Page 79 of Hot & Heavy

She was silent for a moment. "Please do not," she said in a soft voice.

He stepped back. "Why?"

"Because I must remain strong, and you are making me soft."

"I am?"

"Hah! Any softer and I will melt."

Son of a gun! I must be good. Ian grinned. "Are you fluttering?"

"Like a butterfly. Do not try to fool me. You are doing it apurpose."

I didn't even know I had that skill. Hot damn! He stood and released his hold on her. She turned and looked at him. They stood only a foot apart. He could practically touch her with his erection.

A tantalizing silence hovered between them then.

Maddie was tall, and he liked the fact that she was almost eye level with him. In fact, he liked way too much about her.

Maddie was thinking that she liked way too much about the rogue that the norns of destiny had cast her way. She looked at his face, which was often too serious, especially when he spoke of his father. His wet hair was darker than its usual reddish brown hue. Black eyelashes framed honey-brown eyes. There were small lines bracketing his eyes and mouth, whether from laughter or frowns, she could not say.

Probably the latter.

She had been telling the truth when she said he made her melt. As he continued to stare at her, her blood slowed and grew thick. Her breasts ached. A delicious flutter lodged itself low in her belly, way too close to…

He stepped back slightly and glanced down her body. She had noticed that he had taken great care to avoid looking at her in her panties and bra. But he was looking now, for a certainty.

Her nipples grew hard as pebbles, just at his scrutiny. If her body liked mere looking, what would it do if he actually touched her?

And then… oh, blessed gods and goddesses… she found out.

Just with the tips of his fingers, he touched the peaks of her breasts.

Her eyelids—suddenly heavy—drifted shut, and she arched her back. A small moan escaped her mouth.

What a delicious, delicious feeling! She wanted him to stop. Nay, she wanted him to touch her more.

"Maddie," he whispered.

When she opened her eyes, she saw his face lowering to hers. His eyes were hazy with desire, and his lips parted. "I'm going to kiss you," he murmured, a hairsbreadth from her mouth.

"And if I say you nay?"

"I'm going to kiss you," he repeated.

She could not say nay if she wanted to, so tense was her body with anticipation.

He burrowed his fingers into her hair, to hold her in place lest she wanted to bolt.

Hah! Not a chance!

Only then did he settle his lips on hers, parting her lips in the process. He groaned into her mouth.

Mother of God! I never realized a male groan could be so erotic. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

He moved in closer, putting one hand on her nape and wrapping the other arm around her waist. She thought she heard him murmur, "I give up!" The kiss, which had started gentle and searching, turned hard and demanding. Who knew that a man's lips could coax such a response from a woman? Certainly not she. When his tongue entered her mouth and retreated, entered and retreated, she soon realized that he was imitating the sex act itself.

Finally he jerked his mouth off of hers. Panting for breath, he said, "This is insanity."