Amado wanted to take her in his arms.
Her prim carriage and her clipped, businesslike speech were only one side of Susannah Clarke. He’d enjoyed the delicious privilege of seeing the other side.
He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since she left. About her serious and thoughtful expressions. About the arch of her body under his. The way she had clung to him, her limbs taut with arousal. How she’d writhed beneath him as their passion built to exquisite agony, followed by an explosive exhale of sweet relief.
It was a night he’d never forget, with a woman he couldn’t get out of his mind.
Especially now that she’d turned his life upside down.
Her elegant chin tilted as she defied his challenge. He took another step forward. Uninvited, he slid his hand under her jacket and ran his palm over her breast.
She gasped. Her nipple tightened under his palm. And she didn’t step back.
Desire spiked through him as he cupped her breast. Peered into her mysterious dark eyes. Her mouth closed, then opened again. A silent protest? Her lips were naturally dark, the color of smashed berries, and he longed to crush his mouth over them and drink deep.
One more step brought his chest within inches of hers. His hand still on her breast, testing, teasing, he inhaled the scent of her in the hot afternoon air.
He could already taste her desire on his tongue, smell it on the wind. Also her fear.
He slid his hands around her back, pulling her close. She stood like a statue, the air between them thick with tension.
He laid his palms over the dip of her waist, enjoyed the curve of her backside. He could hear her breathing, feel her arousal swelling like a bud thickening and preparing to open.
Against her will.
If he lifted her dress he’d bet her panties were already damp with longing. His erection strained against his zipper.
Maybe he’d take her here, on the hard stone of the patio, under the unforgiving sun. With the mountains watching in stern silence.
Her lips parted and a shaky breath escaped. Her eyes slid closed for a second as her insides quivered under his fingers. He felt her muscles contract under her neat dress.
Waiting for him.
Hoping.
Their tongues clashed as he kissed her, hot and hard. The taste of her was intoxicating, a drug he’d craved.
Her body crushed against his, lithe with passion as she kissed him back, clutching his face to hers with eager hands.
A low, guttural moan escaped her as he lifted her dress and tested her slick heat with his fingers.
He slid a finger into her silky depths and she rocked against him. He held her steady with one hand behind her back as he brought her swiftly to climax with his finger and thumb.
His power over her was absolute at this moment. Eyes closed, she gave herself over to the fierce magic of the moment.
The tremor raged through her and he caught her as she almost lost her footing. Panting, she rested against him for a second.
Then she realized he’d stopped and was just standing there.
Staring at her.
Prim and proper Susannah Clarke’s eyes were black with passion. A dark flush heightened her proud cheekbones and her long dark hair hung about her shoulders, wild from his caresses.
He let her dress fall back to her calves.
Didn’t say a word.
Her glaze of passion lessened and confusion flickered in her eyes.
Good.
She smoothed the front of her dress, suddenly self-conscious. He could see her nipples, still peaked under the soft fabric.
“You don’t find it easy to say no to me, do you?”
His cruel question made her blink.
Why should he be the one lying awake, tormented by memories of that night? Let her suffer. So cool and calm and collected, as she delivered her life-shattering news.
She checked the buttons on the front of her dress.
“Don’t worry, you still look virginal.”
His mocking tone made her blink again.
“Though, of course, we both know better.” He tilted his head. Contemplated the possibility of touching her firm breasts again. “What would your big boss say, if he knew?”
Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t?”
“How do you know? I’m a virtual stranger. We spent one day together.” He licked his lips. “And one night.”
She backed away. This time he let her.
“You know me as Amado Alvarez, of Tierra de Oro.” He snorted. “Or at least that’s who I used to be until you showed up.” He hesitated. Watching her squirm. “He would have kept your sexy secrets. Amado Alvarez was a man of honor.”
He inhaled, then let out a long, slow exhale. “But apparently, I’m not the man I thought I was. I’m the son of this…Tarrant Hardcastle.” He spat the name like a bad taste. “Who knows what I’m truly capable of?”
The patio doors flung open and Ignacio crashed out onto the terrace. “What the hell is she doing back here?” he raged, eyes bulging.
Amado froze. He’d never seen his father like this. Ignacio could express strong feelings in an argument, or when his favorite football team was losing, but Amado’d never seen him yell at a woman.
Since Susannah showed up, bringing the ugly truth about his parentage, everything had changed. He didn’t know who he or anyone else was anymore.
Susannah shrank away, tugging her jacket over her dress as if covering her nakedness.
Ignacio moved toward her. “Get out, now! I’ve never laid a hand on a woman, but by God, I’ll throw you out myself if you don’t—”
“Calm yourself.” Amado stepped forward and grabbed his father’s arm. “Susannah is here on business.” He shot her a dark look.
She made a vain attempt to tuck her gorgeous wild hair behind her shoulders.
“She has no business here but to disrupt our lives.”
Susannah stepped back. Amado couldn’t resist a powerful urge to defend her. “She brought the truth, didn’t she?”
His father frowned.
“The truth that you planned to keep from me. Don’t I have a right to know the circumstances of my own birth? To know who brought me into this world?”
The
