To Bed or to Wed by Sandra Sookoo

of subjecting us all to your bad humor?”
    It was the wrong thing to say, for his eyes darkened. He pressed his hard form roughly into hers. Every muscle in her body tensed and strained toward him, yet her stomach fluttered with nerves and excitement. What would he do? Would he truly behave as the beast he was rumored to be?
    “You have no idea how far past grumpy I can go.” He held her gaze, his roiling with unknown emotion. “Love does nothing for a man except make him vulnerable and weak. A man in love is merely prey for those who are stronger. Long ago I made a vow to myself to never be weak again.” Without warning, Nathan crushed his lips to hers.
    It wasn’t a kiss that stemmed from affection or even lust. Th is meeting was fueled by something much greater than even anger or annoyance for her intrusion. He moved his mouth over hers with consummate skill and authority, clearly endeavoring to teach a lesson. No, this kiss defied everything Charlotte had ever known, surpassed everything she’d experienced with the few intrepid men who’d been brave enough to steal one.
    She knew she should stop the proceedings or even try to slap him again, but she couldn’t. Her limbs wouldn’t respond to her brain’s command. Instead, she surrendered to him, let the liquid fire he’d ignited seep through her body while her curiosity expanded. She parted her lips at the insistence of his probing tongue and gave him permission to quite thoroughly ravish her. What was the point of enjoying the London life if she couldn’t deepen her knowledge? Since it was highly unlikely she’d marry, why shouldn’t she give herself over to passion just once? When he sucked her tongue into his mouth, she moaned and pressed closer to him.
    He wrenched slightly away. “Damnation, woman, why do you persist in provoking me?” His labored breathing rasped in the silence.
    “Provoking you?” She reeled from the change in subject, still a little light-headed from the kiss. But the feeling of restlessness persisted. At the very least, she wanted a sense of satisfaction from this meeting. Charlotte narrowed her eyes as she reveled in the knowledge he hadn’t released her body from between his and the door. “If I wished to provoke you, I’d be the one commanding the kiss, sir.”
    “Is that so?” Again, one corner of his lips quirked up but didn’t unfurl into a full grin. “Pray don’t keep me in suspense then.” His eyes darkened. Something dangerous and demanding lurked within those depths. “If you think you can best me in kissing, by all means try.”
    Oh, he was an aggravating man, and a challenge she wouldn’t mind attempting to go toe-to-toe with. Instead of giving in to common sense and fleeing, she slid her free hand to his nape and tugged his head to hers, then she kissed him, simply so she wouldn’t have to see the unknown emotions in his eyes. When he released her other hand, she clutched his shoulders as she nibbled his lower lip, but the frustrating lord refused to give her access. She made a sound of annoyance deep in her throat, and she lifted onto her tiptoes as she lightly bit his lip in punishment for his stubbornness.
    “Ah, so that’s how it will be, eh?” he whispered against her mouth. Remarkably, the words were tinged with slight humor, but that was all he let slip. Instead, he slid his hands around her and clutched her bottom. “Since you apparently think you can handle me once I’m riled, I’d like to test your fortitude.”
    Charlotte barely had time to draw a breath before he claimed her lips in a bruising kiss. Tingles raced through her body. The heat from his hands on her backside seeped into her blood, warming her all over. As he pulled her tightly flush to his body, she couldn’t help but recognize the rigid outline of his aroused member against her stomach. Good heavens, he’s lost in the depths of desire. For me. Or possibly merely from the situation. Either way, she was powerless to resist