Page 41 of Irish Rose
Breathless, she clung to him. It felt as though her mind was racing to keep pace with her body. And still he urged her on in ways she’d never dreamed existed. The next wave struck with a force that had her rearing up. There couldn’t be more. The colors were almost too bright to bear now, and need and pleasure had mixed to a point that was both sharp and sweet.
She held him, moaning out his name. There couldn’t be more.
But he filled her and showed her there was.
She was trembling again, but she wasn’t curled away from him. This time she was turned to him, her face pressed against his shoulder, her arms holding tight. Because he was more than a little dazed himself, he kept her close and said nothing.
He was no novice at this game, Burke reminded himself. So why did he feel as though someone had just changed the rules? The candlelight flickered its shadows around the room so that he shook his head. It looked as if he’d changed them himself. Soft light, soft music, soft words. That wasn’t his style. But it felt so damn right.
He was used to living hard, loving hard and moving on. Win, lose or draw. Now he felt as though he could go happily to the grave if he never moved beyond this spot. As long as Erin stayed with him.
That thought had several small shock waves moving through him. Stayed with him? Since when had he started thinking along those lines? Since he’d laid eyes on her, he realized, and let out a long, none-too-steady breath. Good God, he was in love with her. He’d gone through his life without taking more than a passing interest in any woman. Then someone had opened the chute, and he’d fallen face first in love with a woman who hadn’t had time to test the waters.
He didn’t have time for this. His life was unsettled, the way he wanted it. His days, his decisions, his moves were his own. He had plans, places to go. He had... nothing, he thought. Absolutely nothing without her.
Closing his eyes, he tried to talk himself out of it. It was crazy, he was crazy. How did he know what it meant to love someone? There had only been one person he’d loved in his life, and that was long ago. He was a drifter, a hustler. If he’d stayed in one place a little too long, it was only because... because there hadn’t been a better game, that was all. But he knew it was a lie.
He should do them both a favor and take that trip to Monte Carlo. He should leave first thing in the morning. The hell with the farm, the responsibilities. He’d just pick up and go, the way he always had. Nothing was keeping him.
But her hand was resting on his heart.
He wasn’t going anywhere. But maybe it was time he upped the stakes and played out his hand.
“You okay?” he asked her.
Erin nodded, then lifted her face to look into his. “I feel... You’ll think I’m foolish.”
“Probably. How do you feel?”
“Beautiful.” Then she laughed and threw her arms around his neck. “I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“You’ll do,” he murmured, and knew in that moment that no matter how hard he struggled he was already caught.
“I never want to feel any different than this.” She drew him closer to press kisses along his jawline and throat.
“You will, but there’s no reason you can’t feel like this as often as possible. We’ll bring your things over tomorrow.”
“What things?” Still smiling, her arms still around his neck, she drew back.
“Whatever things you have. There’s no reason to bother moving tonight. Tomorrow’s soon enough.”
“Moving?” Slowly she unwound her arms. “Burke, I told you once before I won’t live here with you.”
“Things have changed,” he said simply, reaching for the wine. He wished it was whiskey.
“Aye, but that hasn’t. What happened tonight... ” Had been beautiful, the most beautiful experience of her life, and she didn’t want it spoiled by talk of sharing a life with him that wouldn’t be a true one. “I want to remember it. I’d like to think that there may be a time when we might—when we might love each other this way again, but that doesn’t mean I’ll toss my beliefs aside and move in as your mistress.”
“Lover.”
“The label doesn’t really matter.” She started to move away, but he grabbed her shoulders. The glass tilted to the floor and shattered.
“I want you, damn it, don’t you understand? Not just once. I don’t want to have to drag you away from the Grants every time I want an hour with you.”
“You’ll drag me nowhere.” The afterglow of love was replaced by angry pride. “Do you think I’ll move in here so it’ll be convenient for you when you have an urge to wrestle in bed? Well, I won’t be a convenience to you or any man. The hell with you, Burke Logan.”
She pushed away and had swung her legs off the bed when she went tumbling backward to find herself pinned under him. “I’m getting tired of you wishing me to hell.”
“Well, get used to it. Now take your hands off me. I’m going home.”
