“I don’t.”
“Then why are you determined to send me away now?”
His jaw clenched. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I couldn’t live with myself if—”
“You seem to forget that I am not helpless.” She lifted a brow. “I have encountered bad men before. I am not incapable of holding my own.”
She saw the hard glint of determination in his gaze when he said, “That may be true, but the fact remains you don’t really knowme.”
She reached out and covered his hand with hers. “I know enough.”
He shoved a hand through his hair as he got up to move restlessly about the room. “No, you don’t. Not really. All you know is what Iallowyou to see. I have taken men’s lives without a second’s hesitation. I have done terrible things and didn’t lose any sleep over it. What sort of man do you think that makes me?”
“One that has done a lot to prove his devotion to his country.”
He moved toward her. Urging her to her feet, he took her face in both of his hands. “You forget that the list includes kidnapping an innocent woman.”
“You didn’t know that then,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes, as if he was praying for salvation. When he opened them again, they were haunted, full of the torment of his past. “You don’t understand what I’m saying. I am not the sort of man you can trust.”
She could smell the alcohol on his breath. “You’ve had too much to drink. You need a good night’s sleep so you can think more clearly.” She started to brush past him, but he caught her arm in his grasp.
“Did you not hear what I said?” he growled.
“I did.” She lifted her chin slightly. “But that isn’t who youare. Yes, you might have done what you needed to in order to survive, but I know that you would never hurt me.”
“What makes you so confident?” he challenged.
“Because you would have taken advantage of me a long time ago. Instead, you took a care for my wellbeing.”
“And what if I told you that I intended to drag you into that bedroom now and make you agree to be mine?”
Leah’s heart started to pound in her chest. She shouldn’t bait the beast in its cage, but she couldn’t resist calling his bluff. Either way, she vividly remembered what it had been like to sleep next to him and feel his comforting warmth swirling around her. She had never felt more safe. Now, she had never felt more… wanted.
“Is that what you want?” she asked softly.
His throat worked before he spoke, his Adam’s apple bobbing anxiously. “I wantyou. I won’t lie about that, because I can’t promise anything more than that. One night. It’s all I have to offer.”
Leah glanced to where his hand was still on her arm. Slowly, she moved toward him, but rather than try to disengage herself, she slid his hand up toward her bodice and let it rest on her breast. Her breathing instantly began to deepen. “I’ll take one night because it is all I can offer too.”
Chapter 12
Harlan hadn’t expected Leah to agree, but now that she had, he couldn’t ignore the gift she’d granted to him. With one fluid motion, he slid his arm beneath her legs and lifted her into his arms. Words weren’t spoken as he carried her to the bedroom and set her on her feet near the bed.
His gaze traveled the length of her body and back up again. He couldn’t wait to see her in all of her naked glory. He’d almost forgotten about his head wound, and honestly, he didn’t care. He was starting to feel better already.
Sliding his hands down the sides of her hips and legs, he bent down and lifted her skirts just enough so he could slip off her shoes. Catching her gaze now and then, it thrilled him to know that she was watching his every movement. As he returned to a standing position, he moved around behind her and began to unlace her clothes. As each layer was peeled away, his cock started to kick with urgency.
The material began to pile onto the floor, and he was gratified when she was left standing in her stays, chemise and stockings. Already, he could see the feminine curves of her body starting to take shape. His manhood swelled further as he admired her.
Her stays were front lacing, and he took his time turning her back around to him. He kissed her earlobe, the gentle curve of her neck, while he massaged the slope of her shoulders and her upper back.
“Mmm…” She released a low hum of approval, so he rewarded her by continuing the gentle attention. He had the feeling she was untried and he didn’t want to rush things if this was the only opportunity he might have to be with her. He hoped to God that it wasn’t, but he had no idea what the future might bring. It was best to enjoy every moment that was presented.
As he continued to lave at her soft, smooth skin, he moved his hands around to the front of her bodice. From this angle, she was petite enough that he could easily unlace her underclothes with skillful precision. When it loosened enough for him to slip his hand beneath the fastenings, he cupped her full breast in his palm and began to mold the flesh.
She gasped at the contact, and then moaned. He would wager that she was wet already. Desperate to find out, he let his other hand lift her chemise past where her stockings ended at her glorious thighs. He saw the center of her desire, the dark curls at the apex of her thighs. He had to grit his teeth, because he wanted to taste her, but neither did he wish to frighten her maidenly sensibilities.
