Page 24 of Craig

Breaths mingled, emotions soared, passion built, and the heat... She could push him away; she was strong enough.

Or was she? She felt as weak as a kitten, as vulnerable as a child, and twice as needy.

It might be that she hadn't been with a man in more than a year, but it didn't matter the reason. Something had always clicked with Craig.

That was one of the reasons she had run, and yes, she had to admit it, she had backed away so fast, she had almost stumbled, because he made her feel, made her yearn, like now. His lips brushed at hers, capturing her small moan.

Craig tasted her, inhaled her scent, reveled in it. He wanted to devour her whole, in one fell swoop, just take and take and take.

And then he wanted to do so again. His tongue explored her full bottom lip and felt her quiver.

His grandfather was waiting and the old man didn't like tardiness. But at this moment, he didn't give a damn.

All he wanted was the time with her.

Twisting the locks of her hair around his hand, he tilted her head back and deepened the kiss. Passion exploded like lightning and had his body tightening with need.

He plundered and could die from the intense need. It had been the same between them that long time ago, the need clawing through him with sharp, jagged teeth.

And then she had left.

He became ruthless, kissing her with all the pent-up anger his memories brought on. She had hurt him, cut through his heart with a dull knife, and left him bleeding.

All he could think of was that he wanted her, wanted to feel that slim dancer's body beneath his, wanted to plunge into her until there was no room for anything else. But then he heard the call from the porch and cursed the interference.

This time she managed to push him away. Her hands were weak, hell, her limbs felt like water and her breathing was labored, but she succeeded in putting distance between them.

"I believe we're being summoned." Her voice was unsteady, but that could not be helped.

He had untangled his fingers from her hair and noticed that it was Millicent standing on the porch, her hands on her wide hips. He needed a minute or two and wasn't about to get it.

He knew he was flushed, his body so heated, he felt as if he was on fire. Fighting the desire coursing through him, he took several breaths before pushing the door open with unnecessary force.

By the time he got around to opening hers, she was already out and sailing towards the porch. He had to hurry to catch up to her.

Taking her hand and ignoring the tug to release it, he smiled at Millicent.

"We're unforgivably late. Darling, meet the love of my life," he said, hooking an arm around the housekeeper's neck.

"Millicent, meet my fiancée, Regina. Regina, meet Millicent."

Regina withstood the scrutiny from the weather-beaten black woman and summed up the fact that Craig meant the world to her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled charmingly and extended a slender hand to be grasped firmly by a calloused one.

"Finally," the woman's smile came easily, eyes searching.

"It's about time the boy settled down. Your grandfather is pacing the floor impatiently."

"Then let's not keep him waiting any longer."

The interior was impressive, the hallway wide and opulent with pale silk wallpapers on the walls and rich oak flooring that shone beneath the lights from the overhanging chandeliers.

He still had her hand in his and appreciated the warmth of her slender fingers against his. He felt strong and powerful.

The longing was there. He knew she had taken a step back and would have to accept that for the time being.

The room was large, a fireplace taking up one entire wall. Comfortable sofas were arranged in a conversation area.