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He took his time studying her expression. So contained, filled with a quiet dignity. Then he cupped her face and traced her arching cheekbones. Her lashes drifted downward and a delicate flush followed the path of his thumbs. Next, he grazed just beneath her lower lip. Her head tilted back and her breath quickened. His did as well, despite all attempts to controlit.
He wanted her. He shouldn’t, but the more visceral, carnal part of his nature seized control. He hardened against her and did nothing to conceal his reaction. If anything, his hold tightened, drawing her tight against his erection so she could feel his desire.
Her lips parted and her breath came faster, urgent little exhalations. He couldn’t resist any longer. He lowered his head and took her mouth. So soft. So plump. So delicious. He sank inward, staking his claim.
His tongue found hers. To his surprise, her reaction seemed tentative and awkward. He smiled against her mouth, unable to explain why her lack of sophistication amused him, possibly because it was so diametrically opposed to her appearance. Nor could he explain why this kiss felt both new and different, unlike anything he’d ever experienced before.
The kiss deepened, grew ever more heated. He couldn’t get enough, couldn’t bring himself to end it. Awarning flashed through his brain. If he weren’t careful, he’d become addicted to her taste.
How was that possible? It had never been like this with Carina, not even in the beginning, before it had all gone so horribly wrong. Mia’s kiss was more like the one he’d experienced in the maze so many years ago, bathed in innocence, inexperience, and youthful passion. Aslurry of emotions dragged them both into deep, pitch-black water.
Her breath teased across his lips, filled with aching need. All thought of Carina faded away into a distant, faint memory.
“Brand.” Mia whispered hisname.
He instantly reacted. He speared his hands deep into the coiled mass of her hair, the silken strands soft and vibrant against his fingers. The knot at the nap of her neck came loose against his fingertips. He deepened the kiss, adesperate urgency seizing hold. He wanted her. Needed her. And for the first time in more than five long years, his entire focus shifted to the demand sweeping over him. This had nothing to do with Toni and everything to do with his fierce desire for the woman in hisarms.
He undid the buttons of his suit jacket, opening the inner lining to shield her against prying eyes. Slowly, reverently, he lowered the upper portion of her sleeveless dress, delving inward to find the generous swell of her breast. Generous and perfect. Her nipple tightened into a rigid point, betraying her hunger.
Would it be so difficult to give her one night of pleasure? No. The difficulty would be restricting himself to only one. Aserious conundrum. Did he marry Mia in order to provide a mother for Toni? Or did he marry Mia because he wanted her in his bed? He eased his mouth from hers and adjusted her dress. Sliding his hands downward, he gripped her hips, steadyingher.
“Does that answer your question about whether or not I want you in my bed?”
She moistened her lips, her eyes filled with longing and unsatisfied want. “There does seem to be a reasonable amount of chemistry between us.”
“Quite the understatement, wouldn’t you say?” She smiled at the irony rippling through the question. “Despite what you thought, chemistry was never the issue for me.”
“Getting romantically involved with someone is the issue.”
He found her frankness refreshing. “Yes. I’m not interested in marrying again.”
“You must have loved your wife very much.”
A hint of yearning bled through the comment raising a warning flag. He didn’t want to become emotionally involved with anyone. He couldn’t go through that again. If not for Toni, he’d never even consider marrying. If she hoped for a real relationship with him, she was in for a crushing disappointment, something he intended to make clear.
Brand set Mia aside, distancing himself. “Carina was leaving me when she was killed,” he stated succinctly, awintery coldness stealing overhim.
Shock filled Mia’s gaze and she stepped closer, as though to comfort him. “Oh, Brand, Ididn’t realize. I’m so sorry.”
He didn’t want her comfort. Didn’t need it. He fought back the instinct to shift backward. If he rejected her again, he doubted he’d have another chance to set things right. Holding himself rigid, he allowed her to rest her open palms on his chest. Instead of finding it intrusive, he experienced an unexpected solace in her touch.
“We married because of Toni.”
“Carina was pregnant?” Mia asked tentatively.
“She’d already given birth when I found out I had a daughter. So, we married. Let’s just say the marriage wasn’t a success. Alittle over a year ago, she planned to take my daughter to Italy with her in order to avoid a custody battle.” The words escaped unbidden, released from some dark, bleak place where he’d kept them encased in ice. “That’s when the accident happened. Her last act was to try and push our daughter clear of danger. It saved Toni’s life and guaranteed she would lose her own.”
She didn’t speak for a long moment. Then her soft voice eased through the darkness. “You were right about sorry being an inadequate word. My heart breaks to hear this. And I can understand why you’re resistant to any sort of romantic relationship.” She shifted closer and he drew the scent of her deep into his lungs. Unable to help himself, he wrapped his arms around her. Instantly, he felt better. “I’m not asking for a relationship, Brand. I’m not asking for anything you can’t give. But based on that kiss, maybe you’re not unwilling to share my bed, if only for one night?”
He gave it to her hard and cold. “I’m not unwilling at all. Ijust want to make it clear that having sex won’t lead anywhere.”
She smiled. “I’m not asking for it to lead anywhere.”
He mulled it over before reaching a decision. “Why don’t we agree to a temporary marriage. It’ll need to be long enough for you to get your life organized and for Toni to find her way back to us. Would that work for you?”
“Yes.” She lifted an eyebrow, adelightfully intimidating eyebrow. “And our night together?”
“I agree to seduce you for one night and only one night.”
