Page 38 of Brigand

He looped his forearms around her thighs and lifted her upand took her from another angle, hitting another spot deep within her.White-hot heat scalded her, a bliss so intense it curled her toes.

Her crisis threatened. Her body began to quake, to flutter,to spasm. She clenched him hard to hold it off, or to coax it closer. Shewasn’t sure which. Her thoughts had shattered and spiraled off into the night.She could only feel. Barely breathe. Only be.

And then she peaked. Bliss claimed her and took her andsucked her down into a miasma, a churning whirlpool of spinning emotion andsensation and rapture.

But he was not done.

He thrust again and again, pressing hard into her channel,near whimpering when her muscles melted and he sank deep—deeper than he’d everbeen before. Another wash of sharp pleasure raked her.

His pace increased. Became shorter, harder, faster. “Never,”he panted. “Never.”

“Ah! Never?”

His nostrils flared. His member swelled. He erupted,flooding her with his hot seed. It burned through her. Warmed her. Body andsoul.

“Never run from me again,” he growled. And then he took hermouth with his, repeating the words against her lips. Making her taste them.

His hips slowed but still continued that exquisite motion,now easing in and out as they both recovered from this sprint of passion. Hedrew out and lowered himself to her side. His pulse was visible in his temple,throbbing at a manic pace. He blew out a breath and scrubbed his face with apalm.

They lay there in silence, side by side, breathing heavily.

Violet struggled to calm her heart. She didn’t know what waswrong with her. How could she have enjoyed that? How could she already beyearning for more?

He was a beast and a brute and to him she was nothing but avessel.

She longed for a man who would love her. Truly, deeply loveher…not just make glorious love to her.

She wanted to matter to him. But she didn’t.

She turned her head away from him so he couldn’t see hertears. Not that he was paying attention. He’d finished with her after all. Atleast for now.

After a while, when his breathing calmed, she rolled over onher side and stared at the wall. He curled up behind her and wrapped his armsaround her, tugging her against the wall of his chest. His heart thumped,resonating in the echoes of her soul. Why couldn’t he love her?

Why couldn’t he love her the way she loved him?

With all his heart?

Because he wasn’t that kind of man.

And he never would be.

“I meant what I said.” His voice rumbled sleepily in herear. “Never run from me, Violet. I won’t allow it. I cannot allow it.”

She didn’t answer, other than a soft grunt. He seemed toaccept that as an assent and tightened his hold. His warmth seeped into her.His breath was a tender comfort on her cheek. She could lie like this forever.

She would not, of course.

As soon as he fell asleep, she would slip away.

And this time, he wouldn’t catch her.

* * * * *

Something woke him deep in the night. He’d been in the armsof a delicious dream so it took him a moment to come fully awake and recallwhere he was. Violet had rolled away so he reached for her…and found nothingbut warm blankets.

Ewan shot up and glared at the empty spot on the bed. Heraked the cabin with a furious gaze. There was little light, only a slight glowfrom the embers of the fire, but he could tell she wasn’t here. She’d gone.

With a plaintive roar, he sprang from the bed and pulled onhis braes. He saw at once that the lamp was gone as well. Fuck.