Heart of Winter by Diana Palmer Page B

curly hair away from her face, touching her with pure wonder. Yes, this was what he’d been uneasy about, this vulnerable side of her that attracted him. He’d tried so hard to avoid this confrontation. Ridiculous, really, when it was inevitable that he was going to feel her warmth in his arms, savor the soft nectar of her mouth. He’d known she was nearby, back at the corral. He’d sensed her somehow. “Why were you watching me?” he asked.
    â€œI don’t know. I needed to.” She shifted, burying her face against his broad shoulder. “You disturb me,” she whispered shakily. “It frightens me.”
    â€œIt shouldn’t.” He held her, rocked her. His mouth touched her forehead in a kiss as gentle as the arms that held her. “I won’t hurt you again.”
    She nuzzled her face against him. “It’s very exciting, being kissed like that,” she whispered shyly.
    He smiled. “Is it?” He tilted her chin up and searched her eyes. “Then let’s do it again,” he whispered into her open mouth.
    It was wilder this time, hotter, more unbearably sweet. She gave him her mouth and melted into the hard contours of his body with a soft moan. It wasn’t until she felt the tautening, felt the sudden urgency in the mouth devouring hers, that she realized things were getting out of control.
    She put her hands against his wildly thudding chest and pulled her lips away from his. “No,” she said shakily.
    He bit at her lower lip, his head spinning. “No?”
    â€œYou’re a man…and experienced,” she whispered. “I’ve never…and I can’t. I’m sorry.”
    He was breathing roughly, but he didn’t seem to be angry. He brushed his mouth over her eyes, closing her eyelids. “Do you want to?” he whispered, smiling.
    â€œWhat a ridiculous question. I expect you know the answer,” she said dazedly.
    â€œI suppose I do, at that.” He sighed, wrapping her up against him. “Hold tight. They say it passes, eventually. I can’t vouch for it, of course. I’m not in the habit of drawing back at this point.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry,” she moaned.
    â€œI won’t die.” He nuzzled his cheek against hers, rocking her. His arms had a faint tremor, but his breathing was calmer now and his heartbeat had stopped shaking them both. “What a potent little package you are. I didn’t plan this. I meant to…hell, I don’t know what I meant to do. Scare you, maybe.”
    â€œYou did.”
    He laughed. “Like hell I did, you were with me every step of the way. I could have laid you down in the grass and—”
    â€œHush!”
    He drew back then and looked down at her, frowning, his eyes wary and searching. She was flushed, and her eyes had an unnatural brightness, as if she were holding back tears.
    â€œWhat are you so afraid of?” he asked quietly, touching her eyelid gently to release a long, silver tear. “It was passionate, but still just a kiss. I didn’t even try to touch you in any way that would have offended you.”
    â€œIt isn’t fear,” she whispered. She lowered her eyes. How could she explain to him the intensity of her feelings, the aching tenderness she was beginning to feel for him?
    â€œAre you afraid of intimacy?” he asked very quietly.
    She lowered her eyes to his chest and closed them. “I’m afraid of getting involved. Just as afraid as you are,” she added. And it was true. She’d given her heart to Chase—she’d almost given her body to him. And he’d betrayed her trust. How could she risk it again?
    â€œWhy?”
    She looked up at him. “Why are you?” she countered, searching his quiet eyes.
    He bent and touched her forehead with lips that were breathlessly gentle. “I loved her,” he whispered, “in my way. It was the first time