Enlightened (Love and Light Series)

Enlightened (Love and Light Series) Read Free Page A

Book: Enlightened (Love and Light Series) Read Free
Author: Melissa Lummis
Ads: Link
Rachel elbowed herself to the front of the line, poking Charlaigne in the ribs. She wrapped Loti in a bear hug. “Don’t let her rent space in your head,” Rachel whispered into her ear. “You do what you need to and when you’re done here, meet me at the cafe. I’ll snag a table in the alley.” She gave Loti one more little squeeze before walking away.
    Loti tightened the lid on her emotions as she hugged and shook hands for the next thirty minutes. When the last person walked out the door, she freed a long, noisy breath. She rolled up her mat, all the tension draining out of her shoulders. All the energy and work she put in with her students made her responsible for them and leaving wasn’t easy. Adrift in her thoughts, she scooped up the pile of blankets.
    “Let me help.” Jeremy’s voice startled her.
    She’d lost track of him at some point and assumed he’d left, but there he was, leaning against the wall by the stereo behind her. He pushed himself away and took some of the blankets from her. Her mouth slack, she followed him to the storage room, staring at his back, warring with something that spiraled low in her belly. Then David’s ghost flashed in her thoughts like a cartoon light bulb. She sucked in a breath. David’s dead . The thought splashed like ice water, and she dropped her gaze to the blankets they were stacking on the rack in the closet. In the tight space, Loti’s hip bumped his leg.
    “Oh, ‘scuse me,” she mumbled, careful to keep her eyes averted.
    “No problem.”
    His husky voice hitched her breath. They were so close she could smell the soap he’d washed with and the musky, workout sweat drying on his skin. She exhaled sharply, turning to escape as fast as she could. But she tripped into his arms. Wide-eyed and shaking, she froze. He didn’t toss some flirty line at her. He stared down, his eyes asking questions she couldn’t—or didn’t want to—answer.
    “I need to go. Rachel’s waiting for—”
    He pressed warm lips to her trembling ones. Her head swam with panic as he slid his arms around her, deepening the kiss. His hands wandered over her back, skating under her shirt hem and over her warm, bare skin. When his fingers grazed her flesh, it dawned on her that she was kissing him back. Her arms were wrapped around his waist, and their stomachs, and lower things, were melded together. Horrified, she shoved Jeremy’s hips away, breaking the kiss and hissed through gritted teeth, “Stop.”
    Jeremy’s eyes were glazed and half hidden by his shaggy hair. His breath was shallow as one arm fell away from her and the other gripped the storage rack behind her. She turned away from his broad chest into his hard, muscular arm.
    “Don’t be mad, okay?” he whispered.
    Lust and revulsion tangled in her belly as she mumbled, “Jeremy...please.” She caught her breath. “David. . .”
    His arm dropped out of the way, and his fevered eyes cooled into a careful concern. “Hey, I get it. No explanation necessary.” He wrapped a hand around hers, giving it a mollifying squeeze. When she didn’t pull back right away, he leaned his forehead against hers. For a second they both closed their eyes, Loti yielding to his comforting gesture. When he crept closer, she splayed her free hand against his chest and shoved.
    “That’s enough, Don Juan.”
    He stumbled back and she swallowed down the confusing mix of emotions. Holding him at bay, she extracted her other hand from his as she scuttled out the door. His chin dropped, eyes still closed, as he drooped against the wall. Out in the open space of the studio, she took a deep breath and turned to face him. He stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, his hair hiding his eyes as he studied his flip flops. His long surfer shorts showed off muscular calves. How old is he, anyway? 25 ? She was only 30 , but she felt so much older.
    “I know I’m a fool, Jeremy.” Her voice shook despite her careful control.
     He looked up through

Similar Books

Broken Doll

Burl Barer

Liz Ireland

The Outlaw's Bride

Bachelor Auction

Darah Lace

Boomer's Big Surprise

Constance W. McGeorge

Rebecca Rocks

Anna Carey

In A Heartbeat

Donna MacMeans

Vein Fire

Lucia Adams

Saving Ben

Ashley H. Farley

Arizona Cowboy

Jennifer Collins Johnson