Free [Montacroix Royal Family Series 01] - Guarded Moments by Joann Ross Page B

inside Chantal as Caine kissed her with a patience that made her bones melt. His lips plucked at hers, tenderly, teasingly, before skimming up her face, leaving sparks on every inch of heated skin: the crest of her cheekbones, her eyelids, her temples, her chin. When his treacherous mouth loitered at the base of her throat, she heard a slow, drugged moan of pleasure and realized that it had escaped her own tingling lips.
    Clouds covered her mind as he murmured to her, quiet, enticing words that thrilled her as she felt them being formed against her mouth. Degree by glorious degree he deepened the kiss until what had once been soft and gentle grew more demanding.
    It was torture. Ecstasy. It was torment. Bliss. The rainy world outside the limousine tilted, then slowly slipped away as Chantal's attention centered solely on Caine's sinfully talented lips. It was as if he meant to kiss her endlessly, and as her avid mouth clung to his, Chantal prayed he'd never stop.
    He'd thought he was safe. What harm could there be in a simple kiss? All right, Caine allowed, so it wasn't a simple kiss, but hadn't he realized that would be the case? There hadn't been anything simple about the Princess Chantal yet, so why should he have expected this to be any different? As he felt her skin heating to his touch, felt her warm, soft lips move hungrily, almost desperately against his, he felt himself slowly, inexorably sinking into quicksand.
    He'd kissed other women before. More than he could count. But as he kissed Chantal, all those other faces and names blurred into an indistinct, distant memory. He'd wanted other women before, but as an outrageous need to strip off her clothing and taste every fragrant inch of warm, satiny skin—to absorb her—raced through him, Caine knew that no other woman had ever made him burn this way. No other woman had ever made him weak.
    Whether he wanted to admit it or not, the princess was like no woman he'd ever met. And that, Caine acknowledged grimly, was precisely what made her so dangerous.
    When he realized that they were pulling up in front of the hotel, Caine allowed himself one more lingering kiss, savoring the sweet taste of her lips. That was it, he vowed. That was as far as he could go without getting in over his head.
    "I'll see you to your room."
    "Yes." Her wide, passion-laced eyes met his, handing him a gilt-edged invitation he was determined to ignore.
    As much as he warned himself not to touch her, Caine's hand rested on her back as they rode up in the elevator. Her white cashmere coat was soft; Caine suspected that her skin would be softer.
    "Amazing," she murmured, luxuriating in the possessive touch of Caine's hand against her back.
    He was a strong man. She'd seen his strength each morning as they ran, witnessed the play of rigid muscles, the power of his long, sinewy legs. But she'd suspected that he could be gentle, as well. And the exquisite tenderness of his kiss had been proof of that. Strength and tenderness—an irresistible combination for any woman, but especially for Chantal. She had waited her entire life for such a man.
    He twined his fingers in her hair, tempted to press his lips against the gleaming, dark strands. "What's amazing?" The hell with it, he decided, giving in to temptation. There were still fifteen floors to go; plenty of time to regain his willpower.
    Chantal sighed with pleasure as his warm breath fanned her temple. "I was exhausted earlier, yet now…" Her voice drifted off, her dark eyes enticed, her slightly parted lips seduced. "You must be a magician."
    Standing close to her as he was, Caine could not avoid meeting her gaze. Thoughts—all of them erotic, each of them dangerous—raced through his mind. Images of hot, humid nights, cool jazz and steamy sex. Of laughing, lazy sex in flower-strewn meadows, while the summer sun smiled benevolently overhead. Lying beside her in a mountain cabin, in front of a crackling fire, her naked flesh gleaming with the