Mail-Order Prince In Her Bed. Kathryn Jensen

head to his chest for a moment, breathed deeply. She heard his heart racing against her ear.

      And all she could think was: This is wonderful! This must be how a man makes a woman feel close to him. Feel protected, even though he might be the only thing she needs protection from!

      A second later, he bent over her and lifted her chin to bring her lips up to his. This time his kiss was less gentle. He moved his mouth over hers, coaxing her lips open. He tasted of musk and spice and a nutlike freshness. She wondered what flavors she held for him, if he liked the way she tasted. Or was he forcing himself to go through the motions because he’d promised he would?

      A new pressure came from his hands as they slid around from behind her, and followed her ribs upward. His eyes glittered, suddenly hard chips of obsidian. Then she was leaning back against the counter, one of his hands moving to support her, the other roaming hotly over her chest and coming to rest on one breast.

      He found her nipple through the fabric, rubbed across it, back and forth with the pad of his thumb, and a blaze of heat raced from the tips of her toes to the very back of her throat. A smoldering sensation radiated through her limbs before condensing in a pool of warmth below her belly.

      “Oh my!” she gasped, blinking up at him. “What was that?”

      He smiled at her. “So soon, cara?”

      She shook her head and laughed. “You’re saying that I— Really?”

      “Let’s try that again,” he murmured huskily, fitting her more securely into his arms.

      She had the feeling that this time, as he held her body against his, was for his benefit more than hers. Or perhaps it was his intention to allow her to feel how aroused he’d become. For, despite her lack of experience, there was no doubt what she felt pressing against the flat of her stomach—the rigid proof of a man’s hunger.

      Suddenly afraid, Maria started to pull away from him. Maybe she had asked for more than she could handle.