Page 80 of Tempting the Highland Spy
Did he have any idea how much she adored him?
Pity she could not have a future with him.
But she could cherish these moments.
She would savor this time with him.
In his arms.
In his bed.
Relaxing into his embrace, she kissed him. Softly, at first. Almost tentatively.
He dipped his head, eagerly tasting the love she offered. Giving and taking. Needing her, just as she needed him. Their desire seemed a tangible thing, a bond forged through touch and tenderness, through passion and persuasion.
His erection pulsed against her softness. He was hungry for her. Just as she longed for him. The very thought of it thrilled her.
Threading her fingers through the uncombed strands of his hair, she caressed his mouth with her own. Not merely a kiss. No, she longed for him. And she would not hide this truth. This was no time for deception. No time for pride.
The only thing that mattered was the sweet temptation of his touch and the steady thrum of her pulse, each beat of her heart driving her need to a fever pitch.
They made love again, a delicious joining that seemed an exploration. The night before, they’d been mad for each other, the carnal hunger triumphing over patience and gentle yearning.
But now, in the soft light of morning, she delighted in learning the contours of his chest with its dark hair that feathered over his pectorals and tapered into a tantalizing line to accentuate the flatness of his chiseled belly, the lean-muscled power of his biceps, and the muscles of his hard backside.
She delighted in learning what brought him pleasure.
She delighted inhim.
And for now, he was hers.
Hers.
What a beautiful word, she thought as she lay in his arms, drinking in the heat of his body. Sated and breathless, quite thoroughly loved, she listened to the blend of rhythms of their breaths. If paradise on earth were real, she’d found it, right here in Harrison’s arms.
Her heart throbbed with an ache that had nothing to do with pain.
She’d developed strong feelings for him. She could not deny that.
Had she fallen for him?
No, it couldn’t be.
Oh, no, she would not have made such a devastating mistake. It was only natural to feel a certain yearning while lying in the arms of the man who’d touched her so passionately, who’d kissed her so tenderly.
But love?
Absurd. She’d never even considered the possibility of such a foolish surrender.
Still, the truth pierced the shell she’d erected.
I love him.
The ache in her heart grew ever more powerful.
Oh, I’ve gone and done it now.
Harboring such feelings for Harrison—for any man—was a mistake. Loving him could serve no purpose. After years of carefully guarding her emotions, she’d opened herself to heartbreak.
