Page 48

His mouth took possession of Bethea’s, hot and urgent and hungry.

This was inevitable. She’d known it since Camden had stood in the chamber at The Boar and Brew. And had fought it every minute since saying, “I do.”

With a moan of surrender, she sank into Camden’s embrace and, standing on her toes, wrapped her arms around the wall of his back and returned his kisses.

She opened her mouth and met his tongue with her own. Thrusting and parring, a duel of passion and need.

He tasted of wine and Camden.

A primal, possessive growl throttling up his throat, he scooped her into his arms and, with their mouths still clinging together, carried her to the bed. He lay her down, and a second later, the mattress dipped as he stretched out beside her.

She swallowed at his bronzed, masculine beauty.

Bunching her skirts up, he brushed one big hand up her thigh to her hip. “Yer so bonnie, lass,” Camden murmured throatily between smoldering kisses along her jaw, throat, and behind her neck.

Who knew that spot could turn her bones to warm custard?

Every part of her wanted this, wanted to submit to the bliss she instinctively knew he would give her. And every part of her also shrieked a warning.

If Bethea joined with him, she’d give him more than her body. Her heart would be his, as well. She’d always known that truth for herself. And at this moment, her fear of the future and the unknown outweighed the lust coursing through her.

Her heart and mind racing, passion warring with logic, she lay perfectly still.

She couldn’t do this.

Couldn’t submit to the sensual assault.

As much as her body wanted her to, and much as she wanted to experience Camden’s touch, and to give herself to him, take him into her, she simply couldn’t.

“Camden?” She touched his jaw, trying to ignore the delicious flutters in her belly and the swelling of her aching breasts.

“Aye, lass?” He brushed a thumb across her nipple as if he knew she needed that touch.

She nearly cried out with her pleasure.

Again. Do it again.

And he did, but this time, he rolled her nipple between his fingers.

God almighty.The air escaped her lungs on a harsh woosh, and she pressed her palms to his chest and shoved. If she didn’t stop now, she was lost. “I’m sorry, but we canna do this.”

He went still at once, his hard maleness pulsing against her thigh. He blew out a breath and levered himself upright. “Aye. Yer right. Forgive me. I never intended it to go this far.” He gave a self-depreciatory chuckle as he fingered a curl. “Once I kissed ye…”

“An inferno ignited,” she murmured, voicing her thoughts about her reaction.

“For ye, too?”

She nodded and whispered, “Aye, but if we make love, we’d be married in truth.”

“Would that be so bad?” His intense blue eyes searched hers, probing, seeking.

She swallowed and averted her gaze. “I dinna ken, but I canna let a moment of lust dictate my future.”

He rose, and she felt him gazing down at her.

Did he think her a tease? A wanton?

Why did she want to curl into a ball and cry?

Because she’d almost given herself to him?

Or because she didn’t dare?

“I’m goin’ to check on the drivers,” he said softly, his burr thick with regret and remorse. “I’ll sleep in the corridor. Try to sleep, Bethea.”

Not likely. Not when confusion swirled inside her like a dervish. And not when common sense had denied her what her heart and soul desperately wanted.

A moment later, the door clicked shut.

Turning onto her side, Bethea buried her face in the pillow and burst into tears.