Part 22 (1/2)

Maggie stiffened in his embrace. ”Are you asking to marry me?”

Braden pulled back to see the indecision on her face. ”Would you have me if I did?”

”Nay. I know you too well. You're not the type of man to ever content himself with one woman.”

It was true and he knew it in his heart and with every fiber of his body. He couldn't see himself coming home night after night to the same woman. He needed variety, spontaneity.

Worse, he could never give her his heart. That was one part of him that he refused to share with any other person.

And Maggie needed... nay, he corrected himself, shedeserved a man loyal to her. One who would never break her heart and leave her weeping.

Still, his body didn't listen. It craved her with such ferocity that he swore his groin would grow blisters from the heat.

”So, where does that leave us?” he asked.

”At a standoff, I fear.”

”Nay,” he said, laying his hand on her shoulder. ”Not a standoff. We both know I can never have you.”

Because I can never be the man you need me to be, and I would sooner die than hurt you .

”1know,” she whispered.

Braden kissed her forehead lightly, then pulled away and led her back to the camp. Both their moods were dark as they quietly tried to ignore each other. But it was hard.

On second thought, it was impossible. Her taste and smell was branded into his memory and all he could see was her smile. All he could hear was her moaning his name.

And G.o.d help him, he wanted more.

The sweet bliss they could have together... but Maggie wasn't the kind of woman a man made love to and left. She was the type of woman a man married.

You could...

Braden wouldn't even let his mind finish that thought. He could never marry. Especially not a woman with whom he could see himself falling in love.

Chapter 11.

Maggie spent the entire evening trying to avoid Braden as best she could. But how did a woman manage to avoid someone who meant so much to her?

Even now, as he sat across the fire beside Sin, not even looking at her, she could feel his presence as acutely as if he sat directly next to her. The firelight played across his face, making his eyes appear a midnight black like Sin's.

His mood had been so serious since their discussion, and she missed his lighthearted teasing. And more than ever she wished she were the type of woman who could just walk over there, seduce him for the night, and be content with his leaving her come morning.

Perhaps her brothers were right. She did ask too much of a man.

But then, didn't she have a right to ask for the same commitment and devotion from a man that men demanded of women?

Oh, it just didn't seem fair to her.

Unaware of her thoughts and sidelong glances, Braden licked the grease from his lips in a way that made her body yearn.

How could any man be so scrumptious? And why, oh, why couldn't she get him out of her mind?

She averted her gaze.

But what was the use? She could still see those wonderful greenish brown eyes teasing her. Hear him calling her ”little blossom,” and feel his strong hands roaming over the most private parts of her body.

The man was simply too gorgeous for her own good. And in that instant, she wished she had never seen him. She could only imagine the years of peace she would have known had she not been trying to gain his attention.

Sin rose as soon as he finished eating. ”I'll take first watch again.”

Her own dinner forgotten, Maggie stood in a hurry as memories of the night before coursed through her.

The last thing she needed was to awaken once more in Braden's arms.

She had to do something to put distance between them. ”Perhaps I should take a turn at watch?”

Both men stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.

She had, but that was beside the point. Worse, Braden gave her a knowing, rakish smile.

”No offense,” Sin said dryly, ”but I prefer tolive through the night.”

”I was just trying to be helpful,” she said.

”Then get plenty of sleep,” Sin said, turning his back to her.

Maggie wished she possessed some of Sin's sarcasm to come up with an appropriately biting retort, but all she could do was sit back down and return to her food.

Braden ran his tongue wickedly over his bottom lip as he leaned to one side and stared at her over the fire. She looked down and tried not to notice how delectably long those legs of his were stretching out.

He propped his head on his hand and looked invitingly at her. ”Ready for bed, my love?”

And you had missed that teasing?

Whatever had she been thinking?

Maggie fought the childish urge to stomp her foot at him. How dare he tease her likethat , knowing how much she wanted him, as well as the fact that there could be nothing between them.

By the light in his eyes, she could see he was doing it on purpose just to nettle her.

It was then another urge possessed her. One to return the gesture to him. 'Twas time he was on the receiving end of such tactics.

”Aye,” she said.

Then slowly, seductively, she smoothed her hair to rest behind her right ear and gave him an inviting, taunting smile of her own as she leaned forward. ”And you?”