She sighed as his tender kiss sent a ripple of pleasure cascading over her. “I am confused at times, for these emotions are not familiar to me.” She shook her head as though her own words added to her confusion. “I thought I had but now—” She shook her head again. “I do not know.”
He understood what she did not, but she needed to learn herself. He clearly understood how she felt, for he felt the same way, only he did not question it. He wished to experience every feeling, every moment, and every thought as they fell in love together.
“You do not need to know right now—simply feel.” He encouraged her with another kiss to her palm.
“I feel when you kiss me.” She sounded breathless.
“What do you feel?” He wanted her to speak of it, understand it, and respond.
“Your kiss washes over me, touches all of me, and makes me more sensitive to my senses.”
“Do you like the feeling?”
She giggled softly as though she did not wish to betray a secret. “Very much.”
“Would you like to know how I feel when I kiss you?”
She nodded with enthusiasm. “Aye, I very much would.”
He took her hand from his cheek and held it, bringing his mouth close to hers. “When your lips touch mine, tingling warmth begins to spread through me. It starts slow, but as our lips mate the heat grows and rushes through me. My flesh grows hotter, my heart pounds, and I fight the ache to become intimate with you.”
She fell silent at his words but only for a moment, for she had felt as he did, and she wished to be as honest as he. “I am familiar with the feeling.”
He stared at her for several silent moments. “So this feeling is mutual?”
“Aye, it is.” Her answer was brief, for she was not certain how to respond or where her response would take them.
He ran his lips over hers once, twice, paused, then kissed her gently. He looked into her eyes and asked, “What, then, should we to do about it?”
CHAPTER11
The answer was clear, though Brianna could not bring herself to say so. She remained in silent thought, staring back at Royce.
“I will have an answer from you, Brianna,” he said without demand.
She found her voice without difficulty. “Will I have an answer from you?”
“Aye, if you are ready to hear it.”
Was she ready? Since she asked herself that question, she wondered if she was. “I need to talk of this with you before I can answer. Is that all right with you?”
“Of course, I do not expect you to hurry into something so very important if you are hesitant about it. Talk with me, talk with yourself, and when you feel comfortable enough to answer, then answer me.”
“Can we talk now?”
“I would like that.”
She gave his hard chest a slight shove. “I cannot think clearly with you so close.”
He accommodated her. He sat back, resting his hands in his lap. “Enough distance?”
“I do not want you far away from me.” Her words gave her pause to think, for she did not wish him a distance from her. She wished him close.
“I will never be far away from you, Brianna. I will always be close by in body, mind, and spirit.”
His words brought joy to her heart and a smile to her face. “Then I will never feel alone.”
“Nay, for I will always be with you.”