Standing up on her toes, she ran her tongue slowly across his lips.
He tasted of champagne and ice.
And danger.
Delicious. Intoxicating. It was the perfect cocktail.
Her head was swimming and she took a soft, swift breath like a gasp, her hands fluttering against his shirt.
‘Kiss me,’ she said hoarsely. ‘Kiss me now.’
Rollo stared at her, his body in turmoil, the beat of his blood slowing to a pulsing adagio. Her eyes were shimmering; her face was soft and still and utterly irresistible.
He had no choice and, leaning forward, he kissed her fiercely. Instantly he was lost in the heat and softness of her lips, and as her fingers curled round his arms—gripping, tugging, tearing at his shirt—he felt his body harden with such speed and intensity that he almost blacked out.
‘Daisy, wait—’
Lifting his mouth from hers, trying to slow down the pace, he groaned against her lips, his face taut with concentration.
‘Slow down, sweetheart—’ He was fighting to get his words out. ‘Or I won’t be able to hold on until we get upstairs.’
He felt her body tense against him, and a flicker of apprehension, bright and jagged like lightning, cut through the dark clouds of passion fogging his brain.
‘Why do we need to go upstairs?’
He breathed out unsteadily. ‘I just thought it would be more private.’
The word, with its whispered hints of closed doors and darkened bedrooms, scraped over his skin and suddenly he didn’t care where they were. Staring down into her face, he only cared about the warmth and the sweetness of her body against his.
‘But we can do whatever you want,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Wherever you want...’
CHAPTER SIX
‘WHATEVER YOU WANT...wherever you want...’
Daisy felt her body still, her mind snagging on an image of Rollo pulling off his shirt, his green eyes softening as he drew her closer to the hard contours of his chest—
The floor tilted and it was as though she was free-falling. The rush of desire and longing was so intense that she could hardly stand.
She wanted him.
But even as she acknowledged the truth of that statement she felt the sharp tug of the parachute pulling her back.
But what would happen if she gave in to that craving?
‘No.’ Stumbling backwards, she shook her head, her heart beating faster. ‘We can’t. We shouldn’t. It’s not right.’
Rollo stared at her in silence, the sudden distance in her voice jarring his senses. What was she talking about? Can’t. Shouldn’t. Not right.
His confusion hardened into irritation. ‘I fail to see why,’ he said slowly. ‘We’re both adults who want to have sex.’
Daisy flinched, but held his gaze. He was right. On both counts. But evidently two rights made a wrong, for—whatever her body might be telling her to the contrary—she knew it would be a disaster if they ended up in bed together. And Rollo knew it as well as she did. He just didn’t like being told so.
She pushed against his chest. ‘That may be reason enough for you. But there’s a little more to it for me than just lust and being over the age of consent.’
‘Like what? Love and romance?’
The sudden chill in his eyes as much as the harshness in his voice made her breath stutter in her throat.