Change of Heart - By S.E. Edwards Page 0,8

as I’m left dangling off his arms. His irises are the color of sea mist. I’m myself hypnotized by the deep intensity I see brewing just beneath the surface. I have no doubt that type of intensity is mirrored in my eyes.

Then, moving slowly, as if restraining himself, Richard lowers his mouth to cover mine. This time, his kiss is sweet and gentle. Subtle and caring. He explores my upper lip first, then traces the line going to the corner of my mouth. His lips form a perfect mold over mine.

I was wrong before. This is the kiss reserved for a lover you haven’t seen in ten years.

When Rich pulls back, he keeps my lower lip between his teeth, stretching it before letting it snap into place.

I suck in an unsteady breath.

“No drink,” he agrees numbly. “I can’t wait any longer.” His voice becomes hoarse, raw. “Do you know how much I want you right now, Penelope?”

I squeal as he picks me up and spins me once, twice, then carries me to the mattress. I cling to his shoulders and shift my weight so that we collapse onto the bed together. He rolls over the covers with me. I laugh as he pecks sharp kisses on my neck, my collarbone, my shoulder. Finally he settles above me, pinning me down against the plush satin.

I look up at him. He returns my gaze. His breaths are deep and heavy. He’s staring at me in that mysterious way again, like a connoisseur of the arts considering some new insight he’s gained from a painting. The moment is strangely sobering, and almost too intimate. It frightens me.

“What are you thinking?” I ask, trying to shrug off my discomfort.

“I’m thinking,” he says, sweeping a strand of hair out of my eyes and running the back of his fingers along my jaw, “how damn beautiful you look right now.”

The sincerity of his words catches me by surprise. I can’t look away. He smiles, and I’m astonished by the candor I see in his face.

“Imagine,” he says, tracing teasing lines over my skin, “how much worse this night would have been if you didn’t let me buy you that drink.”

I can’t take the anticipation anymore. My hands fly to his neck, and lust flares in his eyes as I tug him down. I force him to kiss me. As he does, his fingers creep under the hem of my tank top, lifting it up to expose my bare stomach. I break away from his kiss and straighten my arms as he slips the shirt over my head. I’m left in my lacy, scarlet-red bra. I give a silent prayer of thanks to the laundry gods for leaving me with decent lingerie today.

His mouth returns to mine. It lingers for a second, then his lips start to descend on my neck. Each of his kisses leaves my skin burning. I arch into him as he trails his mouth down the midline of my body. He runs kisses over my breasts, then continues moving his head down toward my navel.

Just before he reaches it, he lifts his head and gazes at me.

“Wow,” he murmurs. “Your skin is so smooth, Penny. So delicate. I could spend all night just kissing it.”

That can’t possibly be enough for me. “Please, don’t,” I whimper.

He chuckles softly. “Don’t worry. I know what you want me to do.” His tongue dances along the rim of my belly button. Rich is still fully clothed, and I’m already so turned on I could probably orgasm from a single touch. “But I do intend to take my time with you tonight.”

He straightens over me, and lifts his shirt over his head in one smooth motion. The sight of his body leaves me breathless.

It is everything I expected, and more. His torso is lean and hard, and those wide shoulders taper into a narrow waist complete with perfectly defined abs. There’s a light grazing of hair down the middle.

I’d never seen anyone with such a spectacular body in real life before. Twin tribal tattoos decorate his forearms, and as he breathes, his abdominals constrict and relax in a lilting motion that leaves me mesmerized. Then I notice a long, pale scar running from the outside of his shoulder all the way across his chest. He speaks before I get a chance to ask about it.

“Do you want the lights on, or off?”

I stumble for a reply. I’ve never been self-conscious about my body before, but his is completely