He could hear the sweet desperation in her voice. “Just let it come, sweet. I’ve got you.”
She tensed as the force of her release hit her. He wanted to prolong her ecstasy, to make her remember this forever. Taking her nipple fully in his mouth, he sucked her hard as his thumb massaged her most sensitive spot, and she careened over the edge of sexual oblivion.
He felt a heavy thud of his heart as the soft cries of her pleasure echoed in his ears.
It wasn’t enough. His need for this woman was too strong. He felt ready to explode—she was so ripe and wet, so ready for him. Blood pounded in his already burning loins, his passion dangerously close to spilling over. His entire body clenched with the effort at restraint. One touch, one innocent sweep of her hand, and he would be undone.
He wanted to sink into her, to cover himself in her heat. To bring her to a second orgasm as he thrust up high and hard inside her. To fill her with the hot burst of his seed.
To make her his.
No woman had ever done this to him, made him a twisted mass of dangerous cravings. The need to be inside her wasn’t just lust, it was something far deeper and much more elemental.
The devil taunted him mercilessly, urging him on, urging him to take what was so innocently being offered. To relieve the pain, to plunge into her and spend himself in her innocence. She wanted him. He knew he could give her even more pleasure.It would be so easy….
Her eyes fluttered open. An adorable sated smile spread across her face as she gazed at him with such wonder and trust that something inside his chest twisted.
And reality intruded.
What was he doing?He could almost allow himself to forget that she was a virgin. But as the haze of her orgasm lifted, he could see the reality of the situation coming back to her. Her gaze turned shy. Innocent. He sensed her subtle pulling away. The hesitation was back in her eyes.
Indecision teetered in the balance for one long heartbeat. But it was long enough to recognize the truth, damn it.
This was wrong. They’d gotten carried away by the intensity of the battle and drawn into the heady afterglow of survival. She’d been in shock by what she’d witnessed. He knew how vulnerable she was, knew that he should not take advantage of her in such a state, but her kiss had set off a combustion as powerful as fire on dry leaves.
His need for her was all-consuming.
But he could not delude himself that this was right. She deserved better than to be taken on a bed of dirt and leaves in the aftermath of a battle. She was a virgin, a gently reared lady who deserved to be showered with rose petals on a bed of silk. Who deserved much more than he could offer her.
Honor demanded that he stop.
Sweat gathered on his brow as the strain of holding himself back worked on him. Gathering the tattered reins of control, he rolled off her, staring blindly into the dark canopy of trees above them.
He felt stretched so taut, he jerked when she put her hand on his arm.
“Alex, is everything all right? Did I do something wrong?”
He heard the uncertainty in her voice.
“I’m fine,” he said gruffly. He didn’t trust himself to look at her, with her naked breasts still heaving over the edge of her stays.
“But you’re in pain. Is it your ribs? Oh, why didn’t you say something!” she exclaimed with alarm, immediately placing her hands on his chest, intent on ministering to his injury, but her touch only exacerbating the real source of his pain.
Sitting up, he grabbed her wrists, wrenching her hands from his chest. “It’s not my ribs,” he said through clenched teeth. “Just give me a minute.”
Their eyes met, and he could see her begin to piece it together. “It hurt you to stop. Why did you? I…I know there is more.”
So much more. His body wouldn’t let him forget. He wondered if he’d ever be able to forget what had happened here today. It was a sobering thought.
“Aye, but not here. Not like this.” He swept aside a lock of hair that had tangled in her lashes, tucking it gently behind her ear. “It wouldn’t be right.” He stood up, intending to begin preparations for their return. After giving her a minute to adjust her clothing, he turned to help her to her feet.
“Thank you, Alex.”
“What for?”
“For everything you did today. For killing those men. For being so honorable.”
Alex felt a twinge of alarm. There was more than simple admiration in her voice. What damage had he done this day? He knew a woman like Meg would not give herself so freely, no matter how swept away with passion, unless…He couldn’t think about it. Wouldn’t allow himself the possibility. Wouldn’t acknowledge the swell of happiness that rose in his chest. He was not the man for her. It was time to dispel her of her knightly imputations. “I’m not the man you think I am, Meg.”
