Daring Dane (Intoxicating Passion #3) Read Free Page A

who beat,
choked, or abused another was a very messed up human being. The nightmares
still plagued me, causing me to wake in a heavy sweat every night. I refused to
let him win. One of these days I no longer would be afraid.
    Elle was tucked securely beside me, my arm
wrapped tightly around her. Today was lab day and I knew Dane wouldn’t skip
this week. The thought caused my heart to race and made me feel slightly
nauseated. I hugged the elephant closer, not wanting to get out of the warmth
of my bed. I never dealt with a man like Dane Davidson before. Christopher and
I had sex, of course, but he had been the only one…until Dane. My hormones took
control in that moment. I didn’t know why I wanted Dane so badly, but I did. .
I’d avoided him since the night he took care of me. I felt embarrassed, ashamed
of him seeing me that way. I still was unsure of my feelings, but I knew I’d
see him today.
    I finally crawled out of bed, showered and
dressed. I had hours before lab, but I headed to campus anyway. Being alone in
the apartment scared me. I hated feeling this way, constantly looking over my
shoulder. I kept Mace in one hand and my keys in the other, ready if someone
attacked, and dashed to my car.
    ###
    I fidgeted in my seat as I eagerly waited for
Dane to show up. When he stepped through the door, his dark, seductive eyes
landed on me, sending a thrill through my blood, I thought I would pass out.
His dark hair was tussled, his polo unbuttoned showing a hints of his sexy
chest. Just thinking of our encounter made me squirm in my seat.
    “Korah,” his deep voice rumbled. “I’ve been
worried about you.”
    “Why?”
    “Because, I…” He started, but got cut off by
the TA starting class.
    It was an antagonizing hour. He kept brushing
his hand over mine, purposely I was sure. Each time he tried to speak, he was
interrupted by something in class. My curiosity was piqued over his because. I wanted to know the rest of
the answer. When we were finally released, his hand gently slid around my waist
and pulled me close.
    “Korah, we have to talk. Please.” His eyes
darted between my own, the depth of them going further than I’d ever seen. They
pleaded with me, calling to me.
    I nodded. “Okay. I’m kind of hungry.”
    “Then we’ll go eat. Come on, I’ll drive.” He
took my hand in his, each touch sending electrifying thoughts through my head.
    What you want to talk about?” I asked.
    “Korah… I’m so sorry I left. I’m really a
screwed up guy,” he said, glancing around. “Can we wait until we have some
privacy?”
    We wove through campus, the sea of bodies
making me slightly anxious. There were so many of them, and Christopher could
hide anywhere. Something told me Dane wouldn’t let Christopher hurt me again if
he was around. I inched closer instinctively. He opened the door for me, a
gentlemanly move I wasn’t expecting. Once inside, he pushed the key in the
ignition, but didn’t turn.
    “I’m sorry,” he said again. “Korah, I have
feelings for you. I don’t know what to do with them, and honestly, they terrify
me. That’s why I left. I’ve never felt that before when being with a woman, and
for some reason I thought disappearing would make it go away.”
    He stared at me, his chocolate brown eyes
full of fear, warmth, and feeling. This Dane was different. Something had
changed.
    “It didn’t go away,” he confessed. He took my
hand in his linking our fingers together and squeezed. “It got worse. I think
about you all the time. And the day you called me… Korah, it made me realize
how screwed up I am. My mom left when I was little, I caught her with another
man, and eventually, my dad did, too. Something in me changed that day, but I
still tried. High school, I fell in love for the first time. I caught her in
bed with my best friend.”
    I watched him, my heart heavy, my mind
confused. I wanted to believe him, to trust him, but how could I? He snuck out
the middle of the night