Reese's Bride by Kat Martin Page B

her breasts, and he took her nipple into his mouth. He suckled the fullness, bit down on the end, and her knees went weak. He caught her before she could fall, his arm like a band of steel around her waist.
    “Easy…” he whispered softly.
    Elizabeth clung to him, her heart pounding wildly. “Dear God, Reese…”
    Kissing her deeply, he skillfully ministered to each of her naked breasts, stirring the flames that scorched through her body, and she realized he had maneuvered her over to the side of the bed. The nightgown slipped down to her waist and he palmed her breasts, lifted and caressed each one. He cupped her bottom and pulled her into the vee between his long legs, forcing her more fully against his erection, letting her feel how big and hard he was.
    Her heart was hammering, trying to tear through her chest. Her body was on fire. She had to stop him. She knew what would happen next. Memories arose, ugly recollections of humiliation and pain.
    “Stop!” she cried out, trying to pull away. “Stop it, Reese! Let me go!”
    She wasn’t certain he would. He was a man, after all, and men took what they wanted. He was breathing hard, his eyes as blue and hot as the tip of a flame. Little by little, he brought himself under control.
    “You want this, Elizabeth. Just as much as I do.”
    She trembled as she pulled her nightgown back into place, covering her breasts once more. “You’re wrong. This…this isn’t what I want. Whatever…whatever feelings we once shared are over. Please, I am asking you to leave.”
    His jaw hardened. “You’re a woman, Elizabeth. That hasn’t changed. You can deny your body’s needs, but that won’t make them go away.”
    Elizabeth bit her lip. Even if he was right, it didn’t matter. “Good night, Reese.”
    His icy blue gaze made a last lingering perusal of her body and his mouth curved harshly. He made a mocking bow. “Good night, my lady .”
    And then he was gone.
    Elizabeth stared at the place he had been. Her skin still burned where he had touched her, kissed her naked flesh. Her breasts felt heavy and achy, imprinted with the heat of his mouth. Her body still pulsed with desire for him.
    What he’d said was the truth. Even after all of these years, she desired him.
    But too much had happened. The terrible memories of Edmund and his cruelty would never go away.
    Still, she wondered…. Was it possible that with Reese it would be different?
    Even her awkward first time that night in the carriage with Reese had been better than anything that had ever happened with Edmund.
    And yet she dared not risk it.
    Sooner or later, she would have to tell him the truth.
    Reese would hate her.
    And he would never forgive her.
     
    Reese closed the door of the master’s suite, willing himself not to slam it as hard as he could.
    Goddammit!
    Tonight he had only meant to make the first assault in his campaign. Unable to sleep, he had wandered down to his study for a while, then as he returned upstairs several hours later, he had seen the light beneath Elizabeth’s door.
    Guessing she was unable to sleep, as he had been, he had knocked, thinking to do little more than kiss her. He hadn’t meant to press her for more, wouldn’t have if she hadn’t responded so passionately.
    But even when Elizabeth was young and entirely innocent, she’d had a passionate nature. That fire remained, but now it was buried so deeply he wasn’t sure he could completely unearth it. He had only meant to stir her desire for him, but his lust for Elizabeth was nearly uncontrollable. For an instant when she tried to stop him, he wasn’t certain he could.
    He’d wanted to ravish her, tear off her flimsy nightgown and bury himself inside her.
    He wanted her as he never had another woman.
    He might have pushed harder, demanded more, if she hadn’t looked up at him with those big gray wounded eyes. There was something there he didn’t understand. Something that made him want to protect her—even from