Heaven Scent by SpursFanatic Page A

him, kiss him, as he did her. She wanted him as
drunk on sensation as she was, wanted to know she could elicit the
same feelings in Rafe as he did her.
    She had never had the freedom to touch
a man as she pleased, to feel the heat, the passion of
arousal.
    She wanted it with Rafe.
    Pulling her fingers from his hair, she
splayed her palms against his back. She slid them under his vest,
needing the heat of his body.
    Rafe jumped away from her as though
he’d been burned. “No.”
    Losing her balance, Tarin clutched his
arm for support. She stared up at him, dumbfounded, feeling as
though he’d struck her.
    “Get dressed, Tarin.” He steadied her
and stepped away.
    Shame and regret slammed into her like
a speeding carriage. And with it came confusion, hurt, and a desire
to sink into the carpet.
    She must have disappointed him. Why
else would he have stopped?
    Yanking up her corset, Tarin knew Rafe
watched her every move. She refused to meet his eyes as she closed
the front of her dress. “I’m sorry I am not more experienced in
these matters.”
    Rafe‘s laugh was bitter. “Tarin, you
have no idea...” Blowing out a breath, he shoved his fingers
through his hair.
    “Well, what is it then?” She smoothed
down her hair.
    Rafe’s hand shook as he gripped her
chin. She stared up at his handsome face, saw the hurt and desire
in his eyes. The enormity of what she had done came crashing down
on her.
    She had acted like a harlot, had thrown
herself at the first man she was attracted to. How could she face
herself in the mirror? Face her father, and Kit?
    Tears sprang to her eyes and Tarin
hated herself for them. Why was she so weak? Why did she put
herself in this predicament?
    “Tarin, don’t cry.” His thumb grazed
her chin.
    She couldn’t face the pity. Not from
Rafe. She ran from the room.
    “Tarin,” he cried.
    Snatching the door open, Tarin stopped
short when she saw Kitty waiting across the foyer. Kitty rushed
towards her. Tarin halted her with a palm out. “Please, no
–“
    “Tarin – “ Rafe said, springing from
the door.
    “Leave her be,” Kitty cried, wrapping
an arm around Tarin despite her protest. “I think you should
leave,” she told Rafe, her gaze trailing over him as though he were
a river rat.
    The worry on Rafe’s face disappeared to
be replaced by a determined glint. Busting through the weak defense
of her wide-eyed friend, Rafe clutched the back of Tarin’s head and
kissed her with bruising force. The raw, open-mouth kiss declared
her his, despite his earlier protests. Her knees would not hold her
when he let go. He steadied her only to grace her with a smile that
made them go weak all over again.
    “I will call on you tomorrow.” He gave
a curt bow. “Good evening, ladies.”
     

Chapter 7

     
    “Tarin, you must marry Rafe Sutherland
to save your reputation.”
    Staring at the shocked face of the
Worthington’s butler, Rafe held his finger to his lips. He stood
just outside the parlor door blatantly listening to Kitty admonish
Tarin for what had transpired between them the night
before.
    “I will do no such thing. It is not as
if I shared the man’s bed.”
    Oh, but she would have, Rafe declared
to himself. If he had been the man he once was, Tarin would’ve lost
her virginity last night. He would be making wedding plans this
morning, rather than standing beside an owl-eyed English butler,
eavesdropping on her conversation.
    Passionate was too mild a word for
Tarin Worthington. She made quiet moans and heavy breathing more
exciting than bedding the women he’d had. If he’d allowed it, she
would’ve stripped him and explored to her leisure, just as easily
as he could’ve stripped her and done the same.
    Dammit, how would he do this? If he
succeeded in getting her to marry him, how would he handle her
rejection in their marriage bed? Would she go to other men? Would
he spend every night alone, waiting and wondering if she was with
someone else? Would he have to endure