Heart's Desire by Jacquie D'Alessandro Read Free Book Online Page B

his , she slid her hands upward, over his shoulders, then linked her fingers at his nape.
    Fire. He felt as if he stood in a pit of fire. His jaw tightened, his hands fisted, every muscle in his body straining with the effort to remain still. To contain the raw need scraping at him.
    “Kiss me, William.” The words whispered warm and seductive across his lips, stealing his breath. Dissolving his will to resist. She lifted up on her toes and pressed her soft curves against him. “Please.”
    Please. One word. Bloody hell, earlier this evening , she’d knocked him off his feet with two words: H ello, William. Now, with only one , she disintegrated into ash all the years of restraint he’d adhered to so fiercely.
    With a groan that felt ripped from his soul , he snatched her against him. And lowered his head.
    The instant his lips touched hers , he was lost. Nothing existed except Callie. In his arms. Her plush lips parting beneath his. Her soft curves pressed against him. Her fingers sifting through the hair at his nape.
    More, more . The word pounded through him, a mantra he couldn’t ignore now that the floodgates had opened. He deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring the silky heat of her mouth. So good. God, she tasted so damn ed good. Warm and delicious. Like a feast after an endless famine. Smelled so good. Like roses and cool air. Felt so good. As if she’d been created to fit perfectly in his arms.
    He felt her moan against his mouth, the sweet vibration sizzling through him like a bolt of lightning. She rubbed her tongue against his, obliterating whatever remained of his control.
    More, more . Had to have more. Without breaking their kiss , he dipped his knees and lifted her straight up. With her feet dangling a foot above the ground, he strode forward. Settled his shoulders against the tree trunk. Spread his legs and pulled her into the vee of his thighs.
    Everywhere. He was desperate to touch her everywhere, a madness he might possibly have been able to temper with at least some modicum of the finesse he’d been stripped of if only she’d remained still. But instead , she squirmed against him. Ran her hands over his chest and into his hair, urging him closer, igniting him further. He skimmed one impatient hand down her back to the curve of her bottom. Pressed her tighter against his aching erection. Rocked his hips against her, cursing the voluminous layers of her clothing between them. His other hand came forward and cupped her breast. Even through the heavy brocade of her gown , he felt her nipple harden.
    More, more. Again and again , he slanted his mouth over hers, his raw need fueled by the sudden unleashing of so many years’ worth of pent-up longing and desire and frustration and love.
    Touch her. Had to touch her. Now . Mindless with the inferno consuming him, he yanked fistfuls of her skirts upward until he could insinuate his hand beneath the layers of material and petticoats. He hooked his hand under her thigh and raised her leg, anchoring it high on his hip. Then swept his hand impatiently along the smooth fabric covering the curve of her buttocks. Lower, unerringly to the slit in her drawers.
    Wet. Bloody hell , she was so wet. And so soft. And he was so damn ed hard and he wanted and loved her so damn ed much. She gasped and her head fell limply back. He immediately took advantage, trailing his mouth down the fragrant column of her neck while his fingers teased her folds.
    “William … William… ”
    The sound of his name whispered into his mind.
    “William… please… ”
    Please . That single word once again struck him, this time penetrating the fog of desire engulfing him. Reminding him where he was. What he was doing. And who m he was doing it with.
    Reality hit him like a bucket of cold water , and with a guttural oath , he jerked his hand from beneath her skirt. Grasped her shoulders. And gently but firmly set her away from him.
    William squeezed his eyes shut as the reality of what