Page 116 of An Indecent Longing

The question hit him like a punch to the gut. He hadn’t been ready for her to challenge him so boldly.

“This isn’t a conversation I want to have right now.”

“And when will you want to have this conversation? Because I’m not sure I’m willing to wait much longer.”

“Why are you pushing this now?”

“Because I’m tired of you treating me like a leper. You either want me or you don’t, but I’m done feeling like I have to apologize for the sins you think I’ve committed.”

“I have never accused you of anything.”

Dorrie shook her head. “You don’t have to say the words. It’s in your eyes when you look at me, and if that’s the way you feel, I’m going to leave.”

He’d closed half the distance between them before he knew he’d moved. “Goddammit, Dorrie, that’s not the answer.”

“Really? Because right now that feels like the only option I have. And I am sick of feeling like I need to apologize every damn time you look at me.”

The look she gave him made him want to crowd her back on the bed and force her to agree to stay right here for hours while he gorged himself on her body.

“I’m looking at you know and the last thing I want you to do is apologize.”

His voice sounded thick, his longing for her etched in every syllable. He was almost embarrassed by it until he saw the answering heat in her eyes.

In a split second, Ian grabbed her upper arms and pulled her off the bed and into his arms. With one arm strapped around her waist, he cupped her jaw in his free hand and held her gaze. He wouldn’t let her look away, wanted her to see him coming the entire way.

She froze, eyes wide.

He bent to her, tilting her head just enough for him to get the right angle on the kiss to make it deep. His tongue slid between her lips and licked at hers, the intimacy not unwelcome. Nothing about this man was unwelcome.

Her hands found their way to his hips and she pulled him closer, letting him know he could have what he wanted from her. And maybe that was the completely wrong thing to do but, damn, it felt so right.

Her warm lips moved against his, returning his kiss with a passion that threatened to undo the rest of his restraint. Letting himself sink into her kiss, he sucked in all of the sweet heat she poured into him.

His constant ache to touch her only got worse now that he had his hands on her, and he knew he had to stop now or he’d push her back on the bed and take her.

And that could destroy his concentration on her safety. That meant more to him than getting laid.

But for the next several seconds, he soaked in all her heat.

Then he lifted his head, put his hands on her shoulders, and put space between them.

“When you’re safe, we’ll continue this because there is nothing I want more than to lay you out on that bed and sink inside you. But I can’t do that and keep you safe. Do you understand?”

Sucking in a deep breath, she nodded and took a step back and away.

“But make no mistake, Dorrie. We will have that conversation. It just isn’t going to be today.”

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