'Yes.'
She could feel the tension ebb from his grasp. 'Well, hell, Jade, I thought it was something serious.'
'like what?' she demanded in a raised voice.
'Like perhaps you were married,' he answered in a near shout of his own. 'I already know you don't dislike me,' he added in a softer tone of voice.
'You're impossible,' she cried out. 'Unbending, too. If I had other lies, I certainly wouldn't admit them
to you now. You get too cranky.'
'Jade?'
'Yes?'
'What other lies?'
'I thought about telling you I was married,' she said then. 'But I'm not any good at fabrications and
I didn't think you'd believe me.'
'Why would you want me to believe you were married?'
He was rubbing her shoulders now in an absentminded fashion. 'Because,' she rushed out. 'In the
tavern, well, you were looking at me very like a tiger planning his next meal, and I thought that if you believed I was married… or recently widowed, then I'd gain your compassion.'
'So you wanted my compassion and not my lust?'
She nodded. 'You must admit that we are attracted to each other. I've never wanted a man to touch
me the way I want you to… touch me.'
'That's nice to know, my love.'
'Oh, you already know it,' she whispered. 'Quit looking so pleased with yourself. It was bound to
happen sooner or later.'
'What was bound to happen?'
'I was bound to find someone I wanted to get a little closer to,' she explained.
'I'm glad it happened with me,' he admitted.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up against him. 'Jade, do you want me to touch you now?'
She struggled out of his arms and took a step back. 'It doesn't matter if I want you to touch me or not, Caine. You're my protector. You have to leave me alone.'
She suddenly found herself pulled back up against his chest, his thighs, his hard arousal. Her flimsy nightgown proved scanty protection against his body, his incredible heat. 'It doesn't work that way,
Jade.'
'Why not?'
'I want you.'
The huskiness in his voice was her undoing. She knew she should be appalled by her own reaction to him. Yet she actually wanted to melt in his arms. The urge to let him touch her was such a sweet torment. Lord, she was confused. She'd never, ever permitted anyone to get this close to her. She'd always protected herself against involvements of any kind, having learned early in life that loving someone caused more pain than joy. Even Nathan had deserted her. She'd become so vulnerable then. Yes, only a fool would let a man like Caine close… only a fool.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Neither Jade nor Caine was aware of the weather now. They were too consumed by the heat flowing between them.
They stared into each other's eyes for what seemed an eternity.
And in the end, it was inevitable. When Caine slowly lowered his head toward her, she leaned up to meet him halfway.
His mouth took absolute possession. He was as ravenous for her as she was for him. She welcomed his tongue, rubbed against it with her own. Her whimper of longing and acceptance blended with his raw growl of need.
The kiss was openly carnal. Caine was a lusty man whose hunger wouldn't be easily appeased. He wouldn't let her retreat or give half measure. Jade didn't want to draw back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, threaded her fingers through his soft curly hair, and clung to him. She never wanted to let go.
When he finally pulled away, she felt as though he'd taken her heart. She cuddled up against him quite brazenly, resting the side of her face against his warm chest. The mat of hair tickled her nose but she liked the sensation too much to move away. His scent, so wonderfully masculine, reminded her of
heather and musk. The earthy fragrance clung to his skin.
Caine's voice was ragged when he asked, 'Jade? Are there other lies you want to tell me about?'
'No.'
He smiled over the shyness in her voice, then said, 'No, there aren't any other lies, or no, you don't
want to tell me about them?'
She rubbed her cheek against his chest to try to distract him, then said, 'Yes, there are other lies.' She
felt him tense against her, then hastily added, 'But they're so insignificant I can't even remember them now. When I do, I promise to tell you.'
He immediately relaxed again. Lying, she decided, was on the top of his list of atrocities.. 'Jade?'
'Yes, Caine?'
