Page 26 of Mountain Shadow

Sarah nodded, her face becoming animated. “I studied journalism at university, but wasn’t sure what I’d do afterwards. My professors suggested I might like to try TV.”

Jens could understand why—the camera would love those high cheekbones, the symmetry of her face.

She rushed on. “But I knew I didn’t want to do that. I took the radio internship on a lark—and found out I loved it. When I’m on the air, and I’m talking with people, I’m not distracted by what they look like. I can tell, just by listening to their voices, whether they’re telling the truth or not.”

“You must miss it,” he said.

“I do,” she said, looking sad and worried. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be ungrateful. I just …”

“You miss your life. It’s normal. We’ll make sure it’s safe for you to go back, Sarah. I promise.”

He put his untouched wine glass on the counter and strode to her, wrapping her slim body in his embrace. He felt, rather than heard, her small sigh, as her body molded itself against his, all curves and softness.

Jens shifted his hips sideways, not wanting to scare her with his body’s reaction to her.

“I felt that, you know,” she whispered.

“It’s a physiological reaction,” Jens said, inhaling the soft scent of her hair. “Nothing you need to be worried about.”

She looked up at him, her eyes luminous. “What if I’m not exactly worried? What if we can help each other?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I told you already. This isn’t happening, Sarah.”

He couldn’t suppress a groan as her tongue came out to lick her lips.

She knows exactly what she’s doing to me.

“I’m trying to do the right thing here, and you’re playing with fire.”

“That’s because I’m not playing, Jens,” she said. “I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.”

She took a tiny step sideways until every inch of their bodies aligned. There was no longer any way to hide his desire from her. Jens breathed in a deep, ragged breath, no longer able to remember why he would want to hide it. He was stronger than her—he could easily break her hold on him and move back. But he couldn’t do that, any more than he could stop breathing.

Jens tried to remind himself of all the reasons they couldn’t do this, came up blank for a second.

“The fritatta. It’s almost done.”

“The oven will turn off when the timer runs out. We’ll eat it later.”

“Damien will kill me.”

“Damien’s not my brother, and even if he were, he wouldn’t have any say in this.”

“Fine. Tess will kill me, then.”

Sarah stepped back, then, and the sudden gulf felt like the earth had gone cold. He had to stop himself from reaching out and pulling her back into his arms.

She needs you to do the right thing.

Sarah’s small, delicate hands went to her shirt. She undid two buttons in quick succession, then slowed down as she got to the third. Jens watched, riveted. He wanted so badly to take over—to run his hand down the pale curve of her throat and all the way to that third button, sitting right in the valley between her breasts.

“I know what I want,” she said in a husky voice.

It was at that instant that Jens realized he’d lost the battle.

“God, you tempt me,” he said. His hand moved of its own accord until it lay lightly over hers. Her breaths heaved, pushing her breasts into his waiting hands.

“Take my shirt off, please,” she begged.