Free Renegade by Diana Palmer Page A

his skin.
    He lifted his head scant inches so that he could look into her beautiful pale green eyes. She was frightened. But she wasn’t fighting to get away. If anything, those eyes were glittery with desire.
    â€œI won’t hurt you,” he promised quietly.
    â€œI’m not afraid of you,” she said breathlessly.
    â€œAre you sure?” he taunted at her mouth. He bit at it in quick, ardent little kisses that had an explosive effect on both of them. He caught her hips suddenly, riveted them to the powerful thrust of his body. She gasped, shivering at the sudden rush of hot pleasure that seethed in her veins at the intimate contact.
    â€œYes, you know what that is, don’t you, baby?” he ground out against her mouth. His hands tightened and his mouth hardened on her lips. “Do you want to feel it inside you?” he whispered at her ear.
    â€œCash!” She struggled helplessly, really frightened when she couldn’t get away.
    He realized it, finally, and loosened his grip. “Sorry,” he bit off.
    She didn’t move. Her eyes searched his. “Me, too. I forget…men…lose control,” she whispered.
    â€œI don’t,” he replied curtly. “Not ever. Not until just now.”
    She stared at him with wide, fascinated eyes. The stark confession should have frightened her. It had the opposite effect. He didn’t realize that it made him seem more vulnerable to her. It exorcised her fear in one long sigh.
    â€œIt’s all right,” she whispered, and managed a soft smile. “I’m not frightened anymore.”
    His fingers teased around her softly rounded chin. They moved to her mouth and toyed with her soft lips. He explored her, his fingers like an artist’s brush, touching and tracing…tormenting.
    Her body rippled as his arm drew it closer. But her lips lifted and her eyes closed, in blatant invitation.
    â€œYou taste like cotton candy, Tippy,” he breathed as his mouth settled gently over her parted lips. “I could eat you alive…”
    She felt the hardness of his lips brushing at hers, teasing and lifting, searching. She followed them blindly, hanging against him like a dove, living from second to second in his loose embrace. He wasn’t threatening. He wasn’t frightening. She loved the touch of his body against hers, the clean, crisp scent of his after shave. She loved the way he held her, with tenderness but also with strength and confidence.
    Odd little tremors began to work through her legs, up her spine. She moved closer to Cash, uncertain. Her hands behind his neck began to link. Her body lifted, involuntarily, into closer contact. She would have died to have him.
    He felt those responses and lifted his mouth from hers to search her confused eyes. “You want me. I know it, but I won’ttake advantage. You’re safe,” he breathed. “It’s all right to let go. I won’t hurt you. I won’t force you. All right?”
    She was still uncertain, but she nodded faintly and closed her eyes, waiting.
    Her trust in him made his knees weak. He knew instinctively how hard this was for her, to give up control of her body to a man, after what she’d suffered in her youth. He clamped down hard on his own rising desire. He wanted to be tender with her. He wanted her to feel such pleasure that she’d never be able to look at another man as long as she lived…!
    His mouth brushed hers softly, and then insistently. He let her responses guide him, drawing back slightly when she stiffened, pressing his advantage when she pushed closer to him. Seconds rushed by in a heated pulse of pleasure that grew and grew.
    She moaned softly when his mouth grew hungry on her lips, and her body lifted up against his with real need. He felt the desire funnel up in her, felt her own hunger kindle from contact with his.
    Yes, he thought feverishly, she wanted him. Even if she didn’t know it