Desire was weakening her and making her feel like a goddess all at once.
‘Thirio...’ This time, his name was a husky request, heavy with need. She lifted a hand to his chest, feeling the steady tattoo of his beating heart through the cotton fabric of his shirt. ‘I want—’
His lips pressed together and slowly he shook his head.
She didn’t understand. Was he really saying ‘no’, to more of this? She could feel how badly he wanted her; she knew she wasn’t imagining his desire.
‘I can’t.’
Not ‘I don’t want to’. ButI can’t.
She frowned, her fog of desire making thought almost impossible. ‘Why not?’
But he was pulling away from her, standing, his arousal pushing against the cotton of his pants, making it impossible to ignore.
She looked from his erection to his face, her lips parted, the loss of his physical proximity almost sucking the oxygen from her lungs.
‘When you’re ready, I’ll fly you into town.’
Something inside her was spinning like a top, fast and out of control. A sense of helplessness gripped her. He was talking about sending her away. After what they’d just done. Or hadn’t done. After what they’d juststarted, she amended, because the pleasure was building inside her even when he seemed to want to end their nearness.
Did he regret kissing her? Did he regret making her come? She sat up, straightening her bra, so her breasts were covered, her eyes probing his, trying desperately to understand.
‘I have my car. I can drive.’
‘The roads will still be icy.’
Then I can wait.The words died inside her. She stared at him, trying to comprehend, without wanting to ask the questions that were forming in her mind.
‘Look.’ He shook his head. ‘That shouldn’t have happened.’
She frowned. ‘You didn’t enjoy it.’
‘That’s a separate consideration.’
But he hadn’t enjoyed it. Not as she had, and that knowledge brought a flush to her cheeks.
‘I’ll return your car when the roads clear.’
‘Wait a second.’ She lifted a hand to her forehead, trying to focus. ‘I’m still on the “that shouldn’t have happened” portion of the conversation. The car is kind of beside the point right now.’
His eyes bored into hers, but they were no longer fierce and cold, so much as almost...imploring. Her heart twisted sharply in her chest. ‘I’m not in the habit of seducing beautiful, innocent strangers who seek shelter in my home.’ A muscle throbbed in the base of his jaw.
‘Are you worried you took advantage of me?’ She raked his face with her eyes. ‘Because you didn’t. I mean... I definitely wanted that.’
‘I know.’ The gruff agreement didn’t embarrass her as it could have. ‘But I should have known better.’
‘Why is what we did such a big deal?’
‘You don’t think sex is a big deal?’ His cynicism was back, along with a healthy dose of mockery.
‘We didn’t have sex,’ she pointed out.
‘No, but we would have, if I didn’t stop.’
‘Yes,’ she agreed quickly. There was no sense in lying.
‘And that would be okay with you?’ he pushed, his body language giving nothing away.