Like he’d been challenged so many times in his life.
“Wow. I’m so sorry about your losses. I’ll have to think about that.” She dropped her gaze to her mug again and remained lost in thought for a long time. “It’s been quite a day, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, it has. Tomorrow will be crazy, because the family is going to come to check on him.”
“They don’t just call?”
“You’ve obviously not been involved with a large Hispanic family before.” Call? They descended en masse from all corners of the state when there was a family crisis.
“Um, no. No, I haven’t.”
“Just wait. You’ll see.”
Sipping again from her mug, she realized she’d just about consumed the whole thing, but clutched the mug like it was some sort of protective chalice.
He caught her gaze. She was frightened, yet curious. Very intriguing mix this Rebel was. And she had his complete attention.
When she lowered her mug, he placed his left arm around her shoulder and drew her close against his side. With his right hand, he lifted her chin and closed the distance between them. Slowly, he pressed his lips against hers when he really wanted to ravage her mouth. Gently, he squeezed her shoulders when he wanted to clasp her tightly. Easily, he parted her lips with his tongue when he wanted to consume her with his mouth.
She was as sweet as any woman he’d ever tasted, but she was such a frightened, delicate thing he knew he’d have to be gentle, though his body insisted otherwise.
When she pulled back, confusion, curiosity and arousal warred in her face. “I don’t know what to think about this, Duncan. I’m not a virgin, but if I were more worldly, more experienced, I’d know how to deal with this.” This was the first time she’d truly opened up to him, and he didn’t want to let go of it.
“With what?”
“With what’s going on between us.”
“What, exactly, is going on between us?” He knew. He just needed to hear her say it.
She lowered her eyelids. “You know.”
“What I know is this has been brewing since the day we met.” Truly. From the second he’d seen her in the parking lot, she’d held him captive.
“What, exactly, is that?” she asked, turning his words around on him.
“This attraction. This need to touch you, kiss you. This desire to hold you in my arms and never let you go.”
Rebel blinked, uncertain whether he’d just said the words she’d wanted to hear. But she’d never let any man get close enough emotionally to her to say them. She’d always run before she could be disappointed. Could she let Duncan past the barriers she’d erected and held so firm?
“I had a boyfriend in college who I loved dearly. When I finally told him about my family, he broke up with me. Said he couldn’t deal with someone who might die at any moment.”
“He was an idiot to let you go. And it was probably just an excuse.” He reached for her mug and set it aside on the table with his. “Well, it’s been a long day. Why don’t I see you upstairs, and we’ll call it a night, then?”
After removing the Pendleton blanket and setting it aside, he took a look at her, let his gaze wander down over her body, and sighed. Reluctantly, she allowed him to lead her up the curving staircase to the gallery. She stopped at the third door. “This is where Lupe put me, I think.”
“It’s a nice room.” He led the way inside and tugged on her hand, then shut the door.
From the inside.
“Duncan? What are you doing?” She paused, her gaze questioning. She was blossoming right in front of him, opening and tremulous. She was like a new angel just getting her wings.
“Rebel.” He stepped closer, his mind and his body aching to touch her, but this was a moment of great importance. If he scared her, if he hurt her, there would never be any turning back. “Let me stay with you tonight.” He urged her closer. “Let me hold you tonight and let what happens between us happen.” He tilted her face up. “It’s been happening since we met, and I don’t want to let go of it, of you.”
He could see the pulse in her neck thrumming away and his heart raced at a similar pace. He wanted her without a doubt, his body was aching and hard already. But could she accept the intimacy of baring her soul and her skin in one night?
“Duncan.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her face against his hand, allowing herself to accept him in small measures. Their bodies were millimeters away from each other. Her fragrance and the electricity surging between them were almost overwhelming. He had to pace himself or he’d frighten her more than she already was. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you want to make love with me tonight.”
WHEN HE CUPPED his hands around her face and tilted it up to his, she didn’t resist. She couldn’t. How could she resist the one right thing that had happened to her? This moment, this time, this man were all perfect. Pushing away thoughts that she didn’t deserve this, deserve Duncan or to be loved fiercely, she brought her hands to his shoulders and hung on.
There was a change in him, a tuning in, a focus that was intense and overpowering. A chain reaction occurred in her, and she was on fire.
With impatient hands, he whisked the black sweatshirt off, over her head, baring her upper half.
“Wow. I hadn’t expected that.”
“What?” Her breasts weren’t big, but they did the job.
“I expected a sensible white bra, not gorgeous pink nipples with nothing covering them.” His thumb strayed to tease one.
“I was wearing a sensible white bra, but it was wet and I didn’t want to put it back on.” There was no way to hide the flush that covered her entire body.
Watching her face, he cupped both of her breasts in his hands and stroked her nipples. Tingles of desire raged through her, and her eyelids dropped. She didn’t know if she was going to live through this night, but if she didn’t, at least she’d die happy.
“I would like to extrapolate on that idea.”
“Uh…What?” She was nearly delirious with desire, and he was talking theories?
“Since you aren’t wearing a bra, I’m guessing you aren’t wearing panties either.” His right hand explored beneath the waistband and discovered nothing but skin. “I thought so.”
“What?” Brain function minimal. Comprehension vague.
“You are a woman full of secrets.” He leaned closer, his breath hot in her ear. “At first look, one would never guess there’s
