The Most Powerful Of Kings - Jackie Ashenden Page 0,27

and settling it there, heavy and sure. Then he eased her closer, fitting every inch of her up against every inch of him.

The heat between them was searing, burning her, but she didn’t want to pull away. No, she only wanted to get closer, press harder against him, take more, take it all... ‘What are you doing?’ she asked breathlessly. ‘I thought you said—’

‘I know I did. And all of that is true. I want you to understand the implications and the consequences.’ He eased her even closer, so her hips were pressed to his and she could feel the long, hard ridge of his arousal. ‘Because I want you, little nun. I want you very badly. And you need to decide if you still want to go through with this, because if you don’t, you need to tell me now and tell me very clearly, so there can be no doubt.’

He felt so good, hard and hot, and so strong. She wanted to surround herself with that heat, with his power and strength, have him burn out the loneliness that sat inside her, melt the ice in the centre of her heart.

She understood the implications, and the consequences, and even though a part of her knew that she didn’t, not really, she found she didn’t care. She wanted him. She wanted this moment, because she knew she’d never have it again. If she turned her back and walked out of that door, she would lose something precious and she would never get it back.

So she didn’t think and she didn’t hesitate. She simply slid her hands up his broad chest and around his neck, rose up on her toes, and claimed his mouth, giving him her answer.

She tasted exactly the way he’d thought she would. No, better. If that was even possible. Sweet, like strawberries on a summer’s day, or the fizz of very good champagne, the bubbles bursting on his tongue. Sweet, yes, but with the most delicious bite.

He shouldn’t have kissed her, shouldn’t have let her touch him. Because the moment she had, he knew he wouldn’t be able to let her go. Definitely, he should have stopped himself from teasing her, taunting her, or daring her into challenging him.

But he’d never thought she would want him so badly, that she’d hold tight to him, her mouth hungry under his. He’d never expected that there would be tears in her eyes as he tried to put her from him, looking at him as if she were dying and he were her last chance of rescue. And he’d never realised that all of those things would get through his defences the way they had, making his control feel as tenuous as smoke, silently slipping through his fingers.

That could not be allowed. He had to get it back again and there was only one way to do that.

As if any of this is about your control. You just want her.

But he shoved those thoughts away. They didn’t matter right now, because her mouth was on his and she tasted hot and it had been a long time, such a very long time, since he’d had a kiss this sweet. This tantalising and delicious.

Her body against his was soft and warm, a musky feminine scent winding around him and he was so hard he ached. He mostly preferred his women toned and athletic, because he was a hard man, and demanding. But she was all softness and womanly curves, and he wanted to sink into her, take all that sweetness for himself.

He pushed his fingers further into her hair, the little bun at her nape unwinding, spilling silk all over his skin as he held her steady to take the kiss deeper. She made another of those little throaty moans, pressing delicately against him as she tried to kiss him back. Her tongue was hesitant at first and then got bolder, exploring him as much as he was exploring her.

If he wasn’t careful, this inexperienced, sheltered little nun would undo him.

He shifted, picking her up in his arms and carrying her over to the long leather couch. Then he sat down on it with her in his lap. Her hair was hanging down her back, pale as moonlight over her skin, and she kept trying to kiss him, her breathing out of control and ragged in the silence of the room.

He ran his hands down her back, soothing her at the same time as he found the zip on her