Free In the Mists of Time by Marie Treanor

shopping back to the car. As she heaved one bag out of the trolley, it burst, spilling its contents over the carpark.
    â€œDamn,” she said. Crouching down, she gathered up the fallen items and distributed them through the other bags, which Thierry stashed in the boot before bending to catch her hand and pull her to her feet.
    â€œI’ll get the rest,” he said. But his eyes had darkened, and the warmth of his body so close to hers gave her a little frisson of pleasure. She was very conscious of his fingers on her hand, remembering what they’d done to her before, what she wanted very badly for them to do again. His gaze dipped to her lips and her breath caught.
    â€œThanks,” she muttered, pulling free and walking round to the passenger door. As she got in and went through the motions of fastening her seat belt, she realized her hands were shaking, even from that tiny incident. I want him. I still want him…
    She kept her face averted as he climbed in beside her. He sat very still until, reluctantly, she turned her head.
    He said, “I want to kiss you. And either you’re terrified of me, or you want it too.”
    Something that wasn’t quite laughter caught in her throat. “I don’t think it’s you I’m frightened of.”
    He reached one hand towards her, and after a moment’s hesitation, she placed hers into it. His fingers closed. He lifted her hand to his lips, and from him, somehow, the gesture seemed both natural and sexy. She shivered.
    He said, “We don’t have to fall into the back of the car or screw at the roadside. Would you like to have dinner?”
    She felt her eyes widen. “I have to get back. Cerys is leaving early to make up for last night.” She’d no idea if he even knew what she was talking about.
    A smile flickered in his eyes. “I didn’t mean right now. Maybe on Friday? We could go to Oban, if you like?”
    Wow. A proper date. Away from Ardknocken. No one had to know, if they could only sneak away separately. “I’ll need to speak to Aidan,” she said breathlessly.
    His eyebrows shot up. “You need his permission?”
    Her laughter was slightly shaky. “God, no. But we can’t leave my parents. They’re too frail, and Cerys always has plans on a Friday.”
    â€œIs that a yes? Conditional on the parent sitter?”
    She gave him a quick smile by way of an answer. Unexpectedly, he leaned across and kissed her lips, a soft, gentle brush that deprived her of what breath she seemed to have left. It was over in an instant, but without thought, she reached up to his stubbly cheek and he met her gaze for a long, searching moment before his eyes fell once more to the region of her mouth, and her stomach dived.
    She parted her lips in invitation, even tilted her head, and slowly, maddeningly slowly, he closed the distance between them once more and covered her mouth with his. She felt like sobbing with relief, shouting with joy, except his mouth distracted her with the most compelling kiss she could ever remember. Not urgent or forceful, but slow and sexy, exploring with tongue and lips, seducing her senses, melting her bones.
    Her fingers slid over his rough cheek to his hair, tangling, caressing, as she kissed him back, opening wider to him, stroking the length of his tongue with hers. His teeth grazed softly against the inside of her lips as he deepened the kiss, sparking pleasure through her whole body. Her breasts ached to be pressed to him, to be fondled and caressed. Farther down, the moisture of arousal pooled between her thighs. She never wanted this amazing kiss to end, and yet to have sex like this, so slow and sensual…to feel his mouth on her everywhere, to have him inside her…slow, delicious sex…
    His hand cupped her cheek as he came up for air. Dazedly, she opened her eyes and found his clouded, as they’d been in the mist. His thumb moved, caressing