Passionately Yours (Hellions of High Street 3)

Alec quickened his tempo and as he pressed kisses to her cheeks, to her lips, her senses were enveloped in his earthy scent and salty taste. The powerful, primal essence of aroused male.

Caro shuddered with the pleasure.

Heat was cresting within her, a wild force that seemed to twist and spiral as it sought release. She must have given voice to her need, for Alec kissed her again, murmuring hoarsely, “Yes, yes, sweeting. I know what you want, and I want it too.”

Faster, faster.

The heat was unbearable. Surely in another instant they were both going to burst into flames.

With a cry, Caro arched into his thrust and cried out. For what, she wasn’t sure. But then, a blaze of light seemed to fill the tiny space and then shatter apart in a crackling of diamond-bright shards.

Her crystalline cry was echoed by his low growl as Alec thrust deep and then withdrew from her in a rush, rolling to one side, just as his sweat-slickened body convulsed.

The sensation lasted an instant… or was it an eternity?

Time seemed to hang suspended, as she floated on a cloud of golden sparks, mesmerized by the dying glitter of their fire. When at last her heartbeat came back down to earth, Caro shifted her spent body and found herself enfolded in Alec’s arms.

He turned her and pulled her close, tucking the curve of her spine up against his chest.

She nestled closer, feeling their bodies come together as if made for each other. The searing heat had mellowed to a softly pulsing warmth, like honey drizzling over her flesh.

With a wordless sigh, Alec stirred and settled his palms just beneath her breasts.

Her heartbeat thudded gently against his skin. Through half-closed eyes, she was vaguely aware that the door to the little storage space had shifted again, shading the space with an inky gloom. But the darkness no longer seemed so frightening.

She felt safe within his steadying hold, taking strength she didn’t know she had from his closeness.

Two as one.

We fit together, like pieces of a puzzle, thought Caro, before sinking into a hazy sleep.

Chapter Fifteen

Alec drifted out from a silverspun fog, and slowly opened his eyes.

Only to see a muddled darkness.

How strange. Surely the gossamer sensations of spun-sugar warmth suffusing his body could only have come from the firebright sun. Momentarily disoriented, he blinked and shifted ever so slightly.

And suddenly realized that the languor in his limbs was not because of a sweet, sweet dream.

Remorse squeezed the smile from his lips. Not that he regretted his feelings, but his actions had been unforgivable.

Caro shifted in his arms, snuggling, closer.

Ye gods—I am a beast—worse than a beast, for I should possess some sense of right and wrong.

He had taken ruthless advantage of Caro’s trust, her vulnerability, her innermost fears.

And now he had ruined any chance she had of finding the happiness she so richly deserved.

She was trapped…

Caro stirred again and slid her arm around his waist. “It’s nice to feel you close when I wake up,” she said, her voice still muzzy with sleep. “Mmmm, I could lie here for hours…” Her fingertips crept down the curve of his bum. “And memorize every little dip and curve of your body.”

The mention of time speared away his other dark musings. They didn’t have hours to linger here. They must be leaving, and quickly.

But first…