To Tempt A Tiger(29)

“Rose.” His voice was harsh and deep, sexy as all hell, and he sounded as desperate as she felt.

She remembered that sound, that tone. The power and satisfaction of knowing he wanted her as badly as she wanted him had always made her feel strong and feminine. She gave herself permission to explore the hard muscles of his shoulders and back, running her fingers up his neck, triumphing in his hard shiver. When he moved a hand to her breast, cupping her through her clothes, she arched into him. He squeezed gently, then ran his thumb over her nipple and all she could think was that there was too much material between her skin and his fingers.

She dropped her head back as he moved from her mouth to her throat, kissing and sucking, nibbling at the sensitive spots he knew made her crazy. The tension in her core built. She’d been alone for so long, she was pretty sure he’d only have to brush her clit through her jeans and she’d come. Her hips bucked at the thought.

She gripped his wrist, intending to move his hand lower, to give her that longed-for orgasm, when the little voice of reason that had gotten stronger since she became a mother warned her to stop. She wasn’t ready for it. Too much history and emotion still remained between them. Too much distrust. Sex might have been simple and uncomplicated at one time, but not anymore. Not with him.

That irritating voice poked a hole in the lovely sensual world she’d lost herself in and forced her to face reality. Instead of moving his hand to her jeans, she linked her fingers with his and then pulled back so she could see his face. His eyes were dark and hot and for just an instant she forgot her resolve. Then she blinked and straightened.

“I’m sorry. I know I started this, but I have to stop it, too. I’m not ready yet.”

He nodded, but she watched him swallow visibly and the tension in his body didn’t ease. “This is why I offered to leave.”

“I know, and I appreciate that.”

“I can still go. If you want me to.”

“No. Just because I have trouble controlling myself around you isn’t any reason to force you to sleep in the snow.”

“I don’t know. I could use a hit of cold air about now.”

She laughed. Then sighed. “I’ve missed this.” She spoke so quietly, she wasn’t sure he’d hear her, though she should have known better.

“I’ve missed you,” he said.

She traced her fingers along his jaw, rubbing her thumb against the prickly texture of his unshaven cheek. Her heart thumped hard with the continued kick of need running through her blood and a sharp thrust of emotions too complicated to tease out just yet.

When she felt herself leaning toward him again and realized she was staring at his mouth, she jerked away and stood. “Come on. I’ll show you the spare room.”

He followed without a word. She was both relieved and disappointed that he didn’t try to touch her as she led him down the hall, past hers and Zoe’s rooms to the third bedroom. This was the smallest room, with only a single bed and a small closet. But it was better than freezing outside, she was sure.

Away from the fire, the only light was the faint glow of moonlight on snow that snuck in through the windows. She stared up at his shadowed features, memories of times past colliding with the here and now. If she let herself, if she gave up all the pain and resentment, she realized she could easily love him again. She wasn’t entirely sure she’d ever stopped loving him, even when she’d hated him with every ounce of her being. She suspected she wouldn’t have hated him so much if she hadn’t still loved him, too.

“So complicated,” she murmured. “Too complicated.”

“Worth it,” he said quietly. He cupped her cheek. “We have time, as much as you need.”

“Do we? And to what end? I can’t afford to take anything lightly anymore, Vlad. Not with Zoe to consider.”

“I know. I don’t take what’s between us lightly, and I never have. It’s never just been about sex with us, Rose.”

“Well. Maybe it was in the beginning. Just a little.”

He dipped his chin to look her in the eyes. “Are you telling me when we first met, you were only interested in me for sex?”

“Well, yeah. You’re sexy as all hell. I couldn’t wait to get you naked.”

He scowled, but the expression turned rueful a moment later. “I’m trying to be offended by that, and I can’t seem to manage it.”

“That’s because you’re vain. You like that I want you and think you’re hot.”

“True.” He smiled. “We have always been good at sex.”

“Don’t remind me or I won’t sleep.”