Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
He could smell her damn evocative scent of fresh violets and mint. Somehow it overwhelmed the crisp scent of the winter day. With her face flushed from the wind and cold, Bryn noticed a smattering of freckles along her nose and cheeks he’d not seen previously.
“What changes?”
Right.
This close to her he’d forgotten that he’d told her he may want to change their arrangement. And on the other hand, this close to her, his body wouldn’t let him forget he craved the permission to touch and caress her like he did in his dreams.
“Bryn?”
It should be outlawed, how she rolled his name off her tongue. Resting his head on hers, he took a deep breath and held himself there for a few moments before he pulled back to meet her stare again.
“I was kidding.”
God, the way she watched him, such trust. It was humbling.
Two blinks before sadness leaked into her gaze. Why?
“Okay.” She moved her stare from his and didn’t meet it again. Bryn didn’t believe she even knew that she was petting a hand up and down his chest.
Settling his feet, Bryn simply allowed it because it soothed a part of him he hadn’t known had been stressed and needing her attention. In that moment, he realized it wasn’t going to be just anyone who could calm him like this, it would have to be his lioness.
Slow movements tucked her closer in to him, and he convinced himself it was to keep her out of the wind.
Lies, he knew, but didn’t give a damn. He would lie all day long if it allowed him to keep her pressed tight to him. Snow swirls whipped around them and off in the distance he noticed dark clouds rolling in from the distance.
They would need to head back before too long. A particularly harsh wind bit into him and he gave up any pretense of being subtle and firmly tugged her against him. The shiver that took her wasn’t hard to feel given how she sat pressed into his front.
“You warm enough?”
Her face rested against his chest, right below his neck, and some of her curls had escaped the bun she’d worn today and brushed his skin. Heating his blood and tightening his shaft.
“You are hot.”
He smirked. “Thank you.”
She jerked her head back, allowing him to see her gaze again. Finally! The blush that skipped up her cheeks darkened the wind-given rosy hue.
“I’m sure there are plenty of women who would love to ply you with compliments.”
Rosamunde shifted backward, but he shook his head and refused to let her escape his hold.
“I find myself looking forward to ones from you, lioness.” He slipped his hand up to settle it to hover around in the middle of her spine, paused, then continued up until it was at the nape of her neck.
He skimmed his thumb along the collar of her coat, wishing it was warmer to allow himself the opportunity to experience the smoothness of her skin beneath his touch.
She gave a slow blink, her lashes framing those incredible green eyes he loved to lose himself in.
“I don’t think I’ll be giving you those.”
His lips quirked and he bent closer, allowing their breaths to mingle. “See now, lioness. A lesser man would be hurt.”
She stopped smoothing her hand over his chest only to grip the edges of his coat. “We both know you’re not a lesser man, so what are you then?”
“Challenged.” He nipped her plump bottom lip, lust skipping directly to his cock.
Her whimper was fuel to the fire coursing through his veins.
Unable to resist, he gave into the need riding him and took possession of the mouth that had taunted him since the first time he’d laid eyes on her.
Chapter Fourteen
Rosamunde had been waiting for the press of his lips since the last moment she’d had them on hers. Dreams. Thoughts. Wishes. Clenching her thighs together, she swallowed her moan of desperation for more of his taste. More of everything he could give her. Touches. Safety. Passion.
The pressure of his large hands on her back urged her closer to him. Bryn settled her between his spread legs, anchoring them together. Her stomach clenched as he pressed his hardness against her.
She wasn’t disgusted, she wanted more. Longed to touch him, experience him in a way she’d only heard about and, since meeting him, dreamed about.
Bryn inched his right hand along her hip and secured it to her side. A hold she swore she could feel it branding into her skin, burning through the coat and her clothing.
His lips moved over hers and she opened beneath his questing touch. The crisp taste of mint and cold flowed from his mouth to hers. His tongue dipped in, brushing against hers, pulling another moan from her.
Desperate, she pushed up on the toes of her remarkably comfortable boots, asking without words for more. He didn’t disappointment. Masterful, he wrested control of the kiss and owned her. She gave the lead to him, following and taking cues from his actions.