Page 118 of If the Slipper Fits
So much for his plan. Now she would know beyond a shadow of doubt how badly he wanted to—
“Yes.”
Everything in him stilled. “Yes, you’ve been thinking about me kissing you?”
Her unblinking eyes met his. “Yes.”
In an instant, he had her face cupped in his hands and his mouth on hers. He’d imagined devouring her. Instead, he found himself savoring her sweetness.
Tremors vibrated his hands. Was he shaking or was she? Maybe both of them were.
Her lips parted, welcoming his tongue into her warmth, and she loosed a tiny mew of need.
Longing, fierce and intense and so hot it threatened to incinerate him from the inside out swept through him. How did shedothis to him?
Her arms twined around his neck and she pulled herself into him, or was that him pressing her close to touch every part of her he could? He didn’t care so long as nothing separated them.
“Anna,Anna,” he murmured against her lips. “I’ve been so desperate for you. I can’t…I need…” He couldn’t finish his thought.
His mind whirled and his insides seemed to liquify into the richest, hottest wax. He pulled his mouth from hers and pressed his forehead against hers. “I want you,” he said in a gravelly tone he barely recognized as coming from him.
“You do? Truly? I thought…” Her magnificent eyes lowered and her cheeks, already flushed, bloomed scarlet. Her words came out in a tumult. “I thought you’d had your fill of me and proposed only to do right by me, and I swear, Caden, if that’s the only reason—“
His choked laugh cut her off mid-sentence. “Sweetheart,” he smiled into her now glaring eyes. “I restrained myself for both our benefits.”
“I don’t follow.”
He inclined his head. The last thing he wanted now was a long, drawn out discussion. But he could spare a moment to clarify matters.
“I wanted you to feel what burns between us for yourself, to wipe any and all doubt from your mind as to our suitability. I think I accomplished my aim.”
She stiffened. “Well, that seems…” She sniffed. “…calculated and a tad arrogant.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and her body went satisfyingly pliant in his arms.
“It’s not arrogant if it’s true.” He kissed her temple, nuzzled the tender spot beneath her ear. “Do you want me to kiss you, Anna?”
He brushed his lips over hers, feather soft, teasing her, and torturing himself.
“You know I do, Caden,” she said, her voice breathless. “Pleasekiss me.”
His words came out a hoarse whisper. “Glad to know I’m not alone in this madness. I haven’t for one moment stopped wanting you, Anna. God knows I tried.”
“Caden.”Fisting his lapels in her hands she arched up to kiss him with a desperate, sweet ardor that stole his breath.
He pulled just out of her reach, and she huffed out her displeasure.
This was it. Time to play his ace.
“Then it’s agreed? When this is done, when we have your…situationsorted, you’ll marry me?”
Her brows furrowed. “It’s what you really want, Caden? It’s not just gallantry?”
“This again?” He took her hand and pressed it to his cock, straining against the fly of his trousers. “Does this feel like a man focused on gallantry?”
She drew in a shocked gasp. But rather than tug her hand away the moment he released her, her fingers traced the ridge of his erection, tentative and exploratory.
He shuddered in ecstacy.
