Red Roses Mean Love

kiss … just one more kiss…

But stopping there proved impossible.

She overwhelmed him on every level, making coherent thought impossible. He cupped her breasts and ran his thumbs over her nipples, which immediately peaked into hard points. Hayley moaned and tunneled her fingers through his hair, urging him closer. Unable to stop himself, he stroked one hand down her body, catching the hem of her gown and slowly pulling it up. He insinuated his hand under the soft muslin and trailed his fingers up her calf. When his fingers reached her knee, they encountered the tie to her cotton drawers, a barrier he made fast work of.

As his fingers continued their leisurely exploration up her leg, he reveled in the throaty, breathless moans escaping her. When his hand reached the juncture between her thighs, her entire body tensed.

'Stephen,' she whispered against his lips.

Raising his head, he gazed down into her luminous, desire-dilated eyes. His fingers lightly caressed her. 'Spread your legs for me, Hayley. I want to touch you. I need to feel you.'

Her gaze never wavering from his, she obeyed.

His fingers skimmed upward and caressed her soft folds of womanly flesh, eliciting a growl of masculine lust from him. She was wet and slippery, warm and moist, and he lost himself in the feel of her, the sight of her throwing her head back and reveling in the discovery of new sensations.

While she writhed beneath his caress, clutching his shoulders, he gently eased a finger inside her, watching her all the while. Dear God, she was so hot and so tight. He moved his finger slowly in and out of her body, watching her passion grow, her breathing become deeper and faster. He slipped a second finger inside her and groaned aloud when her velvety walls clutched at him.

She pushed herself against his hand, and he knew what she sought, understood how desperate and hot she felt. He felt so himself.

'Stephen,' she whispered, her voice a breathless pant, 'I feel so strange. So achy, and wonderful, and …ohhh!' Her words ended on a surprised exclamation.

He watched, transfixed, as she climaxed. She responded with total abandon, her back arching, hips bucking against him. When she fell back against the cushions, sated, he slipped his fingers from her body. Rolling their bodies onto their sides, he gathered her against his hammering heart, burying his face in her fragrant hair. He'd never seen anything more erotic, more sensual, than Hayley in the throes of her first passion. It was a miracle he hadn't exploded himself, although in truth, he nearly had.

After a moment she leaned back and touched his face. He looked at her and their gazes locked.

Turning his face, he pressed a fervent kiss into her palm. 'God, Hayley. You are beautiful. So soft and warm.' His arousal jerked in his snug breeches, a pulsing reminder of how badly he wanted to bury himself inside her.

'What happened to me? I've never experienced anything like that before.'

'You experienced a woman's pleasure,' he whispered against her palm.

'It was … incredible. I had no idea.' She caressed his face with gentle fingers and a breathy sigh escaped her. 'What a wondrous, marvelous feeling.'

Stephen touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes, swallowing the lump of guilt that clogged his throat, threatening to choke him. Now that he could think clearly again, he was thoroughly disgusted with himself. Jesus. What a bloody bastard I am. He'd just compromised her beyond all hope, and worse, he knew if he didn't get away from her, he'd compromise her even more. And damn it, she deserved better than a tumble on the study sofa with a man who would leave her.

Raising himself on one elbow, he gently brushed the tangle of curls from her forehead. 'Hayley, I…'God. He knew he should apologize, but he couldn't. It had been too beautiful. She was too beautiful. Tenderness invaded his system. He swallowed and tried again. 'We cannot keep doing this, Hayley. We cannot continue spending time alone like this. You'll end up completely ruined, and I am going to lose my mind. I don't want to compromise you any more than I already have.' Like hell. I want to compromise you so badly I can barely think straight.

Dark red stained her cheeks and she struggled to sit up. 'Of course, you're right. I'm sorry-'

Stephen laid a single finger across her lips, halting her words. 'You have nothing to be sorry for, Hayley. I take full responsibility for what happened. But I'm only a man, and I don't want to ruin you. If we're alone like this again, I will. I can't seem to help myself.'

Forcing himself to move away from her, he sat up, then helped her to do the same. He ran shaky fingers through his hair and expelled a long breath. His body continued to throb and ache, but he knew Hayley was the only thing that would satisfy him, and she was the one thing he must not take. How ironic that all his wealth and estates and titles could not give him what he really wanted. He knew he could simply take it, but at what cost? I would hate myself. And worse, she would hate me. Maybe not now, but later. After I leave.

Turning, he watched her adjust her clothing. She looked vulnerable, confused, and more beautiful than any other woman he'd ever laid eyes on. Her lips were red and swollen from his kisses, and her cheeks abraded from his whiskers. Her chestnut hair fell in artful disarray around her shoulders. The glow of the fire cast a golden halo around her. He had to get away from her. Now.

Standing, he extended his hand. 'Come. I'll walk you to your chamber.'

Before she could reply, the study door burst open. Callie stood in the threshold, tears streaming down her face. 'Hayley! There you are!'

Hayley dropped to her knees and Callie launched herself into her arms. 'What's wrong, darling? Are you hurt?'

Callie clung to Hayley and sobbed into her neck. 'I had a bad dream. The kind with hairy monsters who eat little girls. I looked for you everywhere and couldn't find you. I was so scared.'

'Oh, poppet. I'm so sorry. I'm here now.'

Hayley raised stricken eyes to Stephen, and he easily read the guilt and self-disgust in her gaze. He could almost hear her thoughts … Look what I've done. I was acting the wanton with you and Callie needed me. I failed her. What a terrible mistake I've made. And what would have happened if she'd interrupted us five minutes earlier?

She looked pointedly at the door and he knew she wanted him to leave before Callie noticed him. Without a word he left, closing the door silently behind him, knowing he'd left a piece of his soul behind.

SHAPE * MERGEFORMAT

Chapter 16

'Am I interrupting something?' Justin asked the next afternoon. He stepped onto the patio at Albright Cottage, an amused, incredulous look on his face.

Stephen tried to glower at his friend, but it was damned hard to look threatening while pinching a tiny teacup between his fingers. It was even more difficult considering he sat at a tiny child-size table, his frame nearly bent double, his knees bumping his chin and his ass wedged into a teensy chair. He shot Justin the harshest glare he could manage under the circumstances.

'Why, no, Justin. You're not interrupting at all. In fact, you are just in time to join us.' He indicated a tiny empty chair with a nod. 'Please sit down.'

Stephen almost laughed out loud at the expression of horror that crossed Justin's face.

'Oh, no,' Justin said, 'that is not necess-'

'Nonsense,' Stephen broke in. 'We insist. Justin, may I present Miss Callie Albright, the finest hostess in all of Halstead. Callie, this is Mr. Justin Mallory, a dear friend of mine.'

Callie peeked up at Justin from beneath the brim of a huge hat adorned with colorful feathers. 'How do you do, Mr. Mallory?' she said with a sweet smile. 'Please sit down. We're just about to begin our tea party.' She moved around the table and held the tiny chair out for Justin. 'You may sit right here, next to Miss Josephine Chilton- Jones.'

Stephen watched Justin's gaze move from the minuscule chair to the none too clean doll, then to Callie's