The wind picked up her hair casting it to either side of their faces. His blue eyes burned into hers and so help her, she wanted nothing more than to kiss him again. She wouldn’t, couldn’t waiver.
He thrust his hand into her hair beside her ear. His fingers gripped the base of her skull while his thumb skidded across her temple. The suddenness of the movement caught her off guard, distracted her gaze for just a moment. Nicolas’ mouth took hers with angry force. His mouth punished hers, pressing her lips hard against her teeth and she cried out more from alarm than pain.
The skies opened and rain cascaded down on them, heedless of the branches above. Thunder crashed and she curled her fingers over his shoulders, wadding his shirt in her hands, neither pulling him to her, nor pushing him away.
Nicolas jerked his head back, his eyes wide and apologetic. “Caroline, I’m sorry.”
Automatically, she lifted her fingers to her bruised lips.
Rain streamed down their faces and she did not know how he sensed she cried but he swept the pad of his thumb over her cheek and she hiccoughed at the tenderness of the gesture.
Another crash sounded overhead. Caroline shivered, cold from rain, cold from his distance. He stepped to her, turning with her so his back blocked the wind. Slowly, Nicolas lowered his mouth to hers again.
Caroline froze, transfixed by the rivulet tracing his jaw only to drip off the end of his chin. This time his mouth pressed soft and warm on hers. Her chill dissipated in the wake of the flame he kindled within her. His lips molded hers, stroked with careful purpose as though memorizing her exact contours.
She sighed.
Lifting to her toes, Caroline’s arms circled around his neck. His warm hand slid on her lower back, urging her closer. His lips, his hand on her back, were all she knew. The rest of the world slipped away from the heated burn which tickled along her breasts and settled between her legs.
Caroline mimicked him, repeating for his lips what he did for hers. Sharing, learning and wanting him closer. She stretched against him instinctively fitting her body to his.
Nicolas groaned. His lips parted. He shifted his hips bringing himself into full contact with her and her knees buckled with the awareness of his arousal. She had aroused him.
Lightning flashed behind her lids with the simultaneous crack of thunder, met by a piercing screech of a tree being hit. Caroline broke from Nicolas, breathing heavy. The gelding reared up, freeing itself from the branch where she’d tied it, and bolted.
Flames licked branches several feet away. Nicolas swooped her into his arms and placed her on his saddle. Swinging up behind her, he wrapped his arms tightly about her waist. Winston hopped into a full gallop toward Braeton.
Caroline’s senses had yet to return to her. Nicolas pulled her across his lap and draped her legs over one side. His powerful thighs heated her bottom and she shivered in response. His hot, hard chest buffered her from the wind and rain. She turned her face into his shoulder and inhaled his scent, willing her mind to imprint it permanently.
