Worth the Risk(51)

She was still lying on her side and unconsciously her left hand crept onto his chest, her fingertips feeling the hard muscle beneath the fabric of his T-shirt. Without even planning to do so, she slipped her fingers underneath, her stomach flipping as they tangled with the hair on his chest.

Sean sucked in his breath and shackled her hand. ‘You’re playing with fire.’

She lifted herself on one elbow, her breath catching in her throat as she met his burning gaze.

‘Sean?’ Her voice was a plea, and he closed his eyes briefly, the muscles in his throat working as he swallowed.

‘Let’s get one thing straight, shall we?’ His voice was husky. ‘I may have amazing will-power when we’re both fully clothed and cavorting around the health centre, but you’re half-naked in my sleeping bag, angel, and if you carry on like this I can’t promise not to retaliate.’

Ally moved so that her body was pressed against his and slipped one slim, smooth calf over his hair-roughened thigh so that she was half lying on top of him.

‘I think I want you to retaliate.’ Her words were so soft that she barely heard them herself, and for a moment she wondered whether she’d said them at all. Maybe she’d just thought them.

Then Sean stabbed his fingers through her long blonde hair and anchored the back of her head so that she couldn’t look away.

A muscle flickered in his jaw and his gaze was intent. ‘Say that again.’

She swallowed hard. ‘I want you Sean…’

He stared at her for a long moment and shook his head slowly, his expression grim. ‘No. No, you don’t. It’s just because you’re scared and you think you need me. You don’t need to worry, Ally. I promise to get you off this mountain safely.’

‘It’s not that.’

His eyes held hers, his strong fingers clamped either side of her head.

‘What, then?’

‘You were right.’ Her heart was hammering in her chest. She’d never propositioned a man in her life. What if he turned her down? Didn’t want her any more?

‘Right about what?’

‘About it being worth the risk.’ Her voice was a whisper, and when he didn’t react she lowered her head slightly and licked at his lips in a provocative gesture that made him catch his breath.

In one swift movement Sean rolled her on her back, using enough of his ample strength to keep her pinned under him but not enough to hurt her.

The muscles in one shoulder bunched as he supported most of his weight and his free hand came up and cupped her chin, forcing her to look directly at him. Not that she wanted to look anywhere else. She was through with playing games. She loved this man with all her heart and she no longer cared about what was sensible. She’d deal with the consequences later. All she cared about was now…

‘This is your final warning.’ The look in his dark eyes made her limbs weaken, and she curled a hand behind his strong neck.

‘Kiss me, Sean.’

He lowered his head, his breathing uneven, his eyes still holding hers, still checking for her reaction as his mouth closed over hers. And then he gave a groan and was lost. And so was she. The storm outside the tent faded into insignificance compared to the one raging inside.

His kiss was wild and dominating, and his body shifted over hers, his arousal immediately obvious as she felt him press closer to her. Her insides were melting with the heat of sensation, and she sobbed his name as his hand jerked her T-shirt up and found the catch of her bra.

The touch of his fingers on her breast made her writhe in an agony of yearning and she curled a leg around him to try and bring him closer.

‘Steady angel.’ He lifted his head, his breathing ragged as he stared at her, his hand moving downwards.

‘Sean, please…’

‘Not yet…’ He slid down further inside the sleeping bag and she gasped as she felt the warmth of his tongue touch her sensitised breasts. Heat flooded her cheeks as his hand slid further down still and found what he was searching for, his fingers stroking her with wicked intimacy.

‘Please…’ She was writhing under his skilled touch and he lifted his head, his eyes glittering as they focused on her glazed eyes.

‘I’ve wanted you for so long…’

‘I want you, too…’ She was going to die. If he didn’t make love to her soon she was definitely going to die.

He paused for a moment, his jaw tense. ‘Are you protected?’

She hesitated briefly and then nodded. It would be all right. It was totally the wrong time of the month and she wanted this man. Oh, she wanted him so badly.

This time when he held her she felt the power of his arousal, felt him part her legs and take her mouth again in a kiss that reflected the wild hunger between them.