Part 40 (2/2)

He slid his fingers under her chin and turned her face toward his.

Odd, he thought, it seemed as though his nerves had drained out of him and into her. Experimentally he dipped his head, letting his lips cruise over hers.

She trembled against him.

Intrigued, he drew her lower lip into his mouth, bathing it with his tongue while his eyes watched emotions come and go in hers.

She shuddered.

”Why are we always in a hurry?” he murmured, addressing the question as much to himself as to her.

”I don't know.” She had to get away, clear her head, before she made some foolish mistake. ”We need more wine.”

”I don't think so.” Slowly he brushed the hair back from her face so that he could frame it with his hands. He held her there, his eyes on hers. ”Do you know what I think, Natalie?”

”No.” She moistened her lips, struggling to find her balance. ”I think we've missed a step here.”

”I don't know what you mean.”

He pressed his lips to her brow, drew back, and watched her eyes cloud. ”Seduction,” he whispered.

Chapter 10

Seduction? She didn't need to be seduced. She wanted him, always wanted him. Before she realized she loved him, she had equated her response to him as a kind of volatile chemical reaction. But now, couldn't he see...

Her thoughts trailed off into smoke as his lips roamed lazily down her temple.

”Ry.” She put her hand to his chest, told herself she would keep her voice light, joking... disentangle herself long enough to clear her mind and regain her balance. But his fingers were stroking along her collarbone, and his mouth was nipping closer , closer to hers. She only said, ”Ry,” again.

”We're good at moving straight ahead, you and me, aren't we, Natalie?” But now there was something smooth and easy gliding through him. Fascinated by his own reaction, he traced his tongue over her lips. ”Fast, with no detours, that's us. I think it's time we took a little side trip.”

”I think...” But she couldn't think. Not after his mouth fit itself to hers. He'd never kissed her like this before, never like this, so slow, so deep, with a lazy kind of possession that shot simmering heat straight to the marrow of her bones.

Her body went lax, as fluid as the wax pooling the wicks of the candles around them. Beneath her palm, his heart beat hard, and not quite steady, and the low, helpless sound that vibrated in her throat quickened it. Yet he continued that slow, deep exploration of her mouth, as if he would be content with that, only that, for hours.

Her head fell back. He cupped it, s.h.i.+fting her slightly to change the angle of the kiss, toying with her lips, her tongue. Her breath caught and released, caught and released, shuddering once when his fingers brushed up over her breast.

Now, she knew, now would come the speed and the power she understood. There would be control again, in the sheer lack of control as they rushed to take each other. But his fingers simply skimmed up her throat and lay with devastating tenderness on her cheek. In defense, she reached for him, pulling him tight against her. ”Not this time.” He drew back just enough to study her face.

Confusion, need, and arousal made a beautiful combination.

However much his own blood was pounding, he intended to confuse her more, intended to see to each and every need, and arouse her until her body was limp.

”I want you.” She tore hurriedly at the b.u.t.tons of his s.h.i.+rt. ”Now, Ry. I want you now.”

He pulled her down on the floor in front of the fire. The light from the flames flickered over her skin, danced in her hair. She was golden. Like some exotic treasure a man might spend his life in search of. And for now, for tonight, Ry thought, she was only his.

He stretched her arms out to the sides, linked his fingers with hers.

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