Hard to Hold by Karen Foley Page A

his eyes as if to block out the dim light from the nearby lantern.
    Maddie held her breath until he relaxed and his own breathing became even again. The ancient sofa was upholstered in a thick, tweedy plaid except for the slatted arms, which were oak. She studied the construction for a moment, trying to estimate the thickness of the wood. Colton’s breathing was still deep and steady.
    Clutching the handcuffs tightly, Maddie rose silently to her feet and crept to the sofa. She leaned over Colton. His arm still covered his eyes, but his mouth was exposed to her hungry gaze. She couldn’t help but stare. It was a luscious mouth, made for sinful pleasures. Her eyes traced the shadowed contours of his jaw and lower, to the strong column of his throat, where his pulse beat steadily.
    She told herself it didn’t matter if she stared at him; he was asleep and unaware of her perusal. And she was just looking, after all. She had no intention of...touching him. At least not in that way. But she would have to touch him if she was going to go through with her plan. With his arm flung across his eyes, it took her only an instant to cinch one handcuff around the strong wrist and lace the other end through the wooden slats of the couch.
    She wasn’t prepared when he mumbled sleepily and she suddenly found herself staring into slumberous dark eyes. He gazed up at her with a bemused expression and said something incoherent. Before Maddie could guess his intent, he brought his free hand up and slid it under her hair to cup the nape of her neck and draw her down for his kiss.
    For a moment, she was too shocked to protest. Then, as his lips moved warmly and sensuously against hers, she gave a moan—whether of protest or pleasure, she wasn’t sure. His mouth was hot and sweet, and with a soft sigh of capitulation, she melted against him and allowed herself to respond for one brief, blissful moment. He groaned in satisfaction and drew her closer, slanting his lips across hers and parting them for the intrusion of his tongue.
    His kiss was intoxicating; drugging in its effect. For a moment, nothing else mattered except the wild, sweet longing that surged through her veins. He had pulled her down so that she was lying almost fully on top of him, her breasts flattened against the muscled hardness of his chest. He tasted faintly of sweet bourbon, and he smelled like wood smoke and unadulterated male. The combination was devastating to her heightened senses. He shifted restlessly beneath her, and there was no mistaking his growing arousal.
    It took every vestige of willpower she had to pull free from that kiss. For a moment they stared at each other, their breathing ragged. The sleepiness in those black eyes had changed to something else; something hot and raw and full of sensual promise.
    Before she could change her mind, she reached behind her head and grasped his free hand, lacing her fingers with his.
    “Madeleine,” he rasped, “I don’t think—”
    “Shh.” She bent down to brush a searing kiss over his lips, and then lingered for several long, tantalizing seconds. She couldn’t help herself; the taste and feel of him were irresistible. Then, before he could guess her intent, she pushed his hand over his head and quickly snapped the other handcuff around his free wrist. The chain on the cuffs threaded through the slatted arm of the sofa effectively trapped his hands over his head.
    “Hey,” he protested with a bemused laugh. “What’re you doing?”
    “Just a little precaution,” Maddie said breathlessly.
    Avoiding his heated gaze, she straddled his lean hips and then scooted back on his thighs just enough to free his pelvis from her weight. She had seen him put his truck keys in his front pocket. She glanced swiftly at his face. He was watching her with a half smile, uncertain of her intent. With both his arms raised over his head like that, she couldn’t help but notice the impressive bulge of his triceps. She had to fight