“A single kiss. One kiss, merely to discover if you harbor any affection for me at all.”
“A gentleman would never suggest such a thing! I will not engage in such licentious play.”
Yet she made no move to leave. Blake drew closer. “What are you afraid of?”
“Ridiculous!” She whirled around, but Blake grabbed her hand and pulled her close. When she made no move to resist, he wrapped an arm around her and drew her against his chest. Her soft curves molded against his firm muscles, and still she remained. In truth, she seemed to weaken in his embrace.
Slowly gently, he put his lips on hers.
Chapter 28
E
meline wanted to resist. She did! She wanted to slap the rogue pirate and storm from his cabin. She wanted to….
But chains wrapped about her heart…her body, holding her a prisoner in his arms. The bulkheads, the deck, the furniture, the windows all faded away as if they’d been but a dream, and she’d finally entered reality.
Heavenly sensations swirled down to her toes, then spun back up again, sending her heart leaping, her breath heaving, and resurrecting an urge within her to become a part of this man, spirit, soul and…body.
Pressing her closer, he explored her mouth with such tenderness, such desire, her legs grew weak. He caressed her back, ran fingers over her cheek, then encased her in his arms once again. She’d never felt so safe, so cherished as she did in that moment.
And so out of control!
She sensed his need for her growing, and planting her palms on his chest, she nudged him back.
Withdrawing, he leaned his forehead against hers, their heated breaths mingling in the air between them.
“I’d say that settles it, don’t you?” His voice was coarse with desire.
What was she thinking? She wasn’t thinking. This had naught to do with thoughts or logic or reason. This had everything to do with her heart and the waves of pleasure still flowing over her entire body. She wanted more of this man, more of every part of him. And she hated herself for it.
She wanted to say it settled nothing, but she now knew that, regardless that this man was a power-greedy, lecherous pirate, regardless he had kidnapped her and kept her captive, regardless he most definitely was not the hero in the romance she’d always dreamed of…
She loved him.
But would her love be enough? Or was he merely toying with her girlish emotions? As no doubt he had with many a female before her.
Drawing back, she raised her gaze to his.
What she saw in his eyes nearly sent her careening backward—love, care, affection, Not lust, nor playfulness, but a seriousness, a determination. He ran a thumb over her moist lips and gave her a sultry smile. “You have me quite smitten, my little sugar bird.”
Smitten? No one had ever been smitten by her. But smitten was not love, and she would not settle for less from the hero in her story.
When she didn’t respond, he added, “You cannot hide your affection for me, Emeline. ’Tis written on your face, burning in your eyes, and shouting from the heat of your passion.”
She lowered her gaze. “Passion is not love. Perhaps you confuse the two.”
He cupped her chin with his fingers and raised her eyes to his. “Perhaps ’tis you who are confused, for I have known passion. But I have not known love until this moment.”
Love.
She studied those almond-shaped eyes of his, searching for insincerity, for any hint of mirth to expose his deceit. All she saw was a depth of emotion that nearly made her leap back into his arms.
“Tell me you feel the same, Emeline. I know you do.”
She hesitated, unsure whether the truth would help or hurt. But how could she deny it? Finally, she whispered, “I do.”
His grin was wide as he reached out and drew her close once again.
