanding tease. Unable to express her own fantasies, she finds unspeakable pleasure in serving his.
Xander Lawson exudes easy charm. He likes a woman unafraid to match his appetite for unfettered fun. He doesn’t do complicated or emotional. But the raw need emanating from fragile Chelsea compels him closer. He can’t resist spinning a sensual fantasy world around them.
As passion spills outside their carefully selected boundaries, Xander learns Chelsea’s stronger than he first thought. But is she strong enough to handle the intensity he’s always kept hidden?
Read BREATHE FOR ME now.
Discover other titles by USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson
Whose Bed is it Anyway?
Flirting To Win
Dating and Other Dangers
Nice Girls Finish Last
The End of Faking It
About the Author
USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance. She’s published with Harlequin Mills & Boon, Entangled Publishing and independently. She’s also written young adult fiction for Penguin NZ under a pseudonym. With over thirty books published, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband and four children.
Find out more at her website, sign up to her newsletter and follow her on Facebook.
Table of Contents
Copyright & Publishing Information
Author’s Note
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Coming Soon: BEG FOR ME
Have you read Xander’s story in BREATHE FOR ME
Discover Natalie’s other titles...
About the Author
Bared for Me Page 12
