The Sifting Read Free

deep, breathless admiration. To make matters worse, her body decided to dump a truckload of desire on her. And why desire? What place did that have in this?
    She put the feeling s down, despising her gender’s weakness at such a crucial time. In the end, she was unsure of how to respond to his words, so she didn’t.
    “Despite that,” he began, as though she’d just read off a grocery list, “in the real world, your theory may work. But in my world, the world you are now in, it unfortunately does not.”
    And there it all went, the hope of maybe reaching a truce, gone, poof. His non-compromising tone said… renounce or else. He returned to his spot on the bed next to her, closer than before.
    She leaned away a little, hoping to distance herself from the entrapment of his scent accompanied with the terror of his words. “What are you saying Micah?”
    “Are we starting sessions again?”
    “I just asked you a simple question. I don’t think this is session material.”
    “Oh, I think it is. Because if I tell you why none of your theories work for us, you will likely feel the need for sessions. Many, many sessions. But since you love me, and renouncing your faith has nothing to do with that, I would ask that you demonstrate…this love to me.”
    “Why?”
    “Why? Do you need a reason to show you love me?”
    She stared at him. ” I want the reason.”
    He brought his face inches from hers. “ And I want you…to demonstrate your love.”
    Sarah fought her body again, it wanted to demonstrate just what he was suggesting. “What about you?”
    “What about me,” he whispered, his lips brushing hers.
    “Showing…me.”
    He pulled back a little. “Showing you what sweetheart.”
    “That…you love me.”
    “How would you like me to demonstrate that?”
    She swallowed, praying for the next words, for air not filled with his scent. “Marry me.”
    His lips nibbled at hers. “I already planned to,” he gasped,” sliding his fingers into her hair at the temple, his touch silky.
    His words confused her. As well as thrilled, and scared her.
    “Here. This weekend. That’s why we’re here.”
    “I don’t understand,” she whispered, her lips giving in to his, becoming supple and willing.
    His fingers found their way to the back of her neck and massaged softly. He suddenly deepened his kiss with a groan of hunger, tongue entering her mouth, his body slowly pushing her onto the bed. “You understand this.” He slid his fingers along her privates, and she gasped. “And this.” He dipped his finger in her opening and wet her throbbing bud.
    She did understand that. Oh God, very much. She suddenly wondered if that would work to her advantage. Would giving herself to him despite he asked and demanded her soul, demonstrate the depth of her love? It could. Was she willing to gamble such a thing?
    What was she thinking? She had nothing to lose. The worse thing that could happen is she’d lose her virginity to a man she really loved, regardless of how sick he might be. Wasn’t that what she was there for to begin with? She’d vowed to be the instrument of his healing?
    But he needed to know she did it of her own strength, not because he cleverly seduced her to it.
    She sat up and closed her legs.
    He pulled back, surprise and curiosity in his green gaze.
    “I’ ll do it.”
    “Do what?”
    “Demonstrate…my love to you.”
    He pulled back a little more, curiosity piqued.
    “But…I need to be the one doing it. Not you.”

Chapter Three
     
    Micah’s heart ached at her words. “I am at your mercy. By all means, demonstrate how you wish.”
    The look on her sweet face said she was making this up as she went. “I want to tie you up.”
    Fear seized him at those words.
    “Trust is a very essential part of love, Micah.” Of course she’d read his reaction perfectly. She might run. He couldn’t afford for that to happen. But what would he gain if he trusted her enough? He might just gain the very