Forbidden Heat

She turned to face him and tears welled in her eyes. “I feel like I love him but . . .” She grabbed a tissue from the box

on the side table and wiped away her tears. “I . . . know it isn’t real. These past days spending time with him and his sisters . . . feeling like I belong to a family . . . it’s a very seductive feeling.”

He nodded. “I can see how you might mistake those feelings for love. Did you tell Trey this?”

“Of course, but he thinks I’m just having trouble accepting love . . . because of my background. I told him . . .” She sucked in a quivering breath. “I told him that no matter what, he couldn’t love me, because . . . he needs to learn to love himself.”

“You told him that?”

She nodded. “If he can’t face that he loves you . . . or that he did love you . . . If he can’t face the possibility of loving a man . . . then how can he know if he loves me . . . or any woman?”

He slid his arms around her and drew her close to his chest. Her damp face rested against his robe and he stroked her hair.

“You’ve got it all figured out.” He sighed. “Now what would you say if I told you”—he tucked his finger under her chin and lifted her face until their gazes caught—“that I love you?”

Danielle stared up at him, shock tumbling through her. She had intended to go back home to Phoenicia, but once she’d started driving, she’d felt so empty inside. So alone. She’d thought going to see Jake would help. But now . . .

“Jake, you shouldn’t joke—”

He captured her lips. Fervently. The underlying passion swelled through her, blazing through her blood like wildfire.

“My God, Dani. I love you. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long.”

Her eyes widened. “But . . . I thought you loved Trey. That’s why we started this whole thing.”

“No, that’s why you started it,” he reminded her. “I went along with it because . . . you seemed to want it to happen so much.”

Jake didn’t care about getting together with Trey? But she knew they cared about each other. She could feel it.

He tightened his arms around her. “Anyway, I just told you I love you. Let’s not talk about Trey.”

He captured her lips and she melted against his hard masculine body. His arms around her made her feel protected and . . . loved.

Jake loved her?

Overwhelming emotions welled up inside her. Warm, powerful feelings. Loving feelings.

Was she in love with Jake? Had she been falling in love with him all along? Of course she wouldn’t want to admit it to herself . . . not when she wanted him and Trey to get together. . . .

Not when she never believed she’d actually find someone to love . . . someone who would love her back.

He stroked her hair behind her ears and cupped her face. “Dani. Tell me you love me, too.”

She stared at him, searching her heart. Uncertainty twisted through her. Should she tell him? What if it wasn’t real? What if, like with Trey, it was her need to belong to someone? To be needed?

“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. I know these emotions are confusing to you. I know you don’t trust your instincts about love. Just tell me how you feel right now.”

“I . . .” As she stared into his deep blue eyes, she saw love shining there. For her. She felt his heart beating against hers. She wanted to melt into him. Become one with him.

“I . . .” She raised her hand and stroked it over his raspy cheek, and tears pushed at her eyes. “I do love you.”

Maybe it was a mistake to say it. Maybe she’d regret it later. But right now, with her heart thundering in her chest . . . and a yearning in her so powerful she thought she might faint from the need . . . she had to express what she felt for this wonderful man.

“I love you.” She pressed her lips to his and stroked her tongue forward.

He met it, and their tongues arched together in a passionate dance. She stared into the depths of his midnight eyes. He stroked her hair back with a tender brush of his fingertips.

“Oh, Dani, I want you so much.”