Caroline. Anne Mather

lighting from the standard lamp was not bright and Caroline hoped he was unaware of how much he disturbed her.

      ‘There’s not much to tell,’ she murmured quietly, gazing into the fire. ‘My parents died when I was very young. An aunt brought me up and then I moved in with Amanda six months ago.’

      ‘Very exciting,’ he remarked with a smile. ‘No romance?’

      The intimacy of this situation washed over her and she shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. How could she make light-hearted conversation about a subject so newly apparent?

      Adam moved slightly, until his thigh was touching hers, and cupped her face with one hand, forcing her to look at him. His eyes scanned her features intently, and she was sure he must be able to hear the thudding of her heart. She trembled violently, and jerked her face away before he could read what must be in her eyes. She felt his fingers playing with her hair, touching the nape of her neck, disturbing her emotions, so that she was forced to look at him again. Then, slowly and deliberately, he leant forward, and placed his mouth against hers, exploring its softness expertly, until her lips parted involuntarily, and the kiss hardened and lengthened into something much more demanding. Caroline had never dreamed a man’s mouth could arouse such sensations, and it was with a sense of loss she felt him release her and get up, with almost savage movements.