Page 19 of Undoing His Innocent Enemy (Hot Winter Escapes)

She jumped to her feet, knocking her chair onto the floor. And stalked around the table, until they were toe to toe—possessed by a desire she had tried to deny all through the night.

He straightened, shifting away from her as she invaded his personal space. But the desire in her veins intensified, becoming hot and fluid and unstoppable.

‘You’re lying,’ she whispered. Then she did what she had dreamed of doing all night. She placed her palm on his cheek, to soothe the rigid line of his jaw.

He grunted, the muscles tensing beneath her hand, as if he had been burned—not unlike his reaction the first time she had touched him—but this time, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he closed his eyes, his breathing ragged as if he needed a moment to absorb the shock. When he opened his eyes again, what she saw had her breath seizing in her lungs.

Raw visceral need.

She ran her thumb across his lips, felt the firm line tremble, and became mesmerised as her own breathing accelerated to match the harsh murmur of his.

His pupils dilated, the vibrant steel in his gaze darkening to black, and she sensed the effort it was taking him to remain still.

So she went with her gut to break the deadlock.

‘Can I kiss you, Logan?’ she asked.

She saw the moment his control snapped, like a high-tension wire wound too tight.

He grasped her hips and dragged her against the unyielding line of his body. The ridge of his erection pressed into her belly as he slanted his mouth across hers—and gave her his answer.

His kiss was firm, deliberate, possessing her mouth as his tongue thrust deep, and duelled with hers in furious strokes, but it was the edge of desperation—so raw, so basic, so elemental and unskilled—that had the need pulsing at her core.

She grasped his head, threaded her fingers through his long hair, and opened her mouth to take more of those eager, untutored thrusts.

Consumed by passion, she sobbed, when he ripped his mouth free and pressed his forehead to hers. She could feel the shiver of reaction coursing through his body, or was it hers?

‘I want you.’ The words seemed to be torn from his throat—like a curse.

She released the fingers she had fisted in his hair, to press her palms to his hard cheeks and lift his head to stare into his eyes.

So many emotions swirled in the pale blue depths—desire, longing, but most of all baffled desperation.

This was madness. He didn’t even know her name, because he hadn’t bothered to ask. And she knew a part of him still did not want her in his home. Alargepart of him. But something about the desperation she could see in his face echoed in her heart—and called to her own loneliness. Her own denial.

She’d never truly wanted a man before. Always scared to take the risk. Scared she might end up like her mammy, tied to a brute like her father.

But this wasn’t about affection, this was all about desire and chemistry. She’d never felt this rush of endorphins, of excitement and exhilaration. And she might never feel it again, because she already knew how rare it was, after too many botched and aborted make-out sessions as a teenager.

She’d been determined to be smart, sensible, in charge of her own destiny, always. But had she secretly also been holding out, hoping to feel the sensations she’d heard other women talk about? Sensations she had convinced herself might not exist for her.

And now she knew they did.

Why shouldn’t they enjoy each other? If they were both willing? And they both needed it?

She had nearly died two days ago. What if he hadn’t answered her Mayday, and she had perished out there in the frozen forest, a virgin? Having never known what it was to experience physical pleasure? Life wasn’t guaranteed, she’d found that out while she huddled in that snowdrift praying for rescue.

And, to be fair, hehadsaved her life. And nursed her through the night. For all that he didn’t like her.

However surly and uncommunicative he was, he had a core of honesty, of integrity, that made her sure she could trust him, with this much at least.

Ah, to hell with it. Stop overthinking this. Just do it already, Cara. This might be your only chance.

She kept her gaze fixed on his, threaded her fingers back into his hair, yanked his mouth back to hers. And told him the truth.

‘I want you too,’ she whispered against his lips, before licking across the seam, demanding entry.

His guttural moan made her feel powerful in a way she never had before.

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