“Not as much as I am used to experiencing, I’ll bet.”
He sobered. “I did not say ’twould be easy, Beth. Or immediate. Or that there would not, of necessity, have to be concessions made by both of us if you choose to begin a new life with me.” Setting her license aside, he braced one hand on the bed behind her and leaned in close. “But would the reward not be worth a few compromises on both our parts?”
Heat bled into her back from his large, muscled arm.
Beth licked lips that suddenly felt too dry.
His eyes followed the motion of her tongue.
“Yes,” she decided.
“Aye,” he corrected, with affection, not censure.
“Aye.” It was hard to think straight when he was so close and tempting.
“Then you will stay?” he asked, still staring at her lips with growing hunger.
“What if I can’t?” she posed softly. “I don’t know how I came to be here, Robert. I don’t know what brought me here. What if whatever did it takes me back one day?”
Something dark flickered briefly in the gaze he raised to meet hers. “Then we shall revel in whatever time has been allotted us and not waste another moment of it.”
Beth nodded, her pulse picking up. “If that’s the plan,” she whispered, “then you’d better hurry up and kiss me.”
He did not hesitate to obey.
Combing the fingers of his free hand through her hair, he cupped the back of her head in his palm and lowered his head. His lips touched hers. Clung. Seduced. Sparked heat. Then withdrew.
Beth found it difficult to catch her breath as she looked up at him.
One masculine eyebrow rose.
She managed a slight nod. “That was great.” Even to her own ears, her voice sounded husky. “Now do it again.”
Laugh lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. Shifting slightly, Robert smiled. “I believe I am going to enjoy this independent spirit of yours.”
“Remember you said that later,” she advised, “when it makes you want to scream.”
He leaned forward, hesitating when only an inch separated their lips. Those mesmerizing eyes of his were dark and stormy with desire. His nose brushed hers as their gazes met and held. Anticipation rose. A half inch closer. Mouths still not meeting. Tempting without touching. Teasing with the knowledge of what would come, what she would feel, until she could bear it no longer and moved the last fraction of an inch closer, pressing her lips to his and surrendering with a moan.
Lightning sizzled through Beth’s veins, heating her blood and speeding her pulse until she thought her heart might burst. The things he did…
Parting her lips, he slipped his tongue inside to stroke and scintillate with heart-rending tenderness and a growing urgency that soon had precious parts of her body tingling and longing for his touch. Never had she been so turned on by a kiss. Never had she wanted so much more.
Just as she decided to throw her arms around him and climb onto his lap, he broke the kiss.
Her heart slammed against her rib cage as he shifted.
He gave the nape of her neck a last caress, then slid his hand around and down ever so slowly, pausing fractionally so his thumb could trace circles over the pulse that beat wildly at the base of her throat. Then that callused heat slipped beneath the neckline of her robe and eased it across her shoulder.
Beth followed his avid gaze, watched his tanned hand mold itself to her pale, lightly freckled skin, massaging gently, enthralling her with the difference in the texture of his skin and hers.
The robe slipped over his knuckles and fell almost to the bend of her elbow. Midnight material dipped low in front, baring the upper curve of one breast.
He stilled.
Beth did, too.
Then he moved those rough-to-the-touch fingers again, creating a delicious friction as he abandoned her shoulder and trailed a path of fire across her chest. He followed the line of her collarbone, fondling the faint hollow above it, then eased the robe lower.
Her whole body flushed with desire as he cradled her bare breast in his palm. Her breath caught as he gave it a squeeze.
His eyes rose, met hers, as his thumb brushed across the taut, rosy peak.
Gasping, she arched her back, leaning into his touch as sensation rocked her.
His voice, when he spoke, dropped an octave. “Mayhap tonight I will make you scream.”
Excitement skittered through her. “Holy crap.”
A devilish smile curled his lips as he eased her back on the bed, stretching out beside her. Cool air made her shiver when he bared her to her waist. Then all was forgotten in a rush of heat as Robert bent his head to her breast and laved the sensitive bud with his tongue.
Robert groaned as Beth’s nails scored his scalp. Her body arched against him as he took the taut tip of one breast between his teeth and teased the other with deft fingers. Urging her onto her back, he rolled half on top of her and inserted a thigh between hers.