She followed his lead, her heart racing. He was her worst enemy in the world, and she was letting him kiss her. Not only that. She was...kissing him back. He tasted like honey...
Thats it, baby, he whispered. Yes. Just like that...
His arms contracted and his mouth opened, pressing her lips apart. His body was hardening as he held her. He hadnt felt anything so powerful for a very long time. Her mouth was the sweetest honey hed ever had.
She felt the strength in his hard arms, the warmth of his muscular chest against her breasts. She moaned softly as sensations shed never felt in her life lanced through her.
He heard the soft moan and suddenly ground her breasts against him as the fever began to burn in him. That was when he felt her go stiff.
He forced himself to lift his head. Her eyes were wide and shocked, and now there was fear in them. His eyes narrowed as he realized why. Her nipples were hard, like little stones pressing into his chest. Did she know why they were hard? he wondered. Because she acted like a woman with her first man.
His chin lifted as he looked at her. He felt arrogant. Have you ever had a man? he asked in a deep, rough whisper.
Her reaction shocked him. She made a sound like a sob deep in her throat and pushed at him, frantically. Let me down. Let me down, please!
He put her on her feet. She looked up at him with anguish.
The reaction set him off. He hadnt meant to touch her. The way she was riding had frightened him, God knew why. He was only trying to keep her safe. But she backed away as if hed done something unspeakable.
His pale eyes narrowed. Your love life is none of my business, he said shortly. But its a good act.
Her tongue felt thick. Act?
His mouth pulled up into a cold, sarcastic smile. The frightened virgin bit, he explained. He slid his hands into his pockets, and hateful memories flooded his mind, of another brunette, coy and teasing and innocent. Except that she wasnt innocent. Shed tormented him, shattered his life. It had started just like this.
She wrapped her arms around her chest. She felt cold all over. Technically, she was still a virgin. But that was only due to a physical barrier that had stopped her stepfather long enough for Gabriel to break in the door.
She closed her eyes, and a wave of pure nausea swept over her. She was back in that time, in that space, in her room, screaming for help that she never expected to come. Her mother had gone shopping. Gabriel was in school. Except that hed left class early. Thank God he had!
She shivered.
Wolf, watching her, was torn by conflicting emotions. Part of him was ablaze with a monstrous desire to push her down in the grass and have her right there. Another, saner, part was certain that it was an act. A woman who traveled, was sophisticated and was of her age was afraid of kisses? Shed been putting on an act. In his car, after the opera, in the park and now here. Tempt him, pretend to be afraid to make him vulnerable. And then the knives would come out of hiding. Exactly as they had with Ysera.
Ysera. His eyes closed on a silent groan. Hed loved her. What shed done to him was beyond cruelty.
Sara had turned away. She climbed back into the saddle. She didnt look at Wolf Patterson.
Ive been riding horses since I was three years old, she said through her teeth. When I was younger, I did rodeo. I know how to handle horses.
And now I know that, dont I? he said. He smiled at her. It wasnt a nice smile. It was demeaning, arrogant. Just for the record, I dont like brunettes. You might have noticed that the women I date are blonde.
She didnt answer him.
The frightened virgin bit wont work again, he added. Youll have to think of something a little more original. Im an old fox, honey. I know women.
She felt a chill run down her spine. She lifted her chin. Whatever you may think, Im not in the mood for a torrid love affair, Mr. Patterson, she said haughtily. Least of all with you.
He only smiled. Youd be lucky, he drawled.
She fought the memory of how gentle hed been, how very tender. She didnt want to remember. Her hand tightened on the reins. Then, involuntarily, she remembered what Gabriel had told her about Wolfs mother, and she winced inwardly. The woman had done untold damage. No doubt there was some other woman, as well, more recently, whod added to his scars. He was the most mistrustful person shed ever known. She didnt trust people, either, but she couldnt talk to him. He disliked her. But why had he kissed her? She couldnt understand the way he went from hot to cold and back again with her.
He was studying the horse closely.
Something on your mind? she asked coolly.
Couldnt get the broom cranked?
Her black eyes flashed like lightning. If I had a broom, Id hit you with it!
And you know what Id do when you did, dont you? His voice was deep and caressing. His eyes were sensuous, like that firm, chiseled mouth, smiling at her as if he knew everything she was feeling. She could see in her mind what he was thinking, see him take the broom away and jerk her into his arms, and bend his head...