WeresDigest by Desconhecido

head.
    Slowly, he removed his hand. She surprised him when
she kicked his shin.
    “Ow!” He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her onto
her toes. “Why’d you do that?”
    “For scarin’ the daylights of me! Max, why are you
here?”
    His frown lessened. “I’m escorting you home, and I
have a proposition for you.”
    She rolled her eyes, settled her reticule over her
arm, and headed out of the alley. “No. I’m not a bit interested in
your…proposition. “
    “Why not?” he asked, stepping into step beside her.
    “Because it’s likely the same as the first one you
offered. Which reminds me,” she said, coming to a halt. Carrie jammed her hands
on her hips and tapped the toe of one kid boot. “Where have you been for the
last month?”
    He slid an arm around her waist and murmured against
her ear, “Missed me, did you?”
    “Well…” He kissed her ear. “…perhaps a little,” she
gasped.
    He tried, he really did, but he couldn’t stop himself
from reading her mind.
    Oh, Max, I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know!
Why, why did you leave me alone for so long? Where have you been? Have you
taken up with another woman? Do you no longer loveme? Did you ever?
    God, he hated how she doubted him and in silence
cursed himself for staying away for so long. A deep kiss would reassure her and
he pulled her against his chest, lowered his head, and kissed her full on her
sweet lips. His heart leaped when she returned the kiss and wound her arms
around his neck. He backed her up against the tavern wall, his mind only on
her. He ground himself against her in an effort to ease the ache there,
helpless to stop himself, praying she wouldn’t stop him. She didn’t for she
lowered her arms from around his neck, cupped his buttocks and pressed him
tight against her.
    He released her lips and swung her high in his arms,
nuzzling the pulse in her neck. “You’ve no idea how I’ve missed you, darlin’.”
    She tossed her head back and laughed. “Oh,” she
whispered, “Then you must tell me.”
    Max growled, “I’d much rather show you. Come, my
carriage is out front.”
    “Where are you taking me?” Carrie asked, then placed
small kisses on his collarbone, exposed now as she’d untied the tie holding it
shut.
    “No more will you walk home alone each evening. It’s
not safe.” He didn’t tell her he planned to take her home with him, and she
thankfully didn’t ask. His manhood throbbed in anticipation of joining with
her. She was his—his mate—and he knew she felt that connection to him. She knew
he was for her, and she was for him. He thought about the fine dinner cook had
waiting in his bedroom for them, thought it a shame they likely wouldn’t eat
it.
    She’d taken the first step by beginning to undress
him. Now her small fingers worked on first one button, then another. She paused
when Max reached the carriage and called up to his driver perched high on the
seat. “Tom, head home.”
    Max settled her down on the cushioned seat and
followed her inside, sitting beside her. Then he whisked her onto his lap and
started in where he’d left off lavishing her lips, temples, and earlobes with
kisses. His fingers found their way to her blouse and he started unbuttoning several
tiny buttons marching down the front. He reached her navel and eased her arms
from the sleeves. The fabric slid down to her waist. He slid his hands over her
breasts, then cupped them through the cotton camisole and lowered his head.
    He placed his lips around one nipple and suckled
gently through the thin fabric, thankful she hadn’t worn a corset. She gasped,
arched her back, and closed her eyes.
    He paused when she begged, “Stop, Max! It’s too
sensitive!”
    Obligingly, Max moved to her other nipple and suckled
until she squirmed on his lap. Soon he divested her of the camisole and her
hands clutched at the front of his shirt as she tried to remove it. He released
her breasts and eased himself out of his shirt, gasping