Page 9 of Kiss Me, Macrae
Another arch of his brows.
“I simply don’t see any reason to discuss the occurrence in such crude detail. It happened. It shouldn’t have. End of story.”
“Correction,” he stated gruffly. “It happened. It bloody well shoulda and it bloody well should happen again.”
“Absolutely not,” Allegra insisted with an emphatic shake of her head.
“Did it spook you, then?” he asked quietly.
Allegra frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“That kind of passion isna common,” he replied, his voice low and intimate, as though they were sharing a coveted secret. “I understand if ye got a wee bit scared.”
“I do not scare that easily,” she replied. “I assure you.”
His mouth tilted upward, drawing her gaze and a lovely pool of heat to her center. “I didnae think so.”
“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to kiss you again.”
“If ye say so.”
She couldn’t contain her frustration. “You are infuriating.”
“I’m irresistible.”
“By all rights, I should never have seen you again.”
“Fate’s taken us in hand, lassie.” He leaned toward her until she could see the faint golden striations in his green eyes. “There’s no denyin’ it.”
“I deny it.”
He tipped his head back and a harsh, ragged sound rose up from his throat. It sounded unbelievably sensual to her ears and made her body clench tight in response.
He pinned her with a vivid stare. “Ye’re a damned stubborn woman.”
Though his tone was one of frustration, his eyes sparkled with humor. His scent—evergreen and chimney smoke—surrounded her and she had the oddest urge to dip her chin and burrow into his warmth.
The inclination was so utterly unlike her. She took a hasty step back instead.
Unfortunately, her heel came down on a patch of ice. Her foot slipped sideways. She scrambled to catch her balance, but the uneven ground wouldn’t allow it.
Within a moment, she was caught up in the Scotsman’s arms. Her breasts and belly pressed flush to his solid torso and despite the layers of wool and fur and cotton and whatever else between them, she swore she could feel the hardy beat of his heart against her chest.
Or perhaps that was her heart suddenly beating so heavy and strong.
Definitely her breath that caught in her lungs and her gaze that rose as far as his curved lips and then couldn’t go farther. Also, her belly that fluttered with an explosion of anticipation so acute it made her dizzy.
“As I said, lassie,” he said in a roughened murmur, “’tis fate.”
Allegra searched for a response—some sort of rejection—but she couldn’t shift her focus from the contours of his mouth as she remembered how his lips had moved so ravenously over hers.
Another wordless sound rolled through him. But this one was deeper…a primitive demand.
Allegra was helpless to refuse. Curling her hand around the back of his head, she pulled him down until his mouth covered hers.
And a fire ignited.
Just like at the inn, the kiss sparked instant passion—bold and bright. His arms surrounded her, his earthy scent filled her head, and his lips—such firm, purposeful, sensual lips—ravaged her better sense.