Saving Rose Red - Maggie Dallen Page 0,38

matter how hard you try it just doesn’t? But then there are other times you find the perfect piece and—”

The words were mercifully cut off by a hard kiss as Cole reached for her and in one quick move pulled her against his chest. His lips were firm and ruthless, there was nothing tender and sweet about it. His typical restraint around her seemed to disappear and for one heart-stopping, mindblowing moment his actions were raw and primal.

Joy exploded through her at the pureness of it.

Moving against him, she pressed her lips to his and tried to show him just how sure she was about this. Her eagerness had the desired response. He let out a low groan that sounded helpless. His kiss gentled and his hands were infinitely tender as they framed her face, his fingers skimming over her cheekbones lightly, as if she might break.

He pulled back slightly and the look in his eyes could only be described as tortured. “This is a bad idea.”

She hesitated. Her first instinct was to argue with him—how could this be a bad idea? She cared about him and she knew without a doubt that he felt the same. But he wasn’t ready to admit it yet and, like it or not, she was certain he was trying to talk himself out of his feelings. For her sake, no doubt, but the end result was the same.

He didn’t want to want her.

She couldn’t make him change his mind overnight. He needed time. But right now, she needed him. She needed to know that she hadn’t lost him. That they had time.

Meeting his gaze, she refused to let him look away. “Just for tonight, Cole. I don’t need any other promises but I don’t want to be alone tonight. I don’t want you to be alone either.”

She could see the internal fight as clear as day between what he wanted and what he thought was right.

Her heart clenched with fear. She was about to lose him. Going up on her tiptoes, she kissed him the way he’d kissed her. With all the urgency that was burning inside her. Not holding anything back. He was a man of action, not one for words. So if she couldn’t convince him with talking, her kiss would have to speak for her.

Apparently her kiss was pretty convincing because in less than a second, he seemed to forget his arguments. His arms wrapped around her and once more she was being lifted off her feet so he had better access to her lips, her neck, her cheeks.

He rained down kisses on her like she was something to be adored. She shivered beneath his touch. Never in her life had she felt so cherished.

She knew he still had his doubts but she’d never been more certain in her life. This man cared about her. Maybe he’d even admit that he’d fallen in love with her one day. But whether he admitted it or not, she knew the truth.

More importantly, she knew how she felt about him. If this wasn’t love, she didn’t know what was.

Chapter Eight

This is wrong, this is wrong, this is so very wrong. But even as he thought it, he kept kissing her. He couldn’t stop, not even if his life depended on it.

And it might. The last thing he needed was to get distracted by a woman with pink hair and perfect tattoos and the ability to knock him off his feet with some softly uttered words.

But even as he told himself this, he held her tighter, crushing her to him until he thought he might never let go. Every sound, taste, touch…it drove him wild. Like everything about this woman had been created just for him. His perfect woman in one petite little frame.

Just for tonight, she’d said. After tonight…what then? Nothing. It had to end. She didn’t belong in his world and he’d lost the right to be in hers. He couldn’t shake the trouble that followed him, the darkness that was now as much a part of him as his tattoos or his muscles.

He pulled back slightly and looked down at the ground, willing himself to get control over his body and his emotions. His brain kicked back into action as he reminded himself of all the reasons that they could never be together. Not in the long run, and not even for one night.

She seemed to read his mind or maybe she just sensed his hesitation. He felt her hands on