Page 124 of The Trouble with Tigers
Satisfaction like he’d never known slammed through him as she clung to him, pulling him closer, even as he strained to press every inch of his body into hers.
With a moan, He cupped her bottom, lifting her off her feet, then dropped with her onto the poorly sprung bed. “Mine,” he breathed against her lips.
“Zeke, oh, Zeke, always,” she said on a sigh. Her fingers trailed up and down his back in gentle, long strokes, slowly soothing the wild beast inside him.
His mouth covered hers, savoring her tender surrender as his hands roamed her body, alternately squeezing and caressing her through her damned evening gown.
Unerringly, his hips found hers, his erection nestling within the apex of her thighs, and he ground into her rhythmically, unable or unwilling to stop himself.
“Christ, I want you. I always want you.” How did she do this to him?
Her body went pliant beneath his, legs parting. She wriggled, arching slightly until his hips settle snugly against hers. Pleasure and torture collided. She wanted him. But wanting him wasn’t enough.
“You love me,” he purred into her ear. “Say it.”
“I do love you, Zeke. I love you so much,” she avowed, banishing the darkness engulfing him since discovering her gone.
He hefted himself onto his forearms to stare down at her. “And you’re going to marry me. Not that bloody fool cousin of yours. Not anyone else.Me.”
God, she was beautiful with her luminous green eyes, her creamy white skin, and blue-black hair.
“Why?” she demanded, her eyes intent on his.
Her question caught him off guard. He brought his fingers to trace her hairline. “Because…" He grunted. "What do you mean why?”
“I mean why do you want to marry me, Zeke? Do you…” She bit her lip. “Do you love me, too?”
Alarm bells clanged in his head. There was no right answer to this question. None she would understand, at any rate. He didn’t believe in love. But he knew what he felt for her was different than anything he’d ever experienced with a woman. He wanted her. Wanted to protect and keep her. “Kitty—”
“You don’t,” she whispered.
He blew air out of his cheeks. “I told you, I don’t believe in love. Not the way you do.”
He was losing her. He could feel distance creeping between them though neither had moved an inch.
“Kitty, I want you. You know I do. And you want me.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “But wanting’s no reason to marry. I think you’d better leave. Now.” She tried to hoist him off of her.
“I’m not going anywhere. Not without you.” He knew in his gut he’d missed the mark. She had no intention of leaving with him. The darkness inside him returned with a vengeance.
“Why should I marry you instead of Garrick? What’s the difference if love means nothing?” she demanded.
This again. He rolled off her and sat up. “The difference is your brother is marrying you off to save his own sorry hide,” he ground out.
“And your reason is so much more noble?” Kitty propped herself on her knees behind Zeke. “My brother seeks to regain his title. You want to marry me so you can leave your grandfather alone in good conscience.”
“It isn’t like that,” he hissed.
“It’s exactly like that.”
A knock sounded at her door.
“Collin,” she mouthed, eyes going wide.
Zeke bared his teeth. “Excellent.”
In a flash of movement, Kitty dove forward, clutching at his shoulders. When he would have brushed her off, she skittered onto his lap, locking her arms around his neck. “No, Zeke, please,” she begged, pressing her face into his neck.
