“Oh, but I think differently.” His voice deepened. “I see a certain spark of light in your eyes whenever you look at me. My hands feel the soft quiver of your body whenever I touch you. I hear the catch in your breath whenever I’m too close.”
Gently, his thumb stroked her lips. She wanted to sigh, close her eyes, and enjoy the sensations flowing through her—the ones that make her body come alive with awareness. No other man could do this to her. At least she hadn’t met one, yet.
“Regardless, this isn’t going to happen between us, Nic.” She swallowed hard. “You are wasting your breath on me—you’re wasting your charm.”
“Oh, my lovely. Why do you not believe me?” He lowered his lips to hers and softly brushed them against her mouth. “I assure you, my feelings for you are real. I have never felt this way about any other woman.”
She wanted to believe him, but it was so hard. Were those not the very words rogues used to get what they wanted from a woman? “No…that cannot be.”
“Then let me show you.”
His mouth covered hers just as his hands moved down her neck and around her shoulders as he pulled her into his embrace. A part of her wanted to fight him all the way, but that part of her seemed to have disappeared, because it surely wasn’t standing in his hold right now. Against her will, she wrapped her arms around his waist as she moved her mouth seductively with his.
His lips were so very gentle, as were the stroke of his palms on her back. The warmth from his kiss shot heat flowing through her, making her heart hammer faster and her breaths quicken. The softness of his beard rubbed against her face, igniting more awareness inside of her body. Her legs threatened to crumblebeneath her, so she clutched the back of his jacket. He must have suspected, because his arms tightened around her.
A sigh of delight rattled through her throat unexpectedly. He responded by releasing a groan and deepening the kiss. He kissed like a man starved for affection, and heaven help her, she answered back just as urgently.
She didn’t know where the voices in her head had disappeared to, but no longer were they telling her to run away from him as fast as her legs would carry her. Instead, the voices inside of her mind were reminding her how lonely she’d been, and how she had longed to be kissed in such a passionate way that made her feel…complete.
His mouth left hers, but only to travel down her neck, leaving kisses along the way. His whiskers brushed softly against her skin. A different kind of excitement flowed through her now—one that she never wanted to end. She enjoyed the way he kissed her so passionately, she couldn’t breathe, and she loved the way the palms of his hands slid over her back as if trying to enfold her tighter against his hard frame.
“Oh, Tabitha,” he mumbled in between kisses, “I can’t believe this is finally real.” He lifted his head long enough to meet her gaze. “You don’t know how long I have wanted to kiss you…hold you. You are flawless, my lovely.” He placed his mouth back over hers.
Her heart soared with happiness. She wanted so badly to believe he was telling the truth. It must be because she was weak right now, but she desperately wanted his acceptance and his love. She wanted him to be the man of her dreams who would sweep her away to a world where she couldn’t remember her past and where it would never harm her again.
The wild kiss sent her to that place, even if she didn’t think it would be for very long. But suddenly, her limbs were weightless as if she floated on a cloud. It was then that she realized he hadpicked her up and carried her to the sofa. When he sat, she was still in his arms and on his lap, but their mouths had not broken apart at all.
Ahh, heaven.Could he indeed take her to a place she’d never want to leave? If Nic could erase all the pain from her past, she would do anything to keep him in her arms forever.
Chapter Fourteen
Nic kept waitingfor her to stop him, since that had been her habit every time he’d gotten close. But so far, she hadn’t acted as if she wanted to end their passionate kiss. Indeed, this must be a dream, but he would relish in this fantasy for as long as he could.
He’d seduced many women throughout the years, and he thought himself quite good at it. Yet not once with all those others had his heart ever burst with excitement. Not once had he just wanted to hold a woman, kiss her, and…yes, even cuddle. Never had he tried so hard at getting a woman to like him as he had with Tabitha.
Several months ago she’d accused him of being after one thing…that a man of his status would never sink so low as to want a wife who was a lowly servant. He no longer thought of her in such a way. She was a woman who had been on his mind constantly. She’d been terribly abused by Lord Elliot, and Nic was determined to show her that all men were not like her former employer. Nic would shower her with love and attention, and make her feel like the most special woman alive.
As for her being his wife—he’d have to think more on that subject—but for now, he wanted her to know that he wasverydifferent from other men.
As much as he wanted to start doing all of that to her now, he also knew Tabitha, and taking it slowly was the best course of action. The wait would be worth it.
Breaking the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers and sighed heavily. A quiver shook her body, but she still didn’t pull away. When he finally opened his eyes and peered into hers, confusion clouded her expression. He could tell she was very leery about his next move.
“Oh, my lovely,” he said softly. “I didn’t want to stop. I still don’t.”
“Then why did you?” she asked, stroking his facial hair with the tips of her fingers.
He chuckled and straightened, but still kept his arms around her as she sat on his lap. “Because you had mentioned we needed to talk. Do you still feel that way?”
“Uh…talk?” Tabitha blinked in confusion. “Oh, yes…um, talk. We indeed need to discuss some things.”
She wiggled in his arms, trying to move off his lap, but he held tight, and kept her there. “Please don’t move. It feels so nice—so perfect. I don’t want you to leave.”
Her cheeks blossomed with color, and she shyly glanced at his chest. He wasn’t used to seeing her this way. Using his knuckles, he tilted her chin up until she met his stare. He smiled and said, “Much better. Don’t you agree?”
Slowly, she nodded. “I do, but it’s hard to believe you share my thoughts.”
As he gazed into her eyes, he realized he could stare at them forever. Whether they were lit up due to her temper or because of passion, they were still amazing, and every expressive, eyes. “So please tell me what you came to talk to me about this afternoon.”
