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“You’re beautiful,” he said softly, “so beautiful that you make my heart stop.”
She looked at him through those wide, dark eyes. “You are, too. I never knew a man could be beautiful, Jake.”
“Do you want to see more of me, Sparrow?”
The tip of her tongue snaked across her bottom lip. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, please.”
Eyes locked to hers, Jake unbuttoned his shirt. It fell open and Emily’s breath hitched. It was true. He was beautiful. All that taut muscle. The tanned skin. The whorls of black, silky hair...
She reached out a hand, hesitated, started to pull it back but Jake clasped her wrist, put her palm flat against his chest. He caught his breath; she gave a little hum of pleasure. His skin felt hot, his body hard. Without thinking, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to the strong column of his throat.
Jake trembled. “Oh Lord, Em,” he whispered, and for the first time in her life, she knew what it meant to have a man want her. No. Not just a man. Jake. Jake, who she...
She jerked back, would have spun away, but he caught her shoulders, pulled her close and kissed her. There was nothing gentle about the kiss. His mouth was rough and demanding, the stroke of his tongue possessive, and Emily let it happen, the feeling that her bones were melting, that Jake was taking her, claiming her, that he was marking her as his own...
That she loved him.
She loved Jake McBride. She loved everything about him. His beautiful face. His powerful body. His intelligence, his humor, his hot temper and now, his heart-stopping passion.
No. No! She didn’t want to love Jake. She didn’t want to love any man, especially not one who was everything she’d sworn to avoid, everything her sisters had foolishly thought fascinating. Jake was too handsome, too macho, too reckless, too restless...
Emily caught her breath.
It was too late for thought or for regrets. Jake was touching her. Opening her bra. Claiming her breasts as they tumbled into his waiting hands. Sucking her nipples. Licking them while he eased her panties down her hips, down her legs.
She cried out, clasped Jake’s shoulders for support. He said her name, tore off his clothes, swept her into his arms and took her down with him, in front of the fire.
“Jake,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion, her hands clasping his face.
“Don’t be afraid, Em,” he whispered.
She wasn’t afraid. Not of Jake. She was afraid of what she felt, what she wanted, what she could never have. “Please,” she said, “Jake, please.”
Emily opened her arms. Jake groaned, parted her thighs and sank deep, deep, deep into softness. The sweet softness that belonged only to him.
The softness of Emily.
CHAPTER TEN
THE snow continued all through the night.
Jake and Emily fell asleep before the fire, awoke and made love again.
Afterwards, he carried her to his bed.
“Mmm,” she sighed, as he gathered her close against him under the soft down comforter.
Jake kissed her, tucked her head against his shoulder, and they tumbled back into sleep. When he awoke next, it was morning and the sky, visible through the bedroom window, was a peaceful cerulean blue.
The storm was over, which meant the main roads leading back to New York were probably clear.
Jake looked at Emily, still sleeping in his arms.
But he hadn’t heard the sound of a snowplow.
The highways could be as smooth as glass. It didn’t matter. Until the guy who plowed his driveway and road showed up, he and his sparrow were snowbound. He knew, from past experience, that his house was last on the list.
What a pity, he thought, smiling again as he drew Emily closer.
She sighed. Her fingers spread just over his heart but she didn’t wake. Good. He didn’t want to disturb her. She was new to all this and she had to ache, just a little. Her muscles had to be sore.
But he knew how simple it would be, to wake her as he’d done during the night. He had only to kiss her, taste her mouth, savor its sweetness. Even asleep, her lips would part in response to his. Mmm, she’d say, Jake.. .and he’d say yes, Em, yes, baby, and her arms would tighten around him, her warm, naked body would move against his...
Oh, hell.
Jake bit back a groan, relaxed his hold on Emily and tried to put some distance between them, but she wouldn’t let it happen. She made a soft sound of distress, burrowed against him, threw her leg across his.
“Emily.” His voice was hoarse, and he cleared his throat. “Baby?”
“Mmm.”
No. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t...
She shifted her leg higher. Jake caught his breath.
“Sparrow, just move away a little. Just...”
