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She took the piece but didn’t bring it to her lips. “I’ve not much of an appetite today.”
Gently, he ripped off another small section. “Why?”
“I think that I made a terrible mistake earlier.”
He lifted his hand, held the bread up close to her lips. Without a word, she leaned forward and took the bite from his fingers, her pillowy lips brushing his fingertips in a way that sent desire shooting down this arm and tightening the muscles of chest and abdomen as want pooled in his manhood.
She slowly chewed, her mouth working in a way that had him mesmerized. He waited and only when she’d swallowed did he ask, “What mistake was that?”
Her gaze was cast down, her lashes fluttering on her cheeks. The dark fringe of them highlighted her smooth skin as she answered, “Today. I just—”
He stopped Mirabelle with a hand on hers. He knew that villain had frightened her. “I will keep you safe. That I promise.”
Her fingers laced through his as she leaned toward him. “Oh, Ken. I’m not worried about that in the least. It was frightening this afternoon, but here with you, I doubt very much anyone would harm me.”
He slid closer, his other hand resting on her knee. “Then what has you so worried?”
“Earlier, when we were playing poker. You asked me about a future together and I…” Her voice shook so that she let her words trail off.
He saw the worry written all over her face as the color drained from her cheeks. “Mirabelle.”
He no longer cared that the door was open, he let go of her hand and slid his arms under her, lifting her out of her chair and cradling her against his body as he sat back down with her in his lap.
She fit into the curve of him, molding to his form, every inch a perfect fit against him.
Her arms threaded about his neck, her gaze sweet and lovely but full of an uncertainty that tugged at his heart. And somehow, that look alone was enough. He’d unsettled her plan and her confusion meant that she cared. His heart swelled and he knew he had the correct plan. She needed time and he needed to show her that they were meant to be together.
“Are you terribly angry with me?” The words rushed from her lips as her breasts pressed into his chest. Her lips trembled as she waited for his answer, her breath fanning his face.
He barely held in the chuckle that rumbled through his chest. Anger was not at all what he was feeling.
And he could tell her so but it might be far easier to show her.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Ken’s lipspressed to hers with a light touch that nearly stole her breath. The kiss wasn’t demanding but the way the touch lingered sparked some fire inside her that she’d hardly known she possessed.
He was so firm beneath her, the strong bands of his muscles making her feel both protected and excited as he slid a hand up her spine. He didn’t stop until he cradled her head in the palm of his hand, his fingers spreading out into her hair.
It was a riot of feeling…hot, sensual, and yet so comforting that she couldn’t help but deepen the kiss, pressing closer to his mouth even as he’d started to withdraw.
His answer was to guide her lips apart, his tongue lightly sweeping into her mouth. The feel of his tongue against hers sent sensation coursing straight to her core. She moaned softly into his lips.
It didn’t matter that she’d never allowed a man liberties like this…she wanted more. More of him, more of everything.
She might have sworn that he heard her silent plea because, while his one hand still cradled the base of her skull, the other skimmed down her neck, along her collarbone, and then down lower until he traced the outside of her breast.
She arched into the touch, instinctively wishing to be closer, wanting more of his hands, his body and knowing that he could show her what it was that she ached for.
And she felt none of the fear she thought she might. This was uncharted territory for her, and sometimes that made a person worry. But with Ken, safe in his arms, she wasn’t afraid of anything.
What more did she need to understand? That knowledge was more than enough.
His mouth slid from hers, kissing a trail down her throat as his other hand trailed over the top of one of her breasts, until his fingers brushed the nipple, making her skin instantly pucker into a stiff peak.
She gasped, arching her back, exposing even more of her neck as he planted another kiss on the sensitive skin.
“Ken,” she cried, trying to tell him in a single word how much she wanted him, how much she cared.
