Rule's Property (The House of Rule 2)

Finally, Courtney couldn't stand the friction any longer and she again looked at the tiny piece of jewelry that he continued to hold tightly between his fingers. "May I have it, please?"

He cleared his throat, seemed to shake himself, and put the heart in her upturned palm. Through the strange emotions roiling in her belly, she forced a smile and tried to latch the chain behind her neck. She struggled with it awkwardly, and when she sighed with frustration, he pushed her hands away and twirled her around.

He lifted her hair from her neck, laying it over one shoulder. Clipping the necklace into place, he quickly spun her back around again, his hands going to her shoulders. She glanced down and picked up the charm where it lay nestled on her chest. "I love it," she said through a smile and lifted her eyes to his with pleasure.

With no warning of the storm to come, Nick's head dropped. His lips landed on hers and the first thing Courtney noticed was a roaring in her ears. She'd been kissed only once before, at sixteen, and it had been quick and messy.

This was different.

Nick took full control. His lips were hot and firm, sliding over hers slowly, back and forth, in a caress that held her spellbound. Unconsciously, she dropped the charm and lifted her hands to his shoulders to find traction in a world suddenly careening out of control.

At her action, one arm came around her waist and he pulled her in closer, while he settled his hand at the back of her head, moving her forward and holding her in place. When her torso hit his, she gasped, her lips parting. He took unhesitating advantage, his tongue sliding inside and entwining with hers.

Instantaneous bottle rockets went off in her head.

His taste and scent instantly swamped her and her world immediately narrowed to this room and his embrace. As he continued to kiss her, a warm, sweet ache began to build in her bloodstream. When his tongue swirled around hers, as if asking for more, she hesitatingly gave him what he seemed to want. She pushed her tongue toward his and tentatively, joined the kiss.

His arm clenched more tightly, his frame became like steel, his kiss turned fierce. A groan erupted from his chest and he lifted his mouth from hers just long enough to nip at her bottom lip before going back for more. At his action, Courtney sucked in a breath and trembling, she pulled back, sliding her hands from his shoulders to his chest, attempting to hold him at arm's length, so she could study him.

His eyes snapped opened and they stared at each other, both drawing in oxygen as if they'd just run a marathon.

Even through her confusion, Courtney immediately saw his expression change when he realized what he'd done. The residual pleasure on his face dissolved and a tortured expression of horror and disbelief etched across his features.

"It's okay," she whispered, trying to soothe away his look of anxiety.

"No, it's not," he fired back, but still, he didn't release her.

"It was an accident," she said softly.

He let out a hiss of air and shook his head in refutation. "An accident I've been thinking about for weeks."

The blood drained from her face as her nerves took a jolt.

"Shit. I ought to be shot." Abruptly, he pulled away from her, releasing her completely, and stepped back. He turned away, and just as quickly, turned back to face her. "I bet your Christian, all-girls school education didn't prepare you for that, did it?" he asked with an anger that she somehow knew was directed at himself and not at her.

She shook her head, not even considering lying to him.

He took another step away and she immediately felt bereft, almost desolate.

He studied her, so many different emotions crossing his face that Courtney didn't try to identify any of them. After a moment, he let out a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up completely. His look softened as he watched her. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. Please don't let what just happened scare you. It won't happen again. You're safe with me, I promise." He shook his head. "I can't believe I was so careless."

"It's okay," she said again, reacting more to his tone of voice than his actual words.

"It's not okay. I'm a stupid shit." His jaw clenched. "I want you to forget it happened, okay?"

All Courtney was capable of doing was standing upright without falling over and watching him while her brain continued to short-circuit.

"Okay?" he asked again, obviously wanting her compliance about something.

"Okay, what?" she asked, confused, her senses overloaded.

He gritted his teeth. "I want you to forget what just happened, can you do that for me?"

Forget his kiss? No way. Uh-uh. Not going to happen. "Okay," she lied in a whisper.