Free NocC 017 - Caridad Pineiro - Night of the Cougar - Harlequin 2012-06 by Nocturne Page B

what could happen if you stay here,” he admitted. Reaching across his body, he lifted her up into his lap.
    She straddled his hips and pressed herself against him. Leaning forward, she whispered, “We will find a way, Galen.”
    Galen wanted to believe. He wanted to imagine that, like Jack, he could have his happily-ever-after. With her in his arms, with the beat of her heart against his, with the soft curve of her breasts and the warm spill of her breath against his face, he imagined it might be possible.
    A rumble began inside him, growing into a contented purr that vanished in a heartbeat as he tensed.
    “No, Galen. It’s okay. It’s part of who you are now,” she said, and stroked her hands along his shoulders before tilting her head up to graze her lips along his jaw. “I’m not afraid, love.”
    He sighed and laid his forehead against hers. “I’m afraid, Jamie. Afraid I’ll hurt you.”
    She chuckled and took hold of his hand, eased it beneath his robe to rest over her breast. “I’m pretty sturdy. See,” she said, and then urged his hand down across the toned muscles of her abdomen.
    He groaned as her actions roused him, and the animal inside, which remembered the smell and taste of her, wanted another bite. “What if I can’t handle the cougar?”
    “How about you let me worry about taming the beast?” she said, reaching down between them, stroking her hand over his rapidly growing erection.
    He was probably certifiable for considering it, but he was certain he’d go crazy if he didn’t have her in his life.
    “Tame away.” He eased onto his back and pillowed his head on his hands, granting her access to do as she wished.
    She didn’t disappoint, taking hold of the hem of his T-shirt to drag it over his head and bare his upper body to her gaze.
    “You are beautiful,” she said, laying her hands on his chest and stroking them back and forth along the swell of muscle.
    “That’s my line, isn’t it?” he teased, releasing himself to her sexy playfulness.
    “Yeah, but you know I’m bossy and mouthy and—”
    “Sexy and loving and—”
    She silenced him by bending down to kiss him, her mouth mobile and inviting him to join her. The tips of her breasts brushed against his chest as they took their time with the kiss, exploring every aspect. The hard and soft of lips and tongues had their breaths mingling together until Jamie eased away with a shaky “Wow.”
    He grinned and ran his hands up her arms to her shoulders. Then he snuck beneath the edge of the robe to impatiently shove it off her shoulders. With a shrug, she helped the process along so that she was bare.
    A low growl escaped him, and his gaze dropped to the tight tips of her breasts. They were a delicious caramel and a light flush pinked her skin, from both desire and the delicious heat from the fire.
    She cupped her breasts and ran her thumbs along her nipples. “Do you want a taste?”
    The growl grew ever stronger and rumbled in his voice as he said, “Yes.”
    Chuckling, she surprised him by reaching over and grabbing a berry, dipping it into the cream and bringing it to his lips.
    “Tease,” he warned, grabbing hold of her wrist and snatching the berry from her fingers. It was sweet. The cream was lush and silky. When he was done, he sucked first her index finger and then her thumb into his mouth. Licked them with his cat-rough tongue and then licked up to her wrist, where he nipped her gently.
    “So not fair. Your tongue is amazing.”
    As he looked up at her, it was impossible to miss the darkening of her gaze to that stunning sapphire. Equally impossible to resist the temptation of her breasts, which he knew would taste even better than the berry.
    “Imagine how amazing it would be here,” he said, and reached up to cradle her breasts.
    “Why don’t we find out?” She began to lean toward him, then popped back, surprising him by dipping her fingers in the cream and putting a dollop on the tip of each