‘How about testing out the other side of the coin?’ he suggested, and pulled her closer.
She stiffened and urged herself into battle mode. Resist this, she told herself fiercely. Don’t fall under his spell as you did last time, don’t get mesmerised again. Don’t allow the somehow simply wonderful feeling of being in his arms to overcome you and make you dizzy with delight. Dizzy and delighted because he feels so strong, because he knows just how and where to touch you and arouse you... She started as he spoke again.
‘How about—this?’ And he slid his fingers beneath her top and cupped her breasts.
CHAPTER FOUR
HARRIET TREMBLED AND he felt it through his fingers.
‘If it’s nice for you, you only need to nod,’ he said huskily. ‘Believe me—’ he moved his fingers across her nipples ‘—it’s sensational for me.’
Harriet’s lips parted and she unclenched her fists and grasped his wrists instead. She didn’t nod but she did say, ‘You have a way of doing that—that’s breathtaking but—’
‘You’d rather I didn’t?’ he suggested, narrowing his eyes suddenly.
Harriet closed her eyes briefly. ‘I’d much rather fly to the moon with you, Damien Wyatt,’ she said barely audibly, ‘but I can’t help knowing I’d regret it sooner or later.’
‘Another incendiary statement.’
She bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.’ And there were tears in her eyes.
He hesitated for a long moment then he withdrew his hands and smoothed her top down. ‘You win,’ he drawled.
Harriet flicked away the tears on her cheeks and steeled herself for more mockery. It didn’t come, not in the spoken form, anyway.
He turned away and sprawled out in one of the chairs at the table. ‘Actually—’ he ran a hand through his hair ‘—you’re right, Ms Livingstone.’
But being right, Harriet discovered, didn’t prevent him from subjecting her to a dark gaze full of dry amusement as he looked her up and down and mentally dispensed of all her clothes.
She bore that sardonic scrutiny and mental undressing for as long as she could, determined not to turn away and thereby give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d upset her, but was just about to protest when he spoke.
‘Do you ride?’
Harriet blinked. ‘Horses?’
‘Well, I don’t mean camels.’
‘I have, as a kid,’ she said cautiously.
He drummed his fingers on the table. ‘Did you enjoy it?’
‘Yes,’ she replied but equally as cautiously as she wondered what was coming.
‘Just tell me this, Harriet. Would it be purgatory for you if I suggested we get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to take advantage of the low tide and go for a gallop down the beach? Tottie, I know, would love it.’
‘If I could ride Sprite...’ She paused and looked uncomfortable.