more of that unapologetically earthy scent, the taut body. His fingers tangled in her hair and tightened.
He was as mysterious and bold as she’d always thought he would be. His hands were firm, his mouth giving. Sometimes she’d wondered what it would be like to meet him on these terms. But she’d always closed her mind before any of the answers could slip through. Michael Donahue was dangerous simply because he was Michael Donahue. By turns he’d attracted and alienated her since they’d been children. It was more than any other man had been able to do for more than a week.
Now, as her mouth explored his, she began to understand why. He was different, for her. She didn’t feel altogether safe in his arms, and not completely in control. Pandora had always made certain she was both those things when it came to a man. The scrape of his unshaved cheek didn’t annoy her as she’d thought it would. It aroused. The discomfort of the hard floor seemed suitable, as was the quick rush of cold air through the still-open door.
She felt quietly and completely at home. Then the quick nip of his teeth against her lip made her feel as though she’d just stepped on uncharted land. New territory was what she’d been raised on, and yet, in all her experience, she’d never explored anything so unique, so exotic or so comfortable.
She wanted to go on and knew she had to stop.
Together they drew away.
“Well.” She scrambled for composure as she folded her hands in her lap. Be casual, she ordered herself while her pulse thudded at her wrists. Be careless. She couldn’t afford to say anything that might make him laugh at her. “That’s been coming for a while, I suppose.”
He felt as though he’d just slid down a roller coaster without a cart. “I suppose.” He studied her a moment, curious and a bit unnerved. When he saw her fingers twist together he felt a small sense of satisfaction. “It wasn’t altogether what I’d expected.”
“Things rarely are.” Too many surprises for one day, Pandora decided, and rose unsteadily to her feet. She made the mistake of looking around and nearly sunk to the floor again.
“Pandora—”
“No, don’t worry.” She shook her head as he rose. “I’m not going to fall apart again.” Concentrating on breathing evenly, she took one long look at her workshop. “It looks like you were right about the locks. I suppose I should be grateful you haven’t said I told you so.”
“Maybe I would if it applied.” Michael picked up the emeralds scattered on her table. “I’m no expert, cousin, but I’d say these are worth a few thousand.”
“So?” She frowned as her train of thought began to march with his. “No thief would’ve left them behind.” Reaching down, she picked up a handful of stones. Among them were two top-grade diamonds. “Or these.”
As was his habit, he began to put the steps together in a sortof mental scenario. Action and reaction, motive and result. “I’d wager once you’ve inventoried, you won’t be missing anything. Whoever did this didn’t want to risk more than breaking and entering and vandalism.”
With a huff, she sat down on her table. “You think it was one of the family.”
“‘They said it wouldn’t last,’” he quoted, and stuck his hands in his pockets. “You may’ve had something there, Pandora. Something neither of us considered when we were setting out the guidelines. None of them believed we’d be able to get through six months together. The fact is, we’ve gotten through the first two weeks without a hitch. It could make one of them nervous enough to want to throw in a complication. What was your first reaction when you saw all this?”
She dragged her hand through her hair. “That you’d done it for spite. Exactly what our kith and kin would expect me to think. Dammit, I hate to be predictable.”
“You outsmarted them once your mind cleared.”
She sent him a quick look, not certain if she should thank
He was as mysterious and bold as she’d always thought he would be. His hands were firm, his mouth giving. Sometimes she’d wondered what it would be like to meet him on these terms. But she’d always closed her mind before any of the answers could slip through. Michael Donahue was dangerous simply because he was Michael Donahue. By turns he’d attracted and alienated her since they’d been children. It was more than any other man had been able to do for more than a week.
Now, as her mouth explored his, she began to understand why. He was different, for her. She didn’t feel altogether safe in his arms, and not completely in control. Pandora had always made certain she was both those things when it came to a man. The scrape of his unshaved cheek didn’t annoy her as she’d thought it would. It aroused. The discomfort of the hard floor seemed suitable, as was the quick rush of cold air through the still-open door.
She felt quietly and completely at home. Then the quick nip of his teeth against her lip made her feel as though she’d just stepped on uncharted land. New territory was what she’d been raised on, and yet, in all her experience, she’d never explored anything so unique, so exotic or so comfortable.
She wanted to go on and knew she had to stop.
Together they drew away.
“Well.” She scrambled for composure as she folded her hands in her lap. Be casual, she ordered herself while her pulse thudded at her wrists. Be careless. She couldn’t afford to say anything that might make him laugh at her. “That’s been coming for a while, I suppose.”
He felt as though he’d just slid down a roller coaster without a cart. “I suppose.” He studied her a moment, curious and a bit unnerved. When he saw her fingers twist together he felt a small sense of satisfaction. “It wasn’t altogether what I’d expected.”
“Things rarely are.” Too many surprises for one day, Pandora decided, and rose unsteadily to her feet. She made the mistake of looking around and nearly sunk to the floor again.
“Pandora—”
“No, don’t worry.” She shook her head as he rose. “I’m not going to fall apart again.” Concentrating on breathing evenly, she took one long look at her workshop. “It looks like you were right about the locks. I suppose I should be grateful you haven’t said I told you so.”
“Maybe I would if it applied.” Michael picked up the emeralds scattered on her table. “I’m no expert, cousin, but I’d say these are worth a few thousand.”
“So?” She frowned as her train of thought began to march with his. “No thief would’ve left them behind.” Reaching down, she picked up a handful of stones. Among them were two top-grade diamonds. “Or these.”
As was his habit, he began to put the steps together in a sortof mental scenario. Action and reaction, motive and result. “I’d wager once you’ve inventoried, you won’t be missing anything. Whoever did this didn’t want to risk more than breaking and entering and vandalism.”
With a huff, she sat down on her table. “You think it was one of the family.”
“‘They said it wouldn’t last,’” he quoted, and stuck his hands in his pockets. “You may’ve had something there, Pandora. Something neither of us considered when we were setting out the guidelines. None of them believed we’d be able to get through six months together. The fact is, we’ve gotten through the first two weeks without a hitch. It could make one of them nervous enough to want to throw in a complication. What was your first reaction when you saw all this?”
She dragged her hand through her hair. “That you’d done it for spite. Exactly what our kith and kin would expect me to think. Dammit, I hate to be predictable.”
“You outsmarted them once your mind cleared.”
She sent him a quick look, not certain if she should thank
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