Page 35 of Raven's Rise
Rafe pulled away and looked her over with approval. “So youhavebeen thinking about my offer.”
“That is not true,” she breathed out. Yet he could tell by her breathing that something stirred her interest. And he’d bet it wasn’t the moon.
“If it’s not true, then why are you holding me as if I might get away?”
Angelet glanced down, seemed to realize that she had reached for him, and gasped in dismay. Her hands flew up, fingers splayed wide.
He caught her hands in his, then put them back exactly where they’d been. She took a breath, then said, shyly, “If you wanted to…you could kiss me again.”
He wanted to. Rafe wanted to do a lot of things with her, but he only kissed her, because that was what she asked for. He concentrated on her neck, laying little, teasing kisses on her skin. How the hell was it possible for a woman to be so soft?
When he licked her collarbone, Angelet actually moaned. His need sharpened about a hundredfold.
“How’s the moonrise?” he asked, forcing a light tone. God, he wanted to see her naked in the moonlight.
“It’s very…inspiring.”
“Mmm. Are you even looking at it?”
“Yes!” she said. But she spoke just as he ran his tongue along her neck up to her ear, and it certainly sounded like she was saying yes to him.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.
“You know exactly what I’m doing.”
She opened her mouth when he kissed her again, and curled her hands around his neck and slid her tongue along his. Lord, this woman was going to destroy him.
She sighed when he dipped his head and kissed her neck again. He took his time, teasing her with his lips, exploring her body with his hand, going slowly so he didn’t alarm her. Widow or not, it was clear that she’d been without a man for a long time. Too long.
He gathered up the fabric of her skirts to expose her legs, and then touched her. “Angelet? Is this what you want?”
She had closed her eyes. “It feels good,” she murmured, and she inadvertently let out another little moan.
In response, Rafe tightened his grip, his fingers digging into her flesh a little more as he explored her body by touch. His hands were roughened by years of physical work, fighting, and riding, but she didn’t object, and then, thrillingly, even laid her own hand to guide him upward along her thigh.
“What do you want, Angelet?” he murmured, ready to perform any feat she requested. “Tell me what to do.”
She left out a breath, and he felt it across his skin. He wanted to feel her breath on so much more of his skin, unhampered by clothing. He wanted to know exactly how she’d feel under his hands…
Angelet took a ragged breath. Her eyes were wide in the moonlight, and she looked as if she might be a moon goddess herself.
Then she gasped out, “Let me go.”
Damn.He released her instantly and stepped away, his eyes still locked on her. “There you are, free.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. This isn’t something I can do. It’s not right…”
He stifled the disappointment—and the lust—raging through him. “What did I tell you, Angelet? Whatever you want from me, all you have to do is ask. Even if what you want is nothing.”
She turned her face away. “It’s not about what I want, Rafe.” Angelet straightened her skirts nervously. “I should not have… This was a mistake. We should go back.”
“As you wish.” He pointed to the trail. “Can you see it in the dark? You can go ahead. I’ll be right after you.” That way he could keep an eye out for danger over her head while ensuring that no one could grab her from behind.
She nodded, then repeated, “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head.Shewas sorry? He was the one who was chasing her for the basest of reasons. “Never apologize to me, Angelet. Never.”
They returned on the same trail, or what he thought was the same trail. He couldn’t get lost anyway. All they had to do was keep following the downward slope toward the smell of a campfire below.
