Page 63 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“Then you don’t think I’m some kind ofharlot?” she asked quietly. “A woman without virtue.”
The vulnerability in her voice both brokehim and solidified his feelings. Meredith Taylor had become thesingle most interesting, central person in Jack’s entire life andhe wasn’t completely sure what that meant. All he knew was that hewanted to take her into his arms and comfort her and tell her allthe things she wanted to hear. She would believe him too because hewouldn’t leave any room for doubt.
“You’re perfect, just the way you are.”
She exhaled and her warm breath moved acrosshis throat. He closed his eyes, trying to fight off his growingdesire.God, he wanted her.
“That’s kind of you.”
His eyes opened and he stared longingly intoher hazel ones.
“I don’t mean it to be kind,” he said. “Imean to say that I admire you. You were brave to run away. I likethat you were so determined to live happily ever after with the manyou thought would be your beau forever. I’m sorry that you chosepoorly, but I don’t blame you for falling for a charlatan.”
Her hand dropped but he grabbed it.
“H-how can you say that?”
“Because I like you, Meredith. I like everybit of you,” he said. “I like the fact that you’re so damn honest.I like the way your hair always looks when it’s about to fall outfrom its pins. I like that I don’t frighten you and I like thosehideous dresses you wear. I like that you fought back, even if ittears me up that you were ever in a position where you wererequired to fight back. I like the fact that you can’t seem to stoptelling me things about yourself. I want to know every littledetail about you and your life, because I like everything about youand even the things you consider faults are more tempting tome—”
Her free hand came up to cover his mouth totry and stop him from speaking, but in a single motion he grabbedit, holding both of her wrists in a single, biting grip. He leanedforward, his forehead touching hers in a terribly intimate way.
“I can’t seem to help myself where you’reconcerned. Tell me what you want, Meredith.” She tried to shake herhead, but she couldn’t. “Tell me and I’ll do everything in my powerto give it to you.”
Her eyes floated up to his and he saw a lustthere that he had never seen before. With a particularly agonizingslowness, she tilted her head up, their mouths just barely touchingas she spoke.
“I can’t.”
“Should I tell you what I want then?” heasked, his breath moving over her lips. “I want to take you toBurnwall. I want to lock you away with me for a week and learnevery inch of your skin. I want you to trust me and I want you tobelieve me when I say you are the single most thought-provoking,mind-boggling woman I’ve ever met.”
Meredith’s eyes seemed to shine a littlebrighter that moment.
“Jack,” she whispered. “Please.” Shehesitated for only a fraction of a second. “Please. Kiss me.”
Without hesitation, without preamble, Jack’shands seized her upper arms as he pulled her up to stand before himand he kissed her so deeply, so senselessly that all sensiblereason disappeared the moment their lips touched.
Chapter Thirteen
Meredith’s mind was reeling. She had neverexpected to ask Jack to kiss her again and yet here she was, in theDuke of Mountebank’s private study, being all but devoured by a manwho had turned her world upside down.
He liked her. How had such a simplestatement wrecked her so? It wasn’t an outpouring of love, or adeclaration of intent, but it sent her heart aflame all the same.He kissed her with the same rare need as he had before and shepressed herself against him. Her hands came up to his neck as shekissed him. He smelled like scotch and he tasted like fury. Howcould such a feeling have a taste, she wondered as she held ontohim, desperate to feel his rough hands on her bare skin.
Everyone who knew about her escapade toScotland had thought she was a fool, but not Jack. He said she hadbeen brave for following her heart and he admired her for it. Shehad ruined her life, her reputation, and for a man who hadn’t caredone ounce about her. Meredith knew she had acted stupidly, but Jackwouldn’t admit it. Whether he meant what he said or was trying toprotect her feelings, she did not know, but she felt her heartpulse beneath her chest at the idea of Jack wanting to protecther.
If she could change the past, she wouldhave, especially now. She wanted Jack in ways that she hadn’t everadmitted out loud and yet she wanted to tell him. She wanted topull his head down and press her mouth to his ear and tell him allsorts of depraved, wicked things, if only to see if she could makehim blush.
Meredith kissed him back, shaken that shehad been so eager to be touched by him. It was as if she had beenonly half awake since the last time he had kissed her and now shewas aware of how much he affected her. It was like rememberingyou’re hungry only when you begin to eat.
Her hands went up over his arms, holdingonto the tightly wound bicep muscles that flexed beneath her touch.Good lord, she mused as he broke away, kissing down her neck. Hisentire body was a ball of energy, rippling and vibrating with anuntethered power she had never experienced before. Was he alwayslike this?
She felt an increasing need to knoweverything about him and yet her words stuck in her throat. All shecared about in that moment was being held and kissed by thisman.
His gripped tightened at her back as he heldher. Jack’s mouth traveled across the divot just above her claviclebone, where he licked and sucked at a particularly sensitive spotthat sent a spasm of jolts throughout her body. She shiveredagainst his hard body as he continued to kiss her neck, almostferocious in their conquering of her and she melted against him.Her soft body continued to shake, especially when she felt therigid length of him pressed into her belly. He half exhaled, halfhissed as her trembling hand came up to touch his chest, driftingdown to dare touch the heavy weight of him.
Meredith suddenly felt too warm to bewearing all the ridiculous night clothes she had on and felt anurge to undress. As if hearing her thoughts, Jack’s hands movedaround her, pushing back the opening of her dressing gown. Hisfingers skimmed the underside of her breast and she shivered withpleasure. She pressed into his scarred, calloused hand as hegripped her suddenly, his mouth coming back to hers with a bitingkiss.
It was tortuously slow and yet so very fast.She nipped at his ear and a rueful smile touched her lips when adeep growl rumbled from his throat.
“Easy, love,” he warned and Meredith had toswallow hard.
