Read Online Temptation by Nora Roberts - Free Book Online Page B

with his sword behind him and his shield lifted in front. And a red star, thousands of times brighter than the sun, is the shoulder of his sword arm.”
    â€œWhere is he? I—” Eden turned her head and looked directly into Chase’s eyes. She forgot the stars and the moonlight and the soft, sweet grass beneath her. The hand on his wrist tightened until the rhythm of his pulse was the rhythm of hers.
    Her muscles contracted and held as she braced for the kiss. But his lips merely brushed against her temple. Warmth spread through her as softly as the scent of honeysuckle spread through the air. She heard an owl call out to the night, to the stars, or to a lover.
    â€œWhat are we doing here?” she managed.
    â€œEnjoying each other.” Without rushing, his lips moved over her face.
    Enjoying? That was much too mild a word for what was burning through her. No one had ever made her feel like this, so weak and hot, so strong and desperate. His lips were soft, the hand that rested on the side of her face was hard. Beneath his, her heart began to gallop uncontrolled. Eden’s fingers slipped off the reins.
    She turned her head with a moan and found his mouth with hers. Her arms went around him, holding him close as her lips parted in demand. In all her life she had never known true hunger, not until now. This was breathless, painful, glorious.
    He’d never expected such unchecked passion. He’d been prepared to go slowly, gently, as the innocence he’d felt in her required. Now she was moving under him, her fingers pressing and kneading the muscles of his back, her mouth hot and willing on his. The patience that was so much a part of him drowned in need.
    Such new, such exciting sensations. Her body gave as his pressed hard against it. Gods and goddesses of the sky guarded them. He smelled of the grass and the earth, and he tasted of fire. Night sounds roared in her head, and her own sigh was only a dim echo when his lips slid down to her throat.
    Murmuring his name, Eden combed her fingers through his hair. He wanted to touch her, all of her. He wanted to take her now. When her hand came to rest on his face, he covered it with his own and felt the smooth stone of her ring.
    There was so much more he needed to know. So little he was sure of. Desire, for the moment, couldn’t be enough. Who was she? He lifted his head to look down at her. Who the hell was she, and why was she driving him mad?
    Pulling himself back, he tried to find solid ground. “You’re full of surprises, Eden Carlbough of the Philadelphia Carlboughs.”
    For a moment, she could only stare. She’d had her ride on the Ferris wheel, a wild, dizzying ride. Somewhere along the line, she’d been tossed off to spiral madly in the air. Now she’d hit the ground, hard. “Let me up.”
    â€œI can’t figure you, Eden.”
    â€œYou aren’t required to.” She wanted to weep, to curl up into a ball and weep, but she couldn’t focus on the reason. Anger was clearer. “I asked you to let me up.”
    He rose, holding out a hand to help her. Ignoring it, Eden got to her feet. “I’ve always felt it was more constructive to shout when you’re angry.”
    She shot him one glittering look. Humiliation. It was something she’d sworn she would never feel again. “I’m sure you do. If you’ll excuse me.”
    â€œDamn it.” He caught her arm and swung her back to face him. “Something was happening here tonight. I’m not fool enough to deny that, but I want to know what I’m getting into.”
    â€œWe were enjoying each other. Wasn’t that your term?” Nothing more, Eden repeated over and over in her head. Nothing more than a moment’s enjoyment. “We’ve finished now, so good night.”
    â€œWe’re far from finished. That’s what worries me.”
    â€œI’d say that’s your problem, Chase.”