Rachel buried her face in his neck, her own arms sliding around his waist. It felt so good to be there, and she knew now that she could stay. ‘I know that feeling. I didn’t like it either. I’d always been wary of love, because of my parents, and when I fell for you and you were so distant… The only way I could protect myself was to make sure you never knew I loved you.’
‘Exactly,’ Nathan agreed, rubbing his cheek against the silky softness of her hair. ‘I hid my feelings because I couldn’t run the risk of letting the woman I thought you were have that kind of power over me.’
‘She wasn’t very nice, was she?’ Rachel teased softly.
‘She was horrendous. When I discovered I’d fallen for her…’
She laughed huskily. ‘It must have given you a nasty jolt.’
‘That’s putting it mildly.’ Nathan grimaced, pressing a gentle kiss to the tender skin of her neck, making her shiver in pleasure. ‘I’m sorry I fought so hard and dirty, but I was desperate.’
Rachel sighed, her hands running over his back in lazy circles. ‘I’m sorry for what I did, too. Playing a trick on you seemed like a good idea, but I soon realised I’d dug myself into a hole I couldn’t get out of,’ she confided huskily, and heard the soft rumble of laughter in his chest.
‘You certainly had me on a piece of string.’
She raised her head to look up at him. ‘Have you stopped being angry with me?’
Nathan smiled wryly. ‘You kind of ended it abruptly when you told me you loved me.’
‘And you’re no longer afraid of the power I have over you?’
Blue eyes scorched her with the strength of his feelings. ‘I’m yours to command,’ he declared throatily.
‘In that case I think you should finish the story, don’t you?’
‘Is there something I’ve forgotten to tell you?’ he queried innocently, but there was nothing innocent about the gleam in his eye.
Her green eyes took on a gleam of their own. ‘You’d better tell me, Nathan, or you’ll be sorry!’ she warned him, and his husky laugh sent shivers down her spine.
Cupping her head in his palms, he looked down into her eyes. ‘I love you, Rachel Shaw. I’ve loved you in silence for too long. God willing, I’ll tell you I love you every day for the next sixty years,’ he declared thickly, and her lips parted on a slow, sultry smile.
‘That’s all I wanted to hear,’ she sighed, reaching up to meet his descending lips halfway. ‘I love you too, Nathan,’ she breathed, just before his lips settled on hers and the world faded away.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1111-7
A DARING DECEPTION
First North American Publication 2002.
Copyright © 2000 by Amanda Browning.
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