Again.
Why, when her whole world was shattering into jagged shards, did her long-dead desires finally rise from the grave? She’d been somewhat happy these last five years after her separation from Elgin. She didn’t see the need to lust after men, especially when she had such bad luck with her first choice. For the first two months after he’d left, she had lain awake at night wondering if he’d come back. She was hiswifeafter all. She was the chaste, faithful spouse who’d let her husband do as he pleased in the bedroom. She’d never once asked for anything. For better or worse, right?
When the bookie’s bruisers showed up at her door, she’d finally realized he wasn’t coming back, and she was stuck with a marriage’s worth of pent-up sexual frustrations.
So, she buried her desires beneath her no-nonsense attitude and her sensual performances, and lived a celibate life without regret.
Until now.
Why did life have to be so complicated? Why did sex have to be so complicated? She’d had one lover, but evensheunderstood that ‘insert tab B into slot A’ wasn’t a complex thing. Sex was sex, lust was lust, and men were men, right? So why was Logan the only man who fulfilled her every fantasy?
“Ugh!”
Untying the twisted sheets from around her legs, she walked to the window overlooking the vast, dark expanses of the manor lawns.
She’d give anything to be able to hit the rewind button and go back the way she came, to a life that had only just begun.
She wiped at her face, fighting back the burning tears.
Again, her pride—and maybe her good looks—was all she had left.
A click brought her frustrated mind back to the moment.
Someone was coming into her room? At this hour?
Anticipation and fear infused her, and she stood still, unable to turn around.
Her vulnerability disgusted her.
The intruder could kill her where she stood, and she’d never see their face.
Hispresence immediately filled her with relief, but anxiety and desire roared up within her almost as quickly. He couldn’t have been far into her room, but she sensed him, his heat, his intensity, his desire.
When his hot breath blew along the back of her sensitive neck every nerve ending jumped.
She smelled him: man, sensuality, and lustful purpose.
Hesmelledlike sex shouldfeel.
His hands slid over the base of her neck, and she gasped.
“What you said earlierin the study...I don’t hate you.”
No, not hate.
What was it? Lust. Desire. Want.
All excellent candidates.
It was intense and deep, and capable of taking complete control when she was near. Hell, his being there, in her room, in the dark of night, was evidence of his inability to think clearly or act logically.
He’d left his room to make his way to hers, but had no idea what to say. An invisible push compelled him to get to her and convince her he didn’t hate her.
She trembled beneath his hands, and he couldn’t stop a smile of pure male pride.
He slid his index finger over the base of her neck.
She had such perfect skin.
