Page 64 of Highland Spy

Ariana wanted nothing more than to give in to the lure of hot temptation in Connor’s stare.

She was locked under him, beneath the grip of hands she knew would soften at the sound of a single word.

But she did not wish to utter it.

She wanted instead to feel the heat of his lips press to hers, the scorch of his searching tongue.

His body ached for her as well, as evidenced by the same insistent hardness now pressing against her hip that had been present the night before.

His hands tightened and his eyes searched hers, as if seeking permission.

It was so enticing, so beautifully, tangibly enticing, to submit, and fall into the passion together. Where overloud thoughts were quelled by pleasure, unmarred by the reality of consequence.

He sank lower upon her, his face softening with intent.

To give in, to give in, to give in.

Oh God, to give in.

But she’d given him her word.

“Connor.” She fixed a stern expression on her face. “No.”

The word dragged from the pit of her heart and leeched away some of the pain of having to reject him.

He stopped and cleared his throat—a loud, grating sound in the otherwise silent forest.

He got to his feet and thrust his hand out to her. “Forgive me.”

She accepted his offer and found his naked palm hot against her fingertips. “There’s nothing to forgive. You’ve won.”

Though she offered him a bright smile, the tension drawn across his face did not ease. Perhaps he could see through her facade to the darkness of her own disappointment at having to deny herself of what she so deeply longed for.

But had he not stopped at her word, he would not be the Connor she loved, would he?

She stilled at that thought.

The Connor she loved.

Did she truly love him?

The air she breathed struggled to reach her lungs, like she’d been running too hard for too long.

Connor handed her several twigs. “Start the fire while I get more wood.”

She looked up at him in surprise. The fading light played in his hazel eyes, turning the colors to an array of green and brown and gold with flecks of black.

Connor’s gaze turned thoughtful. “I’m sorry.”

She blinked and shook her head.

He cleared his throat again and his brow furrowed. “I shouldna have taken advantage of having won earlier.”

“You didn’t,” she answered, and turned before he could say anything else. She bent over her task, eager for something to distract her from the ache her realization had placed in her heart.

The air between them was no less strained with awkwardness once the fire was lit than it had been when he first handed her the kindling. They ate in silence, neither looking at the other, before finally settling in to sleep on the hard, cold ground with the blazing fire between them.

Though Ariana had looked forward to the blanket of slumber and the momentary reprieve from the discomfort of her current situation, sleep did not come.