He felt her body’s exquisite response to his continued strokes, felt her breast swell and her body move against him with the heightened urgency of her desire.
“Lettie, sweetheart.” He scraped his tongue between her lips to ease them apart. Her lips were soft and moist and there was something incredibly erotic in her innocent eagerness, for she wanted to experience all of him, feel all that his mouth and lips and tongue had to offer.
One kiss.
That’s all he dared.
But he wanted more.
He wanted everything.
Somewhere in the back of his fogged brain, he heard footsteps on the stairs and knew this moment had to end now.Summoning his resolve, he eased his mouth off Lettie’s. But his hand was stubborn and refused to leave the warm cup of her breast. “Your aunt… and servants… soon be back. We’re not alone.”
She wasn’t his to claim.
He took a deep breath and then another, needing to calm his rampant lust. Lettie was still on his lap and had to be feeling the hard length of him against her thighs.
“I love you, Brynne.” Her eyes glistened with joy, reflecting all the love she held in that generous heart of hers. A big heart wrapped in a little body. A gorgeous, hot body.
Their kiss was over.
Their moment ended.
He reluctantly drew his hand off her breast and lifted her off his lap to set her down on the mattress beside him. He turned away, needing several more strong, steady breaths to reclaim control over his body and suppress the unfulfilled passion still stirring within his heart.
“I love you,” she said again in a whisper.
“Don’t,” he warned, still unable to look at her for fear he’d take her into his arms again and never let her go. “Don’t, Lettie. This is hard enough for both of us. I don’t want to break your heart.”
The footsteps were close now.
She leaned forward and softly kissed the wolf birthmark on his back. “You won’t. I understand the significance of my dream. I know what must happen now.”
The wolf onBrynne’s back stared at Lettie with its knowing eyes, but those dark eyes were no longer gleaming and angry, for she’d conquered the wolf.
The wolf now trusted her and had placed Brynne in her care.
I love Brynne. I’ll save him. I promise.
And in saving Brynne, she’d unite him with his wolf. She felt to the depths of her soul that he was a de Wolfe, but the exact relation was still a mystery, one that would soon be revealed…please, let it be today.
Lettie still felt the tingle of his lips on hers, the exquisite heat and possessiveness of his kiss, the ache and longing in his heart. He’d touched her breast and an explosion of sensations had erupted within her body, heating her blood until it was thick and molten, heating her skin so that every pore emitted fire. Her breasts were still swollen with desire and her most intimate part was still moist and throbbing.
One kiss and she’d completely melted, leaving her a molten pool of desire. She wanted more of this. She wanted Brynne.
“Lettie, your hot cocoa,” Brynne said, handing her the cup just brought in by Frances.
“Thank you, Aunt Frances,” she said quietly, afraid to look her in the eye for fear the love she held for Brynne still shone in hers. Did it really matter? Had she ever fooled anyone about her feelings for this wonderful man?
“I’ll leave you in Brynne’s care for the moment. Since I’m up, I may as well prepare myself for the coming day.” Frances frowned lightly. “Something tells me it will be interesting.”
Brynne groaned. “I hope not. I could use a rather dull one right now.” He glanced at Lettie. “Right?”
She swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Yes, dull. Right. And now we had better get dressed. We have to visit the de Wolfes as soon as possible.” She set aside the hot cocoa he’d just handed her. “In fact, we’d better hurry.”
Frances shook her head in confusion. “At this hour of the morning? It’s only dawn.”
Lettie rolled off her bed and felt a chill the moment her bare feet hit the floor. “Then we’re late.” She crossed to her armoireand withdrew the dark blue merino wool gown neatly hanging inside.
