Tall, Dark And Irresistible. Joan Elliott Pickart

“Right up there on the top of the list with the fireplace and the garden tub.”

      “Oh, man, Carolyn, you feel so good in my arms. You smell like flowers, do you know that? You hair is so silky, so…”

      “Ryan…”

      He shifted from where he stood to stand in front of her without totally releasing his hold on her. In the silvery glow of the millions of stars in the heavens their gazes met. Of their own volition, it seemed, Carolyn’s hands floated from where they still cupped her elbows to encircle Ryan’s neck.

      And then he lowered his head and kissed her.

      Oh, my, Carolyn thought.

      Oh, yes, Ryan thought.

      The kiss was tentative at first, then deepened, as Ryan parted Carolyn’s lips and slipped his tongue into the sweet darkness of her mouth that held the lingering flavors of chocolate and cherries.

      Hearts beat in wild tempo, and heat licked throughout them. Flames threatened to consume them with an intensity of want and need neither had experienced before.

      Ryan lifted his head slightly to draw a quick, sharp breath, then tilted his mouth in the opposite direction and claimed Carolyn’s lips once again.

      Slow down, Sharpe, Ryan thought suddenly. He was losing control, was close to the edge. He had to stop kissing Carolyn now…right now. But, oh, man, how he wanted her. She was responding to him in total abandon, giving as she received. But he didn’t want to do anything to frighten her, cause her to refuse to see him again. He had to get a grip.

      Damn it, Sharpe, let go of her.

      Ryan broke the kiss, grasped Carolyn’s shoulders and eased her away from his throbbing, aroused body. She blinked several times, then drew a steadying breath.

      “My…goodness,” she managed to say, with a little puff of air.

      “No joke,” Ryan said, taking a step backward. He dragged one hand through his hair to keep from reaching for her again. “I think…we’d better go before— If I kiss you again I’m afraid I’ll…” He pointed to the SUV. “Get in the vehicle.”

      A bubble of laughter escaped from Carolyn’s lips. “Do you want me to salute first, now that you’re barking orders at me?”

      Ryan smiled, then drew one thumb over the soft skin of her cheek, causing a frisson of heat to slither down her back.

      “Ah, Carolyn,” he said, “you are so special. I like being with you more than I can say.” He chuckled. “I don’t exactly hate kissing you, either, but I don’t think I can handle a long discussion about that part at the moment. Come on. I’ll take you home.”

      Carolyn matched his smile and nodded. Ryan encircled her shoulders with one arm to lead her to the vehicle, but she hesitated, turning her head to look once more at the gorgeous view of the city lights below, etching it indelibly in her mind.

      “Thank you for sharing this with me, Ryan.”

      “Sure,” he said, as they started forward.

      Except, maybe it had been a mistake to bring Carolyn up here, he thought, frowning. This was the place where he’d hoped and prayed he’d obtain the inner peace he sought.

      But now? Carolyn had been here. Carolyn had shared kisses so incredibly passionate with him here. Carolyn’s image might hover here, haunt him in the future, make him ache with the want of her, emphasize his aloneness. His loneliness.

      Knock it off, he told himself, as he assisted Carolyn onto the seat and closed the door. Why go looking for trouble that wasn’t even a reality? So he’d brought a lovely woman to his land, and they’d shared a couple of kisses under the stars. It wasn’t that big of a deal.

      Was it?

      Chapter Four

      Late the next afternoon, Carolyn stifled a yawn as she and Ryan peered at a display of green peppers at the outdoor farmers’ market where they were shopping.

      She glanced at Ryan to be certain he hadn’t noticed, that like a sleepy toddler, she was very much in need of a rejuvenating nap, and was relieved to see that he was concentrating on the vegetables.

      Being out in the fresh air, Carolyn mused, combined with the fact that she hadn’t slept well the previous night had caused the yawn to nearly escape from her lips. No, she hadn’t slept well because she had been consumed with thoughts and…yes, with desire.

      For Ryan.

      When he’d kissed her good-night just inside her door last night she’d come unsettlingly close to asking him if he wanted to stay, if he wanted to make love with her. She’d been so shocked by her own wanton yearnings that she’d stiffened in Ryan’s arms, causing him to release her and step backward.