Part 25 (1/2)

”I'm not sure,” he answered honestly. ”But I do know he's a different man around you than he is other women.”

”Different how?”

Sin shrugged. ”It's hard to explain exactly. He's just more at ease with you. Teases you in ways I've never seen him tease anyone else.”

”And how wouldI know if he loved me?”

Sin gave another bitter laugh.

He looked up as if addressing the Lord Himself. ”Again, she asks a man who has never known love,” he muttered. Then, louder, he said, ”How does anyone ever know if they're truly loved or not? You just have to take a chance and see.”

He seared her with the intensity of his gaze. ”But I can tell you this: If someone were after something I wanted, I wouldn't stand in here weeping about it. I'd go take action on the matter.”

His raked her with a cold stare. ”I thought you were a fighter. Or are you willing to just give up on your dreams?”

”I'm willing to fight,” she said.

Aye, that she was.

Stiffening her spine, she rose to her feet and went to find Braden and his strumpet.

Because if there was any truth to Sin's words, then she might actually have a chance at the man of her dreams. And if that was true, then she wouldn't stop until she had him at the altar.

Chapter 12.

”Och, now, what a big, bonny man, you are,” Tara purred as she took the platters and cups from Braden and set them inside the back door of her cottage.

Braden smiled at her as she closed the door and stepped out beneath the small overhang that protected the back door from the rain. It was a tight s.p.a.ce, but it easily accommodated both of them.

The light from the cottage's window lit the area just enough that they could see each other.

A flash of lightning highlighted her face and the dark hunger in her blue eyes.

Aye, he'd be tasting a bit of heaven in a few minutes, and he couldn't wait to put an end to his celibacy.

Braden braced his arm above Tara's head, against the doorframe, and let his gaze roam her voluptuous body. She had one of those figures that could drive a man to distraction. Large, lush b.r.e.a.s.t.s where a man could bury his face and hands, among other things, and a tiny, inviting waist. Her hips flared gently, and by the way she was rubbing herself against him, he could tell she knew quite a few tricks to please a man.

And then the unimaginable happened as she glided her hand over his chest.

His body did nothing.

Nay, it couldn't be!

Instantly his smile faded.

Tara pressed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s against his chest and ran her arms about his neck. She breathed in his ear, stirring his wet hair, before she took his earlobe between her teeth and ran her tongue along the edge of it.

Normally, such actions would have his head reeling, and he'd be feverishly relieving her of her clothes.

But tonight...

Well, he couldn't say it wasn't pleasurable, because it was. Yet somehow, it wasn't satisfying to him.

Worse, his body only stirred a bit. It was far from the fiery loins he'd been having the last few days.

And in that instant he knew why.

He wanted Maggie.

Dear saints in heaven! It was all he could do not to curse aloud as Tara ran her nails down his spine.

And nothing happened. No chills, no...

Well, his body did perk up a bit as she rubbed her hand against his groin. Still, it wasn't the same reaction he'd had even last night when Maggie had teasingly displayed her more conservative, fully clothed cleavage at him.

Determined to prove himself wrong, Braden took Tara's chin in his hand, tilted her head back, and kissed her deeply.

She met his kiss fully and with the practiced ease of a woman who was well versed in the art of lovemaking. She could ride a man well, there was no doubt about it.

But still his body and mind remained painfully disinterested.

What he really wanted was the bold, innocent kiss of a redheaded h.e.l.lion. This woman in his arms was nothing more than a poor subst.i.tute, and his body knew it.

d.a.m.n it straight to h.e.l.l!

How could he want Maggie so? She made him insane. She was stubborn, opinionated and the last thing she wanted to do was please a man.

And yet...

Iam a fool! A stupid, cursed fool who should have his head ripped from his shoulders .

Suddenly his and Tara's embrace seemed tawdry and vile. Despicable. And if Maggie should ever learn of it, it would crush her.

”I can't do this,” he said, pulling back from Tara.

Nay, he couldn't, not while the true object of his desire was waiting in the stable with his brother.

”Me da is already in bed,” Tara said. ”He'll never know.” She reached for the laces of his s.h.i.+rt.

Braden caught her hands in his and took a step back. ”You're a beautiful la.s.s,” he said. ”But I'm afraid my mind is somewhere else tonight.”

Tara licked her lips suggestively. ”I could make you forget all about that one who holds your thoughts.”

How he wished that were so.

”Good night, Tara,” he said, releasing her and heading back to the stable. And with every step he took through the pouring rain, he cursed himself and Maggie.