Page 41 of Shadow Lies

The flutter of excitement felt as if it would burst out of her chest.

She felt fifteen again. Like it was only yesterday. She remembered hiding in her room and crying her eyes out when she heard Kane had left for the Navy after dumping her sister.

Kane’s mouth on hers drove away those painful memories and the pleasure shot through her, settling low in her belly until it turned into a craving so strong it hurt.

Pleasure and pain—that is exactly what loving Kane Lee would bring her. And she didn’t care. She wanted it. Wanted him.

She didn’t care if she had to risk the agony of losing him just to get to have him.

His words echoed in her brain.This—us—can’t be anything more than this.

He was wrong. It could. They could. And they would. He’d see. She’d show him.

Kane pawed at her clothes while taking her mouth. She would have helped him except that she was more focused on getting her hands beneath his clothes.

She needed to touch him, skin-on-skin. Being separated by so much fabric was frustrating. The fact the fabric comprised his monk clothes was a surreal reminder of how much stood between them. But she could fix that. Get rid of the clothes at least. The rest might not be so easy to erase.

Was he dedicated to the monastery?

Was he there to heal or just hide?

She’d show him she could heal him. They could do it together.

Her fingertips finally connected with the hard warm muscles of his torso. She splayed her fingers to cover as much skin as she could.

Six hours of kung fu a day had done wonders for Kane’s already fit physique.

There was something to be said for living like a monk…and though she was ashamed to think it, she loved that part of his life with the Shaolin meant celibacy.

She was the only woman he’d been with and it showed.

He was a starving man and her body was his sustenance. She was happy to be that for him.

The frenzy with which he rocked against her while stroking his tongue inside her mouth increased. He was like a man possessed.

She realized he wasn’t thinking so she had to. It would be up to her to get them undressed. She could manage her own buttons and zipper, but the tiny knotted buttons on the side of his wrap-around tunic confounded her.

Bracing a hand on each side of his face, she held far enough away she could see him.

“Kane. Take this all off.” She tugged at the front of his top.

He nodded. That was the only indication he’d heard and understood her since he didn’t move right away. Instead, he just stared into her eyes.

Finally, he rose to sit back on his knees. As she watched, he slowly stripped off the top and gave her a view of his hard lean chest and abs. He was perfection. And all hers. At least for now.

He stood to kick off his shoes and then the pants were gone too.

Kane stood before her in all his naked glory and it was breathtaking.

She’d thought he’d been beautiful performing the dance that was kung fu when she’d spied on his practice. But his movements were just as captivating now as he walked back to the edge of the bed. His stride smooth like the sleekest leopard.

He crawled over her on the mattress like a tiger stalking prey.

Reaching for her, he made quick work of pulling her top up and over her head. He paused in undressing her to lean low and draw one nipple into his mouth, sucking on it through the lace of her bra.

He popped her other breast out and laved her flesh with his tongue, ramping up her need.

Eyes squeezed closed, head thrown back, she absorbed every sensation assaulting her. The heat of his mouth. The hard feel of his knees between hers, spreading her legs wide. His hands sliding down her ribcage to land on her waist.

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