She felt him slip her fleecy jacket off and drop it on the floor. His leather jacket followed.
‘Leave them,’ he said softly. ‘I’ll deal with it later. We’ve been sensible all day and I just can’t wait any more. I want you so much, Katrina.’ He took her hand again. Held her gaze. Kissed the tip of each finger, drawing it briefly into his mouth. She could see the flare of desire brighten in his eyes. And then he laced his fingers through hers.
‘I could do the caveman thing.’
‘You could,’ she agreed neutrally.
‘But I need to be sure you want this as much as I do. That I’m not pushing you.’
In answer, she drew his hands up to her mouth and kissed them. ‘You’re not pushing me. And I do want this. And I’m quite happy to be carried off by a gorgeous Welsh knight, even if his white charger isn’t actually with him.’ She stroked his face. ‘Except I’m not little, like Maddie, so I don’t want you to do your back in.’
He laughed. ‘Ah, now, cariad, you’re impugning my masculinity.’
She smiled and pressed herself against him. ‘I’m well aware that you’re a man, Rhys.’ All man. And how.
He dragged in a breath. ‘And you are irresistible, Katrina Gregory. Not girly—but you’re definitely all woman.’ He cupped her face, holding her very tenderly, as if she were something infinitely precious. He dipped his head, brushing his mouth against hers in a sweet, gentle kiss. And the second their lips touched, the kiss turned explosive, his tongue sliding against hers and mimicking the way his body would fill her later. Promising and demanding, at the same time. Cherishing and possessive. Claiming her as his and yet making it clear that what they were about to do would be very, very mutual.
She’d never wanted anyone as much as she wanted Rhys Morgan.
And when he finally broke the kiss, ending with a sweet, gentle caress and pulling back enough to look her in the eye, she whispered, ‘Now.’
She laced her fingers through his and led him up the stairs.
At the top, he paused. ‘And this is where I carry you to my room.’
Katrina shook her head. ‘My bed’s a double. Yours is a single and I’m too old to behave like a student.’
‘Old? Twenty-eight is hardly old.’ But he humoured her, let her draw him down the corridor to her room. At her doorway, he paused again. ‘Katrina.’
‘Yes?’
‘Caveman or knight. It’s the same thing.’ He pushed her door open, scooped her up and carried her over the threshold. He set her on her feet next to the bed, drew the curtains, then took the hem of her sweater and drew it upwards. She lifted her arms, letting him pull off her sweater; he traced along the lacy edges of her bra with one fingertip, a look of wonder on his face, clearly enjoying the contrast between the stiffness of the lace and the softness of her skin.
‘You’re so beautiful, cariad.’
She felt her face heat, and tried to cover her confusion by saying, ‘And you’re wearing way too much.’
‘Want to do something about it?’
She nodded, and he let her strip off his sweater. She stroked his arms, his shoulders, glorying in the feel of his skin under her fingertips, then let her hands trail down over his chest to his abdomen. ‘Rhys Morgan, you’re beautiful, too.’ She couldn’t remember desiring anyone so much. Rhys was just perfect. He wasn’t lean and skinny, but he wasn’t fat either—just beautifully toned, with powerful shoulders and strong biceps and narrow hips and strong thighs. He really did look like the Welsh knight she’d teased about being—noble, beautiful, his dark hair in sharp contrast to his pale skin and blue eyes. Perfect Celtic colouring. She could just imagine him as a knight, hundreds of years ago, his hair slightly longer. Sexy as hell.
‘Cariad? What are you thinking?’ he asked.
She told him, and he grinned. ‘Now, as the knight I’d have the honour of bedding my maiden fair.’ His expression sobered. ‘And that’s exactly what I want to do with you right now, Katrina.’
He drew one finger along her breastbone, then with his other hand he unsnapped her bra and let it fall to the floor. When he cupped her breasts, she tipped her head back, baring her throat to him. He took full advantage, kissing his way down her throat and stooping lower so he could take one nipple into his mouth. She dragged in a breath as he teased the hard peak with the tip of his tongue and then sucked hard. ‘Rhys.’
He stopped immediately. ‘You don’t like this?’
‘Ye-es.’
‘But?’
She swallowed hard. ‘It’s not enough. I need you, Rhys. Now. All day I’ve been thinking about you. About us. About tonight. And if you don’t make love with me this very second, I think I’m going to spontaneously combust.’