“No.” Kyle shook his head solemnly. What he felt for her wasn’t merely lust. It hadn’t been that for a long time, perhaps from the first. And yet passion was an integral part of his love for her. Quite aware now of his body’s throbbing hunger, he traced the delicate curve of her jaw. “Do you have any idea what torment I endured night after night, sleeping apart from you, knowing you were so close?”
“Then why did you avoid me for so long?”
“Because every time I got near, I couldn’t manage to keep my hands off you. And you let me know very clearly you wouldn’t welcome my advances.”
“That was only because you said you didn’t want me.”
His brows drew together in a frown. “When did I say that?”
“On your ship…that morning after the storm. I overheard you telling Mr. Hardwick.”
r /> “I remember telling him how brave you were for saving his life,” Kyle said, puzzled, “and that I was looking forward to being married, after all.”
“I wish I had known.”
The creases in his cheeks deepened as his mouth curved in a teasing grin. “Serves you right for eavesdropping.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping when I saw you kissing Veronique,” Selena replied archly.
“I didn’t kiss her, she kissed me.”
“Perhaps. But what about that night, and the next one? You didn’t return to the hotel.”
“Yes, I did, only it was late. I stayed out playing cards. I never saw Veronique again.”
She traced the lines of laughter around his eyes, feathering her fingers over his bronzed skin. “Truly?”
Kyle’s expression softened. “Yes, truly.”
“Well, I didn’t know that. And I was jealous. Especially after discovering that Angel and Danielle were also part of your past.”
“And that’s just where I intended them to stay, in my past.”
“But when we arrived here, you never came to my bed.”
“Selena, I told you why. I thought you didn’t want me to. Besides, you never came to my bed, either.”
“It wasn’t my place to make advances.”
Kyle chuckled at her prim reply.
“Well, how could I?” she protested. “You had told me I was passionless, and you blamed me for depriving you of your son and for taking away your freedom—”
“I never blamed you—at least not after I got used to the idea.”
Boldly, Selena encircled his neck with her arms. “Kyle, you know very well you didn’t want to marry me.”
She felt the laughter rumbling in his chest. “That’s only because I couldn’t see what a treasure I was getting. I’ve since come to realize that the smartest thing I ever did was kiss you on the streets of St. John’s.”
“Truly?”
His smile was an endearment. “Truly.”
Her arms tightened about his neck, never wanting to let go. Happiness, joy, delight were welling in her, filling her because this rugged, vital man belonged to her, every glorious inch of him. Quivering with the feeling, Selena drew back. “Kyle,” she said with sudden urgency, “make love to me.”
“Here? Now?” His eyebrows rose in feigned shock, though the passion in his eyes was compelling and tender.
“Yes, now.” Her body, alive to the promise in his eyes, yearned for him.