When Passion Flares (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 2) by Cynthia Dane Page A

problems unless she wanted it that way. While Kerri sat in deep thought, he flipped open a newspaper and tried to find anything but local politics to read. Impossible. Everything was laced in politics.
    Eventually he felt a fragile hand on his shoulder. His glance up told him that Kerri had come to him, her eyes anything but empty. “Make me forget about this,” they said. Kerri looked away again, her sensibilities getting the best of her.
    Stoic. Hard. Proud. Three things the child of a politician was taught to be. Hunter knew it well, but he also knew that Kerri had it harder than him due to being a woman. She had to be more proper, beautiful, and demure than any son Hunter ever met. All of this while holding down her opinions and learning to keep the strictest poker face in the business. Anything that could give away what she really thought and felt would be considered blasphemy in her family.
    Hunter knew that from one look. Kerri wanted to escape the tyranny she grew up under. To know what it was like to express herself truly and fitfully.
    No pressure. On one hand Hunter was flattered that his Juliet had chosen him to be her Romeo. On the other, it meant that he had a lot to live up to. Good thing he was used to that kind of pressure in his life. Other men would flounder. He took that self-confidence and let it boil inside of him. If he were to love Kerri right that day, then he would need all of his self-confidence and desire to sate her hunger like the Romeo she wanted.
    Hunter picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “What can I do for you, Miss Mitchell?” he asked softly.
    She blew air through her nostrils, but a hint of a smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. “You can call me anything but that name.”
    I’ll call her many other things then. Like beautiful, intelligent, witty… in fact Hunter could barely remember words whenever he became close to Kerri like this. When he drew her down into his lap, his hands gripping her sides and legs, he leaned in toward her ear and whispered, “I’ll call you the greatest girl I know.”
    Kerri wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her chin on one. “Then why don’t I feel better about any of this?”
    “Because you’ve been carrying this burden for a long time. I didn’t change anything, other than make it obvious.”
    No one wanted him to shut up more than Kerri, who placed her lips on his and silenced his advice and good wishes. Just as well. Hunter was running out of things to say anyway.
    Instead he spoke with his actions, his hand easing up the length of Kerri’s thigh as it disappeared beneath her silk skirt. She’s always so warm. Most women were. But Kerri in particular was always flushed when they were about to make love. It made Hunter think of their first night together, a passionate evening that was not supposed to be more than a quick fling. If I had told her who I was upfront, that never would’ve happened. Hunter diverted his lips to Kerri’s throat and attempted to leave his mark there.
    “Don’t,” she pleaded, her voice a gentle whisper in his ear. “I can’t risk it.”
    I, she said. It broke Hunter’s heart a little more. How could he prove that this risk was worth it in the end? How could he make Kerri see that they would have nothing to fear in the end? Was it even possible to give her that sort of comfort?
    Hunter didn’t know. All he knew was that he could try.
    “Hunter…” Kerri’s gasp disappeared into thin air when Hunter kissed the softness of her chest. It was no accident that his girlfriend was wearing a low-cut dress that day. She wants me to do this. Duck his tongue into the warm recesses of her breasts, which could fill his hands if he wanted. How did I get so lucky? His body grew hot under the onus of her weight. A part of him wanted to bring her down upon him and have his fill of her. But his primary brain told him to comfort first, love second. “Hurry,” Kerri said, interrupting his