Page 30 of Wicked Rivals
“There is that arrogance again.”
“Confidence,” Ashton corrected. His warm breath fanned across her face. She tried not to think about how good it felt to be so close to a large, warm, masculine body. She never asked anyone for help when she could avoid it, but sometimes she could still be tempted by the strength of a man like Ashton. Someone she could imagine would protect her, care for her.
It doesn’t make me weak; it’s simply that he’s too hard to resist.
“I’m not interested in being your lover,” she said. Yet she couldn’t stop staring at his lips. Full, sensual,kissable…
“You don’t have to be. But a few kisses at the right time would at least convince my mother we are courting. And it should seem to her as if we have kissed before.”
“Wehavekissed before.”
“Practice does make perfect…” His head dipped a few inches toward hers, but his lips did not touch hers. Her body was nearly exploding with tension at being so close to him. She was angry, yet full of desire and utterly confused, but she knew she did want to kiss him…because he was right about her lying before. She liked how he kissed far too much.
She wasn’t sure who moved first. When their mouths met it was like setting a torch to a keg of gunpowder. All that she’d endured the last two days exploded out from her through her kiss, equal parts anger and passion.
She gripped Ashton’s shirt by his neck, clinging to him, meshing her lips against his. Suddenly she was lifted up in the air, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Hard wood slammed against her back as he pressed her against the wall and kissed her ruthlessly.
Even in this we compete. The thought had her smiling, and then a chuckle escaped between their breathless kisses. When he paused to look at her, she couldn’t help her silly grin.
“What?” he asked, his tone playful. “What is so amusing?” He nuzzled her cheek.
She almost didn’t tell him, but the fire in the room and his hot body flush against hers felt divine. She couldn’t think past the delightful haze sweeping through her.
“We compete, even in kissing.”
His laughter at that was dark and delightful.
“We are rivals, darling. Perhaps we ought to compete in bed as well?”
His suggestion flooded her with images of their bodies entwined, fighting to be the best at pleasuring the other to the point where neither of them would recover for days.
“Don’t you want to best me in that, future wife?” he asked huskily. “Put me in my place?”
Future wife. That brought her dire situation crashing back down upon her.
“This is only a game.” It was as much to remind herself as it was him.
He pulled away, but only a few inches. “I know, but why are you so frightened of the idea?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Because I cannot give a husband what he would want.” She could never let him know just how terrified she was to lose the sense of identity she’d managed to build for herself.
He kissed the corner of her mouth, gently fisting one hand in her hair. The gentle but possessive hold made her body burn with heat.
“Why…not?” Ashton asked again, licking the shell of her ear now.
“Because I don’t…” Her mind was too fuzzy, her body too hot to think clearly.
One of his hands stroked up her outer thigh, his grip hard but not hurting. Just right…
“Come now, sweetheart, what has you so frightened?”
Damn, the man knew how to hold her, to touch her… “I cannot letanyman control me ever again.” Memories of long, cold, frightening nights in Scotland when her father’s temper ran high had left scars on her heart.
He pulled back from her in order to stare at her. “Your husband was cruel to you?” Ashton guessed.
With a shake of her head, she pushed at his shoulder, but he didn’t release her.
