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“And do you think you could love me . . . I mean, like me?”
There was a momentary silence before she tried to slide out of his embrace.
“Never mind,” she hastily added. “Silly question. Just forget I asked it.”
Grant gently pulled her back, turning her to face him. Her eyes were huge, her cheeks flushed, and her expression a heart-twisting mix of defiance and self-doubt. Never had he met someone who seemed so confident and yet so unsure—or unaware—of how bloody wonderful she truly was.
He cupped her chin. “Sweet lass, Imorethan like you.”
Then he bent and captured her lips, determined to show her just how much.
* * *
Kathleen fell into the midst of a storm as Grant’s desire swept over her. She rose up to meet it, all the emotion she’d denied for so long bursting forth. It seemed to invade every muscle and nerve in her body, causing her to tremble within his strong embrace.
And yet, at the center of it all was a sensation of peace unlike anything she’d ever felt. It was like coming home, only deeper and more certain.
She snaked a hand out from under the blanket to clutch the edge of his waistcoat. Grant murmured, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss.
With a happy sigh, she opened to him. Grant tasted like whisky and heat as he explored her mouth, stealing the breath from her lungs. It wasn’t just peace that she felt in his arms. It was a growing sense of excitement, one that made her want to squirm in her seat.
Better yet, squirm on top of him.
Kathleen clutched at his shoulders, trying to find mental purchase. Was this truly Grant, the man who valued control over everything else? Because what he was doing to her was the opposite of control. He’d hardly begun kissing her, and yet she was ready to climb onto his lap and do things that no proper young lady—or barely proper, in her case—should contemplate. They weren’t even betrothed, for heaven’s sake. She should stop him. He’dwanther to stop him before events overtook them.
And in another minute or two ...
Grant nipped her lower lip. Any notion of stopping him dissolved into the ether. Along with her maidenly qualms, which weren’t very strong to begin with.
When her nipped her again, then softly nuzzled her mouth, Kathleen couldn’t hold back a moan.
“Did ye like that, sweet lass?” His brogue was deep and oh-so-seductive.
Her eyelids fluttered up—she hadn’t realized she’d closed them—and found herself staring into a gaze so fiery it was a miracle she didn’t instantly go up in flames.
“I think so,” she managed. “But perhaps you’d best do it again to make sure.”
His chuckle was wicked as he leaned down to nuzzle her lips. Slowly, expertly, he ravished her mouth until shewassquirming like a mad thing. His kisses were lovely, but they weren’tnearlyenough.
“Grant,” she gasped, “you’re driving me insane.”
He studied her with a teasing smile. Unlike her, Grant seemed to be in control, although his gaze glittered with sensual intent.
“Am I now?” he purred. “And what would you like me to do about that, Kathleen?”
She huffed. “Has anyone told you that you’re a dreadful tease?”
His smile turned rueful. “No, actually. You’re the first.”
“You’re quite good at it, you know. And you’re working me up intoquitea state.”
He leaned down and pressed so tender a kiss to her mouth that unexpected tears gathered behind her eyelids. Kathleen blinked them back. She would not spoil this splendid moment with silly sentimentality.
Silly? You love him, you ninny.
“We cannot have that,” he murmured. “So what would you like me to do, sweet lass?”
She suddenly realized it wasn’t an idle question on his part. Grant was asking her something vitally important. Was she ready to step across that threshold of trust? Was she ready to fully and finally be with him?
