Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(76)

“Please don’t do this. I know you can persuade me, make me forget my doubts and feel only the passion that flows between us—but then it will be over and I will have the rest of our lives to face.”

He paused, leaned forward, and pressed his forehead to hers. “I don’t know what else to do. There is no choice.”

Part of her knew that was true, but, God, she didn’t want it to be. Could there be anything worse that having her dreams granted in such a twisted manner? “I know,” she breathed.

And then he pulled back, his eyes still upon hers, staring into her, seeing her as she felt she had never been seen before. His gaze dropped to her lips. He pulled in a deep breath and then exhaled. She could feel the heat and moisture against her face. His eyes returned to hers, his pupils almost black. He leaned a little and brushed his lips against hers, so soft she almost wondered if she’d imagined it.

He did it again.

It was their first kiss in months—their first kiss since that actual first kiss, right before everything came apart.

She should have fought it, should have resisted, but…

Her lips pressed upward, meeting his as he brushed by again, catching him, holding him her prisoner with only the barest of touches. He stopped, the steady weight of his mouth increasing fraction by fraction.

Her whole body cried with the sweetness of the moment.

If only she could live in this moment forever. His lips moved upon hers, nibbling, tasting, sampling. Her thoughts began to blur, her whole world nothing but the velvet of his lips, the warmth of his breath, the wonder of…

No. She must stay focused. Only it was all so delicious.

So good. So very good.

She didn’t want it to ever end.

His tongue traced a line across the parting of her lips. She savored it briefly, then opened them, relishing the slide between them. His mouth pressed tighter, the tongue delving deep. She pressed her own tongue forward, playing and devouring.

She gave up on thought, gave up on reason.

And simply felt.

He bit down on her lower lip, the sharp zing of pain running through her all the way to her toes.

Her body arched beneath him, making her aware of how helpless she still was.

His lips brushed hers again, then pulled away, as reason returned around the edges of the cloud that was her mind.

His eyes still stared down at her, holding her as captive as his lips had. She saw so much in his eyes, things she was afraid to believe—things she did not dare believe.

Dare.

Dare.

Dare.

Why did everything seem to come back to that? She could not base her life on a dare.

And yet—did she have a choice?

She lifted her head from the pillows and placed one more soft kiss against his lips.

His eyes grew darker yet. He bent his head again. “I had planned to pretend that I was your French lieutenant. I was going to use all my powers of persuasion to move you toward matrimony. I was going to torture you with pleasure until you agreed,” he whispered against her lips. “But I think today we must stay as ourselves. Whatever happens between us must be nothing but honest.”

He released her arms.

She did not move, kept them just as he had left them. “And what is there still for you to be honest about, Colton? What have you yet to tell me?”

He pushed his hips forward, and she could feel the strength of his erection in the tender space between her legs. Without thought, she pressed against him. He moved closer, gave a delicious push and thrust. The ache within her blossomed into need. She wanted him, wanted this.

Abruptly he pulled back, separating them. Then, placing a hand upon her cheek, he stroked his thumb over her lips. “I like to tie up women—and do other things to them. I can pretend that I do it for you, for your fantasy, but it is more than that.”

Her mind caught on the first part of his statement. “Other things?”





Chapter 22


Angela watched as Colton averted his face but then turned back. She could see the effort this cost him. “I am a man of particular tastes.”

She could feel his honesty, feel the effort it took for him to put it into words. “So Ruby told me—and you have demonstrated.”

“And how much did she explain?”

“Some. She mentioned that you like to be in control. That my willingness and obedience were more important than anything else I could offer you.”

“That is all she said?”

“She asked a few questions to determine how much I know about what happens between men and women. She seemed satisfied with my answers. Then she asked if there was anything I found unsettling. I told her I found it all unsettling, but that did not mean I was not willing to try. I am willing to try almost anything. One cannot determine what one likes if one does not try.”

“And you think you no longer like to take risks?” His hand ran down her cheek and neck, sliding along her collarbone before moving lower to outline the edge of her bodice.

“I’ve never thought of that as a risk, although I suppose it is. And I have decided, once again, that I might like a good risk.” She moved a hand from above her head to stroke his face, trying to convey all the changing emotions within her.

“And what is the most unsettling thing you can think of?”

She smiled, feeling the edges of her cheeks lift, fighting to be honest. “I am not sure. I mean, the very marital act itself is quite strange. I held your cock in my mouth yesterday. How does that fit within my body? It does seem most uncomfortable, and I would admit that the women who talk of such things are much divided on the subject. But those who like it do become most flushed when they speak of it. I have hoped to be one of those women.”