His for the Taking - By Ann Major Page 0,15
her back underneath him, her legs spread wide, writhing like a wanton. No doubt, when he finished his business he would blame her and think her as cheap as her mother.
“We have to stop,” she whispered, feeling miserable because she ached from wanting him. “Or we’ll go too far…and regret it.”
“I won’t regret it.”
He popped her bra loose with a snap. Lifting her breasts to his lips, his warm mouth licked each of her nipples until they beaded like a pair of ripe berries, causing tremors to race down her spine. Had she ever felt so weak and feverish and needy?
She pushed at him in earnest. “We have to stop this—now.”
“What?” he muttered. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am!”
She felt desperately close to the edge. She shook her head even as her arms clung to him fiercely. “We have to stop,” she whispered brokenly. “I’m begging you.”
His eyes closed for a long moment as if he were trying to shut out her demand.
“Cole!”
“All right, then,” he said at last. Giving her a dark, tortured look, he yanked his large, tanned hands from her body as well as his gorgeous lips from her breast. “You win.”
Never in her whole life had she wanted anything more than she wanted him. She ached everywhere and all her nerves felt raw. Because her limp knees would not have supported her otherwise, she sighed heavily and leaned back against the tree. He looked so dark and bereft and handsome as he finger-combed his black hair, she had to sag against the tree for fear she would hurl herself back into his arms and beg him to take her.
Breathing hard, he turned his broad back on her and stared with weary frustration at Cinnamon and then at the sparkling river. For her part, she continued to lean against the tree trunk while she fought a losing battle to steady her breathing. After a long time, she pushed away from the tree and refastened her bra.
When she’d rearranged her clothes and smoothed her wet hair and was almost able to speak in a normal tone, she said, “I’m sorry about what nearly happened. I shouldn’t have let things get so out of hand.”
“It was my fault as much as yours,” he growled moodily. “So, how long do you figure on being in town?”
“Why should that matter? This proves we need to steer clear of each other.”
“I don’t see it that way. I’d like to see you again. The sooner, the better.”
“Not a good idea.”
“Why?”
She just shook her head. “That’s pretty obvious.”
“What if I give you my word that I won’t touch you? At least, not unless you ask me to.”
Too aware of her own burning hunger, she stared at him.
“Look, there are things about our past I’d like to resolve,” he said. “Maybe then we could both forget about each other. That’s what we both want—right?”
She was so out of control, she didn’t know what she wanted anymore. No. That wasn’t correct. She wanted the life she’d planned, didn’t she? So, why did denying him hurt so much she ached?
It was dangerous sport looking at man like Cole, a man who was still as wrong for her as he’d been in the past, especially when she was wet and trembling from his kisses. His stormy green eyes and tousled black hair made him look hot and turned on even while his uncanny resemblance to their precious son tugged at her heart…and her conscience.
At the thought of Noah, she flushed guiltily and shook her head. “We need to avoid each other.”
“I swear I won’t touch you.” Cole’s angular face was set, his low tone sincere. “Please—I really think we should see each other again. Do you think it’s going to be easy for us to forget, if we walk away—after that kiss—when what we need is closure? We need to talk.”
Even though she didn’t feel at all sure of herself, she agreed with him. “Maybe you have a point.”
“So let’s ride and then have dinner at my house or have a picnic somewhere later this afternoon. You still like to ride, right?”
She’d always loved to ride. “You mean horses?”
“What else?”
In spite of herself, she brightened. “I’m afraid I haven’t ridden much since I left Yella.”
“Some things you don’t forget.” His eyes were on her lips as his words lingered in the charged air that separated them. “You always said you wanted to see my house and horse barn, but that wasn’t possible…when my mother lived there.”
“She’s moved?”
“Yes. When my