Nothing else seemed to matter when she was around. He could almost feel the sensation of her hair against his fingers, the sensation of her back against his chest as they’d rode, her lips on his, her tongue in his mouth...
His hand absently went to his lips, recalling the intoxicating sensation.
It was impossible. She was a woman from the future, with knowledge and experiences he could never understand. He was a Highland warrior, bound by duty and tradition. They were worlds apart.
But he didn’t care.
He wanted her. He wanted her like he’d never wanted any woman in his life. The thought of her sent fire straight to his groin. She was so close, only on the other side of the hall. Just a few steps and he could be there, carrying her to her bed...
He clenched his fists harder, trying to get control of himself.
ANNA TOSSED AND TURNED. Try as she might, she could not get her thoughts to settle. What was Emeric doing right now? Was he sound asleep, untroubled by dreams? Or was he lying there thinking about her like she was thinking about him?
She thumped her fists on the bed in frustration. This wasnothow things were supposed to go.Shewas supposed to be the cool one, the one in control of the situation. But she wasn’t. She wasn’t in control at all. Somewhere along the way Emeric bloody Mackintosh had broken down all her defenses and left her heart exposed. And there wasn’t a damned thing she could do about it.
She sat up and stared at the door, chewing on her lip. What should she do?
WHAT SHOULD HE DO?Emeric knew what hewantedto do. He wanted to burst into Anna’s room and kiss her until she surrendered. Then he’d make her his, take her to heights of pleasure that would have her screaming his name.
Damnation. Just the thought of it made him hard.
He scrambled to his feet and began pacing. This was no good. He either had to do what he was thinking about, take the risk, and knock on Anna’s door, or he needed to go and stand outside in the rain to cool off.
Still not quite sure what he’d decided, he strode across the room and flung his door open.
Only to find Anna standing outside.
ANNA WASN’T SURE HOWshe’d gotten to the door. It hadn’t been a conscious decision, or at least, not one that she could recall. She’d simply found her feet moving, driven by some force beyond her control. She didn’t even have time to second guess her actions as she found herself at Emeric’s door, hand poised to knock.
But before she could do so, the door swung open, revealing Emeric in all his rugged, semi-undressed glory. His chest was bare and with the dim light behind him casting a shadow, it highlighted every curve and hard line of muscle on his body.
She gasped in surprise and momentarily forgot how to breathe. Emeric looked equally startled. His gaze fell on her disheveled state. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
“Anna.” He breathed her name like a prayer, his voice rough. “I... I was...”
She placed a finger to his lips to silence him. Before she could lose her nerve, she stepped past him, crossing the threshold into his room without an invitation. He closed the door behind her and leaned on it. She was acutely aware of him behind her, the air in the room heavy with tension and unspoken desire.
“Anna,” Emeric said, his voice a low rumble. “What are we doing?”
Anna turned to face him. She could feel her pulse hammering in her throat. “You know what we’re doing. You know why I came.”
Emeric said nothing, and as the silence stretched, she felt a sliver of doubt.
“Am I...am I wrong?” she asked. Had she misunderstood? Did he not feel the same?
Emeric stood frozen, watching her with an intensity that made her skin tingle. He was beautiful—fierce and vulnerable at the same time. His eyes, dark under the shadow of his brows, held a desire so raw it took her breath away.
He pushed himself off the door, striding closer until he stood before her, close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off him. His hands reached out and cupped her face gently.
“Nay,” he breathed in a ragged whisper. “Ye are not wrong.”
He bent his head and his lips crashed into hers in a ferocious kiss that burned with unspoken need. She responded with a moan, her hands reaching up to anchor in his thick hair. The taste of him was intoxicating, setting her senses alight, shooting fire straight to her core. She felt him groan against her, one hand pressing into her back.
His kisses deepened, becoming more demanding, his tongue exploring the recesses of her mouth in a tantalizing dance that left her dizzy. This was not a polite exploration but an all-consuming possession that left no room for anything else. She gave as good as she got, meeting him stroke for stroke, loosening all restraint as desire obliterated all her thoughts.
Suddenly he lifted her off the floor, cradling her into his strong arms and carrying her over to the bed. He laid her down gently on the soft mattress, his body hovering above hers.
His fingertips traced the line of her collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Her breath hitched as he leaned down, his lips ghosting over hers in a teasingly light caress.
