Make Me Tremble (7 page)

“I
do
,” he assured quietly, his fingers delving into her thick, short hair. He cupped her head. It was hard to be the rational executive when it came to Alice. It was hard to be clearheaded in this situation, period. But he had to try. So much was at stake.

“What do you think would help you most to make it real, Alice?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know for sure. Just time, I guess.”

He nodded, lowering his head until her upturned face was just inches from his. “Do you think it might help to see tangible proof?”

She blinked. “Like what? More photos?”

He pulled her tighter against him. Her T-shirt felt cool and slightly damp against the naked skin of his torso. Despite the chill of the fabric, it was the sensation of her full breasts pressing against his ribs that made his skin roughen. Her erect nipples were a fierce distraction. He forced his mind to focus.

“Not just photos. You’ve said yourself you don’t experience any connection to photos of Adelaide Durand.”

“What, then?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“Alan and Lynn Durand’s physician still practices at Morgantown Memorial. He still possesses some of their genetic material. They will be able to tell you without a doubt who your parents were.”

She stared up at him blankly. “You want me to go for genetic testing?”

“Only if you’re up for it. It doesn’t have to be now,” he said, caressing her neck. He’d learned from experience in the past week that his touch helped to ground her. Soothe her. Distract her from her phantoms. He wasn’t above using that fact proactively to help her through this process.

He wasn’t above using
anything
, in that cause.

“You mean . . . it doesn’t have to be
now
, but it does have to be
sometime
.”

He strained to keep his expression impassive, very much aware that he was once again walking through a minefield.

“
I
don’t need any proof that what I told you is one hundred percent true,” he said firmly, holding her stare.

“But there will be those who will demand it,” Alice added warily.

An imagined vision of a roomful of somber, suspicious Durand executives and attorneys—all the potential doubters and naysayers—flew into his mind’s eye. “There will be plenty who will eventually demand it.” He repeated the obvious as calmly as possible.

She bit her lip and glanced aside. Aside from all these bizarre circumstances she found herself in, Dylan knew Alice Reed was typically a practical, down-to-earth young woman with a brilliant brain for mathematics and business. Never let it be said that genes weren’t telling. Alan Durand had possessed one of the finest business minds he’d ever known, and Lynn had been an outstanding scholar. She’d been an assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Michigan when Alan had first met her.

Dylan was glad to experience Alice’s sudden, intense focus on the issue at hand.

“I don’t want anything of Addie Durand’s, so why should it matter?”

“You don’t know that yet.”

“I know what I want and don’t want, Dylan.”

“Then do it for yourself,” he suggested without pause. He’d been prepared for her response. He’d been prepared for her stubbornness.

“Myself?”

He nodded. “That’s what I meant before.
You
need tangible proof. Not just my word. You need evidence you can hold in your hand. It’ll be something solid to grasp onto.”

“A start,” she whispered.

“A start,” Dylan agreed, relief sweeping through him because he’d seen something click in her eyes, and knew she’d go for the genetic testing. He needed that tangible proof for what was surely to come.

He leaned down and brushed his mouth against hers. His kiss was meant to be gentle and reassuring, but Alice was having none of it. She put her hand on the back of his head, pushing him further down to her and going up on her tiptoes. He responded to her invitation as always: wholesale.

Their kiss deepened. His lust flamed higher on the fuel of her reciprocated need.

So sweet.

So Alice-like, to be suspicious and doubting one moment, and then taking him to the center of the flames within two seconds flat. He would have to have her again tonight, experience her melting beneath his touch, laid bare and submitting to the bond between them. He needed it for Alice’s sake.

He required it for his own.

Beth Kery
is the
New York Times
bestselling author of over thirty novels, including
Glimmer
,
The Affair
,
Since I Saw You
,
Because We Belong
, and
When I’m With You
. She lives in Chicago with her family.

Looking for more?
Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.
Discover your next great read!