She was aware of his hard body pressing her into the wall, of his elusive male scent in her nostrils and the erratic beating of her heart. She felt the erotic slide of his tongue inside her mouth and curled her fingers into the solid muscle of his broad shoulders, determined to feel every part of him.
She tasted the frustration on his hot mouth, felt the urgency in his strong hands as they jerked open her coat. And then he was touching her, his fingers sliding underneath the soft wool of her jumper and finding the softness of her breasts.
Despite the roughness of his mouth and the hardness of his body against hers, his hands were unbelievably gentle as he stroked his fingertips over her hardened nipples through the silky material of her bra. Sensation pierced Ellie's body and she wanted to gasp and cry out, but his mouth was still on hers, capturing the sound.
Heat burned deep within her and instinctively she pushed her hips against him, desperate to feel more of him.
Still kissing her, Ben slid both hands down to her thighs and lifted her so that she straddled him, the hard ridge of his erection pressing against her intimately and raising the heat to such an intolerable level that she knew that if it weren't for their clothes, they would have been making love in this small, dark alleyway.
Aching with frustration, she shifted against him and heard him groan a response as his grip on her thighs tightened.
And then they heard the sound of a door slam and footsteps approaching. He released her immediately, leaving her dizzy and disorientated, her breathing unsteady as she gulped in mouthfuls of the night air.
Ben didn't utter a word. He stood still, arms braced either side of her, every muscle in his body rigid with tension as he fought for control. Then he finally lifted his head and looked at her, his dark gaze burning into the very depths of her soul. It was a look that spoke volumes, a look that left her in no doubt that he wanted her—as if there was any room for doubt after what they'd just shared. She waited for him to speak. To say something about what had just happened between them. But instead he grasped her wrist firmly and propelled her towards the car.
Heart still thumping, she climbed into the passenger seat, wondering what she was supposed to do next.
Was he really going to pretend that it hadn't happened?
That they hadn't just set fire to each other in the small, dark alleyway?
Carefully Ellie turned her head, risking a tentative look at his hard, set profile, but he was firmly back in control of his emotions. It was as if their wild, almost primitive encounter had never happened,
But it had.
She felt as though she'd been caught in the path of a storm and knew instinctively that her life would never be the same again.
Where was there to go after that?
Still without speaking, he started the engine and drove in the direction of home, his eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead. Finally he pulled up outside her cabin and switched off the engine.
The silence wrapped itself around them like a cloak.
'Well...' Her voice was croaky in the darkness. 'I was wrong.'
Ben sat in silence next to her, his body totally still; but his knuckles white as he clenched the wheel.
'About what?'
'I didn't keep my eyes open.' She nibbled her lip, and her voice was soft. 'Are you going to kiss me again?'
Finally he turned to face her, his eyes glittering with anger.
/> 'Just answer me one question. How the hell have you survived for this long without getting into deep trouble? You're so damn trusting it's unbelievable—' He broke off and raked his fingers through his hair, clearly battling with his temper. 'What made you go with Will? You must have seen the way he looks at you. Why didn't you get one of your famous feelings? Couldn't you sense that he was trouble? It was as plain as the nose on your face that there was something fishy going on. But you just can't see bad in anyone, can you?'
He stopped, his breathing unsteady, and she gave him a curious look. She'd never known him talk so much.
Why was he in such a state?
It wasn't as if Will had made a pass at him!
She opened her mouth to remind him of the fact but he raised a hand to stop her speaking.
'Just do me a favour, will you?' His voice was a low growl and the expression in his dark eyes was stormy. 'Please, try and look for the risk in situations before you throw yourself into them, because one day you're going to get yourself in serious trouble.'
Ellie stared at him in silence for a long moment and felt tears prick her eyes. He obviously thought she was a harebrained idiot.
'Right.' She gave a weak smile and bent to pick up her bag. 'I'll take that as a no, then.'