flesh that would be his to claim. You’ll be wet and wanton and this illusion of prim reserve will shatter forever when you come for me. . . .
He wanted her in a thousand ways, and the erotic tangle of it unfolded in a sweet cascade of images that taunted him as he held his place against the wall.
I’m going to have you, Haley Moreland. All of you. Every glorious inch, and then we’ll see what the tigress is capable of when she has nowhere to turn. . . .
Her lips parted, as if she’d heard him, but still she didn’t look away. He could see her breath coming faster, the crescendo in the music masking her situation from the man at her side. The color of her dress brought out the green in her eyes, and he watched in open fascination at the storm of emotions that lit them from within. One pale hand moved up to cover her heart, as if her trembling fingers could slow its beat and shield it from him; yet still, she didn’t look away.
I want you. I want you. I want you. He let the thought echo again and again, in rhythm with the music, deliberately seeking to cast a spell and consign her to her fate.
Haley wasn’t sure how long she’d been caught in his gaze. It was so otherworldly and impossible, to find herself staring back at him, basking in the heat of his eyes like a cat basking in the sun. She kept thinking that she should feel some measure of shame or offense, but her outrage never seemed to coalesce in the whirlwind of her emotions. This wasn’t the leering or lecherous look of an uncouth ruffian—this was that primitive fire she’d first glimpsed in him at the exhibition hall, unleashed. She felt naked as his eyes raked over her body, as if he were touching her, or even somehow devouring her. For his look was raw hunger, and she knew instinctively that she was the main course. But fear gave way to something else she couldn’t name, her body surging with heat and a restless hunger of its own that answered his and begged him to step away from the wall.
It was ridiculous to think such things, to entertain this bizarre exchange in such a public place and without a care to the slumbering man at her side, but once again in his presence, Haley felt the world slide away into an inconsequential background that left only the two of them together.
Wicked thoughts of what it would mean to surrender to impulse, to allow him to do more than look, suffused her cheeks with color and Haley had to put a hand over her heart to prevent it from pounding out of her chest. A girl could drown in those eyes and never cry for help. It’s indecent, the way he’s openly staring. It’s obscene the way I’m enjoying this—every thrilling, horrifying second of this. . . . I should—
But the internal momentum of her protest faltered at “should” as an odd spasm of delicious tension made her aware of every taut inch of her body, from the tiny hairs raised on the back of her neck to the molten damp well between her legs. It was too much.
She began to rise from her chair to escape on unsteady legs, determined to end it, once and for all. But just at that instant, the musical piece ended in a flourish and applause broke out. Herbert awoke with a distinct snort, and then immediately joined in to clap his hands with guilty enthusiasm as Aunt Alice calmly opened her eyes as if pleasantly surprised to find her dreams ending in public acclaim.
Haley was forced to keep her seat, fanning herself with her eyes forward. If I’m lucky, he’ll just take this opportunity to slip away before Herbert or anyone else notices him. After all, he cannot be so reckless as to want to draw attention to himself just standing there . . . staring at me, can he?
“Well, that was most refreshing!” Herbert exclaimed. “Very re—Ah! Mr. Hawke! I didn’t see you there, sir!” Herbert stepped in front of Haley to reach out and offer his hand, the clumsy maneuver sacrificing her toes and pushing her closer to Mr. Hawke. “It was a delightful
He wanted her in a thousand ways, and the erotic tangle of it unfolded in a sweet cascade of images that taunted him as he held his place against the wall.
I’m going to have you, Haley Moreland. All of you. Every glorious inch, and then we’ll see what the tigress is capable of when she has nowhere to turn. . . .
Her lips parted, as if she’d heard him, but still she didn’t look away. He could see her breath coming faster, the crescendo in the music masking her situation from the man at her side. The color of her dress brought out the green in her eyes, and he watched in open fascination at the storm of emotions that lit them from within. One pale hand moved up to cover her heart, as if her trembling fingers could slow its beat and shield it from him; yet still, she didn’t look away.
I want you. I want you. I want you. He let the thought echo again and again, in rhythm with the music, deliberately seeking to cast a spell and consign her to her fate.
Haley wasn’t sure how long she’d been caught in his gaze. It was so otherworldly and impossible, to find herself staring back at him, basking in the heat of his eyes like a cat basking in the sun. She kept thinking that she should feel some measure of shame or offense, but her outrage never seemed to coalesce in the whirlwind of her emotions. This wasn’t the leering or lecherous look of an uncouth ruffian—this was that primitive fire she’d first glimpsed in him at the exhibition hall, unleashed. She felt naked as his eyes raked over her body, as if he were touching her, or even somehow devouring her. For his look was raw hunger, and she knew instinctively that she was the main course. But fear gave way to something else she couldn’t name, her body surging with heat and a restless hunger of its own that answered his and begged him to step away from the wall.
It was ridiculous to think such things, to entertain this bizarre exchange in such a public place and without a care to the slumbering man at her side, but once again in his presence, Haley felt the world slide away into an inconsequential background that left only the two of them together.
Wicked thoughts of what it would mean to surrender to impulse, to allow him to do more than look, suffused her cheeks with color and Haley had to put a hand over her heart to prevent it from pounding out of her chest. A girl could drown in those eyes and never cry for help. It’s indecent, the way he’s openly staring. It’s obscene the way I’m enjoying this—every thrilling, horrifying second of this. . . . I should—
But the internal momentum of her protest faltered at “should” as an odd spasm of delicious tension made her aware of every taut inch of her body, from the tiny hairs raised on the back of her neck to the molten damp well between her legs. It was too much.
She began to rise from her chair to escape on unsteady legs, determined to end it, once and for all. But just at that instant, the musical piece ended in a flourish and applause broke out. Herbert awoke with a distinct snort, and then immediately joined in to clap his hands with guilty enthusiasm as Aunt Alice calmly opened her eyes as if pleasantly surprised to find her dreams ending in public acclaim.
Haley was forced to keep her seat, fanning herself with her eyes forward. If I’m lucky, he’ll just take this opportunity to slip away before Herbert or anyone else notices him. After all, he cannot be so reckless as to want to draw attention to himself just standing there . . . staring at me, can he?
“Well, that was most refreshing!” Herbert exclaimed. “Very re—Ah! Mr. Hawke! I didn’t see you there, sir!” Herbert stepped in front of Haley to reach out and offer his hand, the clumsy maneuver sacrificing her toes and pushing her closer to Mr. Hawke. “It was a delightful
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