“Quite a bit, actually. Until recently, I was… a ship’s captain.” He thought it best to hide the exact nature of his past profession. It seemed a lifetime ago anyway. Sometimes he wondered if he’d dreamed the successful life he’d built for himself.
“Really? I didn’t know that about you. So, you know the route we’ll be taking?”
He leaned closer, inhaling a deep breath of her sweet smelling, freshly washed hair. “I think we’ll probably go this way.” He covered her hand with his and trailed her fingertip over the map. “At least, this is the way I’d go if I were at the helm.”
She trembled and then turned her palm face up, twining her fingers with his. “Thank you for taking me to see my father. I’ve never had a friend like you.”
“Friends?” His gaze was drawn to the plump fullness of her bottom lip. He was dying for another taste of her. “Is that what we are?”
Her eyes widened, mirroring his reckless desire. “Of course. That’s all we can be.”
“Is it?” He ran his thumb over her cheek, willing her to make the first move. If only she’d meet him halfway and play the seductress. He wanted to be able to tell himself she’d known what she was getting in to.
“Oh, Talon.” She closed her eyes and turned her head, pressing her lips to his palm. “You make me ache for things I cannot have.”
“Come here.” He swept aside the books and sat on the edge of the table, then tugged on her hand until she stood. “Let me hold you for awhile.”
A choked little laugh escaped her lips. “This is so very wrong.”
He pulled her closer, into the lee of his thighs, reveling in the soft press of her breasts again his chest. He thought of what she’d said, about aching for things she couldn’t have. He felt it, too. This was the third time he’d held her, and it seemed more natural each time.
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I fear this thing between us will end badly. Already you’re monopolizing my thoughts and stealing my breath.”
He smiled into her hair, glad he wasn’t the only one. “Then why do you fight it?”
She lifted her head, and there were tears in her eyes. “Because I must. Daniel doesn’t take our vows seriously, but I could never forgive myself if I were to forsake them as well.”
He sighed and released her. “I’ll respect your wishes.” He forced a lightness he was far from feeling into his tone. “But I’m going crazy cooped up in this house. Would you like to go riding?”
She hesitated for a long moment, and he could see the battle being waged within her. She obviously wanted to spend more time with him, but it went against everything she’d ever been taught.
Come on. Take a chance. Just this once.
His silent pleading seemed to work. “Yes,” she said. “I’d love to.”
