Chapter 17

She supported herself on one elbow as she examined his face, her fingertips delicately following the line of his mouth, his brow, and his nose as she did so. She began by stroking his neck before moving on to his shoulder and then down his arm. She positioned her hand so that her palm was resting on his chest, and then she moved her fingers from his flat belly all the way down to his waist.

When his palm wrapped over hers, she let out a startled cry, and her throat appeared to be tightening.

He mumbled something under his breath while staring at her with his eyes squinted and saying, "Some of us are trying to sleep here."

"I thought you only woke up when there was an immediate threat to your life?"

"I was awakened by your thoughts." His eyes began to burn with rage. "The siren song of your desire is one that no man, living or dead, could possibly ignore."

Gwen felt herself blushing at his words, which were almost lyrical. However, it was the contact of his hand gliding up and down her