Read Taken (Breaking the Darkness) for Free Online Page B

combination of sweat and humidity. My hair was full of sand and bushy from the frizz and the ocean breeze.
    Luckily for me, I was wearing a white-and-turquoise bikini covered by a pair of sheer, flowing pants.
    Alone again, not a soul in sight.
    The beach stretched as far as the eye could see with some kind of forest or jungle behind me. The water looked inviting and refreshing. If only I didn’t want to drink it up. I was so parched, but a dip would have to do.
    I wasn’t about to bother removing my pants. I figured they would dry pretty quickly and it was so hot I wouldn’t mind the cool fabric against my legs when I got out.
    Even though I wanted to run and dive into the water, I apprehensively stood ankle deep and let the surf wash over my toes. I was nervous about going in too far. There was no one there to save me from the tide. Wading in to about my waist, just past where the waves crashed, seemed like a safe enough distance. I dipped under to allow myself a moment to enjoy the weightlessness and the unusual quiet the ocean gifted me.
    Coming back up to the surface, I wiped my face and smoothed back my hair, wishing for a hair band. The gentle rocking of the sea against my body soothed my soul. It felt so good I couldn’t help myself from sinking back in, letting my limbs extend away from my body. I let the arms of the sea hold me up as I released myself. What was left of the hot sun beat down on my face. With my eyes closed, I hoped I didn’t drift too far from the shoreline.
    I could float here forever, gently bobbing up and down. I never expected to bump into anything or anyone, yet my head collided with something hard. My body stopped short and I spun around to my feet as fast as I could, ingesting a mouthful of water.
    I stood there, speechless, taking in the cocoa-dusted creature. His light kinky hair was pulled back tightly. Green eyes made of crystal-clear quartz stared back at me, eyeballing me up and down.
    “Excuse me,” he drawled in a voice I could never forget.
    I tried to speak, but my tongue was numb. My heart fluttered and my precious flower tingled at the sight and sound of him.
    His mouth opened and parted into a giant, smirky grin. He gave his lips a quick lick before speaking.
    “You all right, darling?” He reached over and touched my elbow with his wide hand, waving his right hand in front of my face.
    “Um… uh… yeah.” I was mesmerized by the thought of it really being that guy, his face, more perfect than I imagined. I could almost taste the scone I had in my hand the last time I saw him. “I’m okay. You… ah… you just startled me.”
    I instantly hungered for him. I wanted him to touch me more. I considered falling into his arms and imagined getting lost in the seductive lips that housed his perfect white teeth.
    He looked at me sideways, probably wondering what was wrong with me.
    “You just… You look like—”
    He cut me off before I could fumble my words any longer.
    “I have a familiar face. I get that a lot.”
    I nodded my head in agreement but knew that wasn’t true. There was something very different and quite unforgettable about this man.
    I blinked and we were sitting side by side on the sandy shore. I was afraid to look him in the eye. I wasn’t sure I would be able to look away.
    “So tell me, what do they call you?” His words drifted through the air, calling to me like a siren in the sea. I could feel his eyes undressing me. My face flushed with embarrassment.
    “Kasha… My name is Kasha. How about you? Your name, I mean. What is your name?” Without lifting my head I looked up to steal a quick glimpse of him while I waited for his answer.
    His eyes were locked on me. I couldn’t look away, even though I tried. His eyes were hungry, screaming for me to ride him in the most animalistic and uninhibited way. He just oozed sex.
    With a wickedly knowing grin, he replied, “Kaden. Most call me Kaden.” His voice was deep and his words seductively