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‘Yes, that sounds...interesting. Do you know how to make cider?’
Jamie shook his head. ‘Not a clue. There’s a first time for everything.’
She got to her feet, reaching for the empty plate that lay next to him on the table. Maybe walking out into the kitchen and washing up would shake the spell that seemed to have settled around them.
‘Leave that...’ Jamie reached out, catching her hand. In the firelight it was impossible to tell what colour his eyes were, but she could still see everything that mattered in them.
‘I had a really nice day today. Thank you.’ Anna could hear her voice tremble. One move from him, and she’d forget everything she’d been telling herself.
‘So did I. Thank you.’ He was leaning forward, raising her hand slowly to his lips. Every moment seemed laced with powerful magic.
He made just one, gentle movement. She could have taken her hand from his and resisted him easily. It was her own desire that pulled her down, and that welcomed the feeling of his arms around her. But sitting on his lap, curled in front of the fire was just too delicious.
‘This is nice.’ Jamie’s chest rose and fell, as if he’d been starved for air for a long time and finally he could take a breath.
‘Yes.’ She curled her fingers around his. ‘Not what we agreed, though.’
‘We both said that we didn’t want a relationship. I don’t recall us mentioning any rules for our friendship.’
‘Oh! So you’ve found a loophole, have you?’ She dug her fingers playfully into his ribs.
‘Not so much a loophole. Something that wasn’t originally covered.’
‘That’s exactly what a loophole is,’ Anna protested, although she still didn’t move. ‘Although...you’re right. We never did define what kind of friendship we’d have.’
He chuckled quietly. ‘Maybe we should thrash out the terms of that agreement in more detail. Clearly we need a more rigorous negotiating stance.’
And Anna had the perfect opening gambit. Moving in his arms, she turned to face him, leaving only inches between his lips and hers. ‘No talking about the future, Jamie.’
‘Agreed. You want it in writing?’
‘No. This’ll do.’ She brushed her lips against his and heard him catch his breath.
‘Anything else?’
‘We’re friends first. We don’t need to be joined at the hip, and we can respect each other’s lives.’
‘That sounds more than fair.’ He caught her hand, pressing her fingers to his lips. Then he kissed her palm, working his way across to the base of her thumb. Anna felt herself start to tremble.
‘Anything else that happens is...’
‘Entirely a matter between ourselves?’ His eyes darkened suddenly. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but the way his body felt against hers was no trick.
‘Yes.’
He was still and silent for a moment, staring into her eyes. Everything that she wanted was right there. She kissed him and his tender response couldn’t completely hide his hunger.
‘Stop me, if I go too far...’
‘You’re not going far enough, Jamie.’
His hands moved. One rested at the back of her head and the other began to explore. It was a slow, agonising expedition into just how much pleasure a moment could contain, and Jamie was watching her silently. When he cupped her breast, his thumb moving across the fabric of her shirt, she caught her breath.
‘Oh!’ The agony of frustration was only bearable because she knew now that she wasn’t going to allow him to stop.
‘You’re so beautiful.’ He kissed her cheek and she felt it burn. Slowly, deliberately he undid the buttons of her shirt. His fingers traced the edge of her bra, straying across her breast, and she gasped. He was drinking in her pleasure, his eyes fixed on her face.
She wanted his pleasure, too. And she wanted to tease it from him slowly. She wriggled out of his embrace, backing away from him and slipping out of her shirt as she did so. Anna felt the warmth of the fire against her skin as she undressed, the heat of his gaze as he watched her.
