Free Forbidden in February by Suzanna Medeiros

his arm, holding her in place.
    “Isabel.” He said just the one word, her name, in a voice so low she almost didn’t hear it.
    He closed the space between them, shifting on the settee, and brought his mouth to hers. The breath she’d been holding escaped when his lips touched hers in a kiss so soft it was almost a whisper, and then his mouth was gone and he released her hand.
    “I want this, but you must know that my reasons aren’t noble. I’m not looking to save you from your cousin…”
    She placed a hand over his mouth to stop his next words, afraid that whatever he would say next would put an end to what was happening between them. And at that moment, the very last thing she wanted to do was stop.
    “I want this, too,” she said.
    His eyes continued to hold hers captive as he searched her face for any signs of hesitation. But he would find none because she wanted this man more than she wanted her next breath.
    He stood then and held his hand out to her. Words were no longer needed as she placed her hand in his and rose as well. His fingers squeezed hers before he turned and led her from the room towards the bedrooms at the back of the house. He moved past the guest room and his mother’s bedroom to his bedchamber at the end of the hallway.
    With each step her heart threatened to burst out of her chest, but the riot of butterflies in her belly had finally fled. They left behind an aching need that left her almost breathless.

Chapter Nine
    His room was almost exactly the same as when he’d left it six years before, but Robert didn’t spend any time reminiscing about his years growing up, when this room had been his only sanctuary from his mother’s increasing demands. No, as he closed the door behind them and turned to face Isabel, he only had eyes for her. He didn’t release her hand, but he knew she wouldn’t change her mind, wouldn’t run away from him as he’d half expected when he’d arrived at the house.
    She stared at him, her gaze unwavering, waiting for him to act first. He assumed she was an innocent, otherwise she wouldn’t have needed to ask him to ruin her. And in that moment that was exactly what he wanted to do… ruin her for every other man. He didn’t examine why that was, he only acted.
    He pulled her into the circle of his arms, his heart thudding with anticipation when she raised her hands and placed them on his shoulders. He kissed her then, holding himself back at first so as not to scare her with the force of his desire. But when she sighed and leaned against him fully, her soft breasts pressing into his chest, he lost himself a little and deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue into her mouth.
    She made a soft sound of surprise, but her surprise didn’t last long because she took her cues from him and started using her own tongue, stroking it against his, her enthusiasm causing him to harden almost to the point of pain. Forcing himself to slow down, he lifted his head and gazed down at her. Isabel’s eyes were closed, a look of complete rapture on her face, and he had to hold back a groan. When she opened her eyes, blinking slowly as though she found that simple task difficult, he took a step back. It was either that or throw her onto the bed.
    “That was…” She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
    “That was just the beginning,” he finished for her. “But we’re both wearing far too much clothing for what comes next.”
    Color rose to her cheeks and he found himself charmed.
    “Of course,” she said, covering her cheeks with her hands. It wasn’t the first time she’d done that in his presence, as though she was trying to hide her blush, and he vowed silently that it wouldn’t be the last.
    He could tell she was unsure how to proceed, so he turned her away from him and began unfastening the tapes at the back of her dress. She wore a simple black-and-white day dress that he supposed was out of deference to his mother’s death, and her skin glowed