Rendezvous With Yesterday (The Gifted Ones #2)(41)
She moaned in response and rose onto her toes, sinking fully into him as her tongue dueled with his own.
Robert felt his control begin to slip and fought the need to slide his hands down those formfitting breeches, cup the bottom that had been rubbing against him, and grind her hard against his arousal.
A sensual shudder shook him.
Or, better yet, lift her up so she could wrap her legs around him and cradle him in between.
Dragging his lips from hers, he clutched her tightly for several heart-pounding seconds, then forced himself to relax his hold.
Both were breathless.
He leaned back just enough to look down at her. Tears no longer fell, he was pleased to see. Instead, desire lit the eyes she raised to meet his own.
“Would an apparition do that?” he inquired, voice husky, already regretting the moment he would have to release her.
Her lips tilted up in a ghost of a smile. “Probably. But n-not half so well. My imagination isn’t that sharp.”
He laughed.
She sobered. “I’m serious, Robert. I really do think I’m crazy.”
“And I am just as certain you are not.” Tenderly, he smoothed the hair back from her face. “Either way I will not abandon you.”
“You say that now, but…”
“You may tell me all once we reach Fosterly,” he assured her. “You will accompany me the rest of the way to my home, will you not?”
She sighed. “Aye.”
He had a feeling she agreed simply because she believed she had nowhere else to go. “I must ask a boon of you first.”
Her gaze turned wary. “What kind of boon?”
“That you do not use your weapons to harm any of my people.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You’d take a crazy person’s word for it?”
“I would take your word for it.”
She nodded. “Okay. I promise not to shoot anyone.”
“You have my gratitude.”
“Unless they try to hurt me. Or you. Then all bets are off.”
He smiled, understanding her meaning, if not all of her words. She still wished to protect him. “As you wish. Now, what say you? Shall we continue our journey?”
“Wait.” She grabbed his arm as he started to turn away.
“Aye?” She had not changed her mind already, had she?
A small, curious smile lit her tear-ravaged features. “Give me another kiss first. Just to settle my nerves.”
Grinning, Robert was more than happy to oblige.
Chapter Eight
Beth’s lips still tingled as the group approached the village that preceded the castle. She could not believe she had asked Robert to kiss her when she was on the brink of a mental breakdown. But for a moment, after that first tentative contact, her worries had deserted her.
Pure, sizzling heat had supplanted them, stealing her breath and robbing her of all reason. She had had no idea desire could consume her so swiftly.
It certainly never had in the past.
Granted, she wasn’t very experienced in that area. She hadn’t really dated much in high school.
Okay, she hadn’t dated at all in high school. She had been a late bloomer, something her blushing father had awkwardly assured her ran in the family when Beth had bemoaned the fact that she still hadn’t gotten her period by the time she had turned fourteen, even though her friends had all long since become women.
Her diminutive height combined with her flat chest and slim hips had made her appear several years younger than the other girls her age. Far too young, it seemed, to interest hormone-driven teenage boys who were too busy chasing girls with big boobs to even notice her.
By the time Beth had finally acquired some curves, she had been studying her ass off in college and forcing her way into the family business, which had left little time to socialize.
She had managed to go out with a few guys, though. Some more than once. She’d shared kisses. Touches. But nothing more. Not after what had happened with Josh.
When he was nineteen, Josh had received a phone call from a former girlfriend who had informed him she was HIV positive and advised him to get tested. Beth had found out quite by accident and had almost wept with relief when the test had come back negative. But the incident had scared them both so badly that neither Beth nor Josh even considered engaging in casual sex. Condoms didn’t offer one hundred percent protection, and neither one of them believed a moment’s pleasure with someone they didn’t love was worth the risk. So in the years since, Josh had only had two lovers.
And Beth had had none. Which hadn’t been that big a deal. None of the guys she had dated had knocked her socks off or fueled her desire. Not the way Robert had.
Whew! That man could kiss! She had been so stimulated that just having his arm looped around her waist now kept her heart pounding and left her breathless.
Until they reached the village.
Every once in a while, foul aromas would assail her. Beth didn’t know if the odors originated from the animals or poor sewer drainage or what. She didn’t think it came from the people, but more than one didn’t exactly appear to make good personal hygiene a high priority.
None of the men and women—or children for that matter—appeared slothful, though. Each seemed to have his or her own purpose and duty to perform. Each went about performing that duty diligently, pausing to greet Robert with friendly smiles full of respect and what appeared to be an almost overabundance of relief.