Page 15 of Nobody’s Angel (World of de Wolfe Pack #5)

Her screams and the abject terror he’d seen in her eyes while she was in the throes of her vision were still vivid in his mind.

But so was her smile and her insistence on not dwelling on her fears.

Her body felt warmer now and she no longer trembled.

Her eyes were the softest green, soft and hopeful as a kitten’s.

One kiss. That’s all she’d asked of him.

Only one.

He would make it one hell of a kiss.

“You win, Lettie.” He lowered his mouth to hers and captured her lips with the feral hunger that had long gnawed at his heart, the unsatisfied craving that had driven him mindless for years and would continue to taunt him long after this kiss ended.

One brief taste of Lettie’s sweet nectar would never be enough, but it was all he dared take, all he would risk for fear he’d never be able to let her go if he allowed more.

Lettie was right. They needed this one kiss, this one memory, this one precious moment to carry them through the years they would surely be apart. Hell, yes. He wanted to kiss her.

He wanted to bury himself deep inside her and claim her for his own.

He wanted to capture her innocent heart.

He wanted to explore her incredible body.

He wanted to claim Lettie, the earl’s daughter. The lady who was too far above his station. The sweet girl who’d felled ruffians and cleaned his wounds and talked to angels and insisted on loving him.

He deepened the kiss and poured his heart and soul into this sweet moment, for they would never share another. A shudder ran through him as he caught her up in his arms and held her against his heart. I love you, Lettie.

He dared not speak the words aloud, for all hope of a happy life for Lettie would end the moment he said them.

She’d vow to love him back for always, and he didn’t want her to do it, he didn’t want her caught up in a hopeless love.

Lettie was meant for a comfortable life, meant to marry a nobleman who could offer her all the advantages of his rank and title, meant to know the fulfillment of a husband who doted upon her and would provide all that Brynne could not…

a fashionable home, a handsome carriage, a generous allowance.

So he ran his hands along her body to memorize her every soft curve, for this would be their first and last kiss. The first and last time they ever spoke with their hearts. One being, one body. Their two hearts beating as one.

He groaned and cupped her breast when she began to squirm against him, for she wanted more but was too innocent to understand the desire she was feeling.

She was a passionate little thing and could not hold back her sensual nature or the ache that built within her until she could bear it no more and begged him to relieve it with her every moan and breathy whimper.

He ached too, convincing himself that he could take a little more, wanting to take that little bit more even as they approached the dangerous cliff of their pent up desire. He lied to himself and pretended he was in full control of his heart and body. One kiss. First and last time.

She arched her back to give him better access to her breast.

His control shattered.

He gently kneaded the lush mound and ran his thumb across its straining tip, loving the way she responded to his touch, her nipple turning pebble hard against his fingers.

“Sweet mercy, Lettie!” He’d never experienced anything like the heat now coursing through him.

Nothing could extinguish it. Not a roll in the snow.

Not a dip in the ice. Not an eternal winter.

He was fiery hot and aching.

So was she.

He felt her body’s exquisite response to his continued strokes, felt her breast swell and her body move against him with the heightened urgency of her desire.

“Lettie, sweetheart.” He scraped his tongue between her lips to ease them apart. Her lips were soft and moist and there was something incredibly erotic in her innocent eagerness, for she wanted to experience all of him, feel all that his mouth and lips and tongue had to offer.

One kiss.

That’s all he dared.

But he wanted more.

He wanted everything.

Somewhere in the back of his fogged brain, he heard footsteps on the stairs and knew this moment had to end now.

Summoning his resolve, he eased his mouth off Lettie’s.

But his hand was stubborn and refused to leave the warm cup of her breast. “Your aunt… and servants… soon be back. We’re not alone. ”

She wasn’t his to claim.

He took a deep breath and then another, needing to calm his rampant lust. Lettie was still on his lap and had to be feeling the hard length of him against her thighs.

“I love you, Brynne.” Her eyes glistened with joy, reflecting all the love she held in that generous heart of hers. A big heart wrapped in a little body. A gorgeous, hot body.

Their kiss was over.

Their moment ended.

He reluctantly drew his hand off her breast and lifted her off his lap to set her down on the mattress beside him. He turned away, needing several more strong, steady breaths to reclaim control over his body and suppress the unfulfilled passion still stirring within his heart.

“I love you,” she said again in a whisper.

“Don’t,” he warned, still unable to look at her for fear he’d take her into his arms again and never let her go. “Don’t, Lettie. This is hard enough for both of us. I don’t want to break your heart.”

The footsteps were close now.

She leaned forward and softly kissed the wolf birthmark on his back. “You won’t. I understand the significance of my dream. I know what must happen now.”

The wolf on Brynne’s back stared at Lettie with its knowing eyes, but those dark eyes were no longer gleaming and angry, for she’d conquered the wolf.

The wolf now trusted her and had placed Brynne in her care.

I love Brynne. I’ll save him. I promise.

And in saving Brynne, she’d unite him with his wolf. She felt to the depths of her soul that he was a de Wolfe, but the exact relation was still a mystery, one that would soon be revealed… please, let it be today.

Lettie still felt the tingle of his lips on hers, the exquisite heat and possessiveness of his kiss, the ache and longing in his heart.

He’d touched her breast and an explosion of sensations had erupted within her body, heating her blood until it was thick and molten, heating her skin so that every pore emitted fire.

Her breasts were still swollen with desire and her most intimate part was still moist and throbbing.

One kiss and she’d completely melted, leaving her a molten pool of desire. She wanted more of this. She wanted Brynne.

“Lettie, your hot cocoa,” Brynne said, handing her the cup just brought in by Frances.

“Thank you, Aunt Frances,” she said quietly, afraid to look her in the eye for fear the love she held for Brynne still shone in hers. Did it really matter? Had she ever fooled anyone about her feelings for this wonderful man?

“I’ll leave you in Brynne’s care for the moment. Since I’m up, I may as well prepare myself for the coming day.” Frances frowned lightly. “Something tells me it will be interesting.”

Brynne groaned. “I hope not. I could use a rather dull one right now.” He glanced at Lettie. “Right?”

She swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Yes, dull. Right. And now we had better get dressed. We have to visit the de Wolfes as soon as possible.” She set aside the hot cocoa he’d just handed her. “In fact, we’d better hurry.”

Frances shook her head in confusion. “At this hour of the morning? It’s only dawn.”

Lettie rolled off her bed and felt a chill the moment her bare feet hit the floor. “Then we’re late.” She crossed to her armoire and withdrew the dark blue merino wool gown neatly hanging inside.

This is what I’m wearing in the vision.

She grabbed warm undergarments and matching blue wool stockings.

Frances let out a yelp as she began to remove her nightgown. “Lettie! Brynne’s still here. The door’s wide open! What are you thinking?”

That Brynne wouldn’t mind seeing her naked, judging by his open-mouthed gape.

“I’ll get ready,” he said in a strangled rasp and hastily retreated from the room.

“Frances,” Lettie said once she heard his door slam, “I’ll need several blankets and your sleigh.”

“My sleigh? What do you need with that old thing? I haven’t used it since my husband took ill.” Her eyes turned soft as she seemed to go back to an earlier time. “But we had such fun riding out in the snow together, the two of us cozy and bundled up.”

“I want us to ride to the de Wolfes in it. That’s how I saw Brynne and me in my dream. Something’s going to happen, Frances. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I dare not ignore what I saw.”

“I don’t like it one bit, Lettie.” Frances sighed. “But I know how you feel about Brynne. If there’s any hope for the two of you, then you must see your adventure through. I loved my husband. I would have fought for him, too.”

“I’m so glad you understand.” She hugged her and closed the door behind her after she left. Then Lettie quickly washed and dressed. She wound her hair in a simple bun before bending to don her sturdy boots.

Brynne was ready and waiting for her by the time she hurried downstairs. She walked out with him, boldly placing her hand in his, relieved when he didn’t pull away. He helped her into the sleigh drawn by one of Frances’ big farm horses. The blankets she had requested were piled on the seat.

When Brynne hopped in, she tucked one of the blankets around both of them and set the other aside. They’d need it soon. “Ready, Lettie?”

“Yes, please hurry. I think we’re running out of time.”

He said nothing, merely snapped the reins, and the horse took off at a sprightly trot over the snow covered ground, snorting clouds of vapor as its hot breath hit the cold air.