He wipes a hand over his face. “I haven’t thought about women at all since my father died,” he says slowly. “But since you’ve been here, I can’t get my head on straight. You’re here. Every day. All the time. You’re in my house. You’re in my fields. You’re drinking coffee at my table and sleeping with my friends and wearing these…” His eyes dip down to my legs. “Theseskirts. I can’t get away from you.”
Okay,ow. “Like I said, I can get out of your hair?—”
He cuts me off. “And Ican’t focus,” he says emphatically. “Because I want you so badly.”
My stomach crunches. “What?”
The firelight shimmers over the planes of his face. “Two nights ago, I had to listen to two of my best friends making you come through the wall. I heard everything.” His expression gets hazy. “I don’t even know what they were doing to make you…” His Adam’s apple bobs. His voice roughens. “Some of the sounds you were making,” he finishes.
I’m going to hyperventilate. Where has all the air in the room gone?
“So you see,” he says slowly, “I don’t want you to go home. I want to keep you here. In my house. On my land. And I know you’re with Fraser and Cameron. I know I’m probably going to go to hell for it, but, God—” His breath catches in his throat. “God,”he repeats.
I’m spellbound. “But what?” I whisper.
His eyes flash to mine. “Please,” he says hoarsely. “Let me kiss you.”
THIRTY-FIVE
SUMMER
Idon’t even think. I just nod.
My thoughts completely shut off as Alec wraps a hand around the back of my neck, pins me up against the sofa cushions, and kisses me hard.
Just…nothing. Blackness. Just heat and warmth and sparking-hotpleasure. His body is hot and heavy, and his strong muscles press me into the soft couch cushions as his lips move over mine, taking me in possessive strokes. He tastes of coffee and fresh air, and it’s such an intoxicating combination that I can barely breathe.
Then, as fast as it began, he pulls away. I stare at him. My skin is hot under my clothes. The fireplace crackles a few feet away. In her pen, Crumpet rustles a bit.
Alec’s breathing hard, his shoulders heaving. “I’m sorry,” he says, his voice strangled. His eyes are black, his cheeks flushed. “I shouldn’t have…”
“Shouldn’t you?” I squeak. His hand is still on my neck. I like it.
His thumb strokes over my pulse. “Your heart is going so fast.” His face darkens. “You’re scared of me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.” He pulls back, frown deepening. “You ran out of here earlier like you were being chased. You’re always nervous around me. Shit. I’m so sorry.” He tugs at his hair.
“Alec,” I interrupt quickly. “I’m not scared of you. You’re just…” I struggle to find the words. “A lot. So authoritative. It’s imposing. But not scary.” I dare to reach out and place a hand on his bare chest. “I swear.”
He looks down at my hand on his skin. “Good,” he murmurs. “Good. I can’t have you scared.” He still doesn’t seem convinced. I know I have to make the next move here, so I lean forwards for another kiss, feeling timid.
He makes a low rumbling noise of pleasure and immediately pulls me closer, crushing me against his chest. He’s firm and commanding, holding me tightly and securely in his arms as he takes what he wants.Mine, his kisses seem to say as his mouth finds mine again and again and again in firm, hot strokes.
I kiss him back, and he grunts in approval, pulling me onto his lap. I feel his hardening length against my belly.
Jesus.
I shouldn’t be doing this, I realise dimly as he starts to press a line of frantic kisses down my throat. I should pull away. I’m already sleeping with Fraser and Cameron, for God’s sake. I can’t possibly want Alec as well.
But I do.
I want him. Need is dragging me to him like a magnet. As his hot mouth trails lower and reaches the neckline of my shirt, I grasp his hair. “Take it off,” I manage.
He turns to stone underneath me. For a moment, I think I’ve gone too far. His jaw works. “You’re sure?” he rasps eventually.
I nod, heart thudding. He closes his eyes briefly, then he fists a hand in my top, tugs it right off me, and tosses it across the room. His eyes are all pupil as he looks at me.
