always thought full moons were magical.”
He gave a skeptical snort. “It’s not full, it only looks that way. It’s already started to wane. You just can’t tell by the naked eye.” He tugged at his collar. Sweat clung to his cheeks, prompting him to thumb open another button on his shirt.
The inky material gaped on his chest. A traitorous part of her mind wondered what it would be like to free the remaining buttons. She could almost feel the heated touch of his flesh beneath her fingertips as she slowly worked her way to his waist.
Disturbed, she jerked her hand from his. A hot flush crept up her neck.
“You can tell the difference?” She shot a doubtful glance at the moon. It made her think of long-ago legends: fairy glades, nameless winged creatures and werewolves.
“The moon and I are well acquainted.”
He leaned into the banister, his leg casually brushing hers. She tensed at the informal contact, surprised when it streaked through her like a bolt of lightning. Weak-kneed and stunned, she tried to retreat.
“Annie, don’t go–” Caleb caught her hand.
“Don’t call me that.”
“It suits you.” Towering over her, he stepped closer, his eyes mirroring the smoky blue of the night-dusted sky. “I think we were supposed to meet.” His voice grew low and husky, sending a shivery chill up her spine.
She wet her lips, trying to retain her composure. It was impossible to think straight when he stood so near, his presence engulfing her in a sizzling wall of heat. “Caleb…”
He bent closer and threaded his hand into her hair, his fingertips lightly pressing her scalp. A dizzying shiver of sensation cascaded through her. She barely had time to register the feeling before his mouth closed over hers, possessive and eager, leaving her breathless. She hadn’t expected him to kiss so hungrily, his lips heated with the slumbering flush of fever.
In some part of her mind, she understood he’d been trying to hide his condition all evening. The other part rebelled, caught between outrage and surrender. She couldn’t think straight, oblivious to logic. Her body betrayed her, enjoying the sheer hedonistic pressure of his mouth on hers, the faint taste of wine clinging to his lips. She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t wanted this, secretly hoping he would try to kiss her. She’d dreamed about it, imagined it more than once.
Emboldened, he wrapped an arm around her waist and deepened the kiss, trapping her against the porch railing. For one blissful moment, she knew only raw heat, the sensual intimacy of his tongue twining with hers, a rush of giddy pleasure that left her senseless, blindly clinging to him. His body was deliciously lean muscle, strength and corded sinew crushed against her softer curves. He made no apology for his boldness, but kept her locked in his embrace.
In a heartbeat, sanity returned.
“Don’t.” She wrenched free. Flustered by her behavior, she raised trembling fingers to her lips, still moist and puffy from his kiss. She’d promised her attraction wouldn’t go this far, yet had tumbled into his arms. She could still feel the searing heat of his mouth on hers, the hungry possessiveness of his tongue sealing them together. He might appear courtly and refined, but his kiss was far from genteel.
“I have to go.” She fumbled for her purse on the settee, her hands shaking as she dug inside for her keys.
“Annie, don’t leave.” Caleb moved behind her, sliding his palms over her arms. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” He turned her around. “I’ll behave myself, I promise. I’m usually better mannered, but…” He faltered, a cocksure smile lifting the corner of his mouth. “Can you blame me for finding you attractive?”
“You need to work on your flattery.” Arianna refused to budge. How could she be sidetracked by his charm? “I didn’t come here for that kind of date, Caleb.”
“I know.” His smile dimmed. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you leaving angry.”
“I’m still leaving.”
“Then let me walk you to your car.”
In control of her traitorous feelings once again, she glared up at him. “Are you going to tell me it’s not safe? That I should be afraid of something…like the wolf I saw before.”
The blood drained from his face. “What?”
His shock was disquieting, but she’d known men to play games when backed into a corner. She wouldn’t put it past him to feign alarm.
“I suppose you’re going to tell me you didn’t know anything about it. Some wolf-like creature outside my window? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you and Lucas Drake were cohorts. He shows up the next morning talking about a rabid dog and I–”
“Annie.” In the amber glow of the porch lights, Caleb’s face was drawn, damp with sweat over the cheekbones. “Did you see him–it,” he corrected with an irritated shake of his head. “The night you were here? Did you see it?”
Her animosity wavered. She wasn’t certain what she’d seen, but there was no doubt his interest was genuine. He seemed unnerved by her revelation.
“I saw a dog. Outside of my window, silhouetted against the sky. Just for a second.”
Caleb swore and turned away.
“I should have probably told Lucas the next morning,” she continued. “But–”
“It wasn’t a dog.”
His certainty disturbed her. “You know that for a fact?”
“I do.”
Arianna let her mind revert to that night. The animal had been far too large and bulky for a dog, but was distinctly canine. “So if it wasn’t a dog, what was it?” An unexplainable chill swept over her. The whole thing was silly. Of course it had been a dog.
Caleb frowned. “It doesn’t matter.” He compressed his mouth in a tight line and lifted a bitter glance to the moon. Silver flared on the surface of his eyes. “I wouldn’t mention the animal to your boyfriend. It would only send him on a false trail.”
“Excuse me? Lucas is not my boyfriend.”
“Good. Then perhaps you’d allow me to see you again.” Taking her arm, Caleb guided her into the house and through the rear hallway. “I could accompany you and your students when you visit Gettysburg.”
The suggestion caught her off guard. Inside, away from the jeweled glow of amber-tinted porch lights, it was easy to detect the flush of fever on his cheeks. “I don’t know, Caleb.” She should have pointed out the obvious. That he was sick, that she couldn’t afford for him to be incapacitated by a headache or any other ailment with her students along.
“I promise to behave.” He grinned faintly, misinterpreting her hesitation. “You couldn’t ask for a safer date than to be chaperoned by a group of twelve-year-olds.” They’d reached the front door, and he held it open.
She was silent, digesting the idea as they walked toward her car. She did want to see him again, but was afraid where the attraction might lead. The memory of his kiss sent a tingle of excitement down her spine. Could she afford to become involved with such a complex man? He’d volunteered little of himself and his background over dinner, dodging the subject whenever she’d asked anything remotely personal.
“We’ll see.” When they reached her car, she thanked him for dinner, then moved to open the door. He gripped the handle before she could touch it, holding it locked firmly in place.
“I’m serious, Arianna. I want to see you again.”
“Maybe.” She knew she’d lost the battle. A man who kissed the way he did had already won the war.
* * * *
Seth Reilly watched from the shadows as she drove away. If Caleb