It was nearly sunset, and the room was growing increasingly dim. He lit a lantern, turning the wick high to cast a glow over the bed. His unexpected visitor hadnât stirred. She looked small and fragile, tucked in the middle of his bed.
Brian sat on the bed and dipped a cloth in the warm water. He gently bathed her wound, relieved to find that it wasnât very deep. He washed away the dried blood and applied a healing ointment before wrapping her head with a neat bandage. He felt for her pulse once more and found it much more steady and strong than it had been before. He sighed with relief.
Brian frowned as he scanned her face. Her skin was cold, and her lips were blue. Full of sudden worry, he pulled her slender arm from beneath the covers and felt each of her fingers. He repeated the procedure on her left hand, happy to see the absence of any wedding ring. The fact that he even noticed that was surprising, but he dismissed the thought.
Tucking her arms back in, he lifted the covers and checked all ten of her toes, relieved to find no signs of frostbite. Her feet were delicate and dainty, stirring unexpected feelings of protectiveness in Brianâs heart as he tucked them back in securely.
He sat beside her once again, frustrated that there was nothing he could do except wait. The fact that she hadnât roused from her stupor was worrisome.
An agonizing hour passed, during which she lay still as death. Then, she began to shiver, moaning softly in her distress. Brian kicked his boots off and joined her beneath the covers, trying unsuccessfully to ignore her soft curves as he pulled her into his arms to share the warmth of his body with her. She finally breathed a sigh of relief, snuggled against him, and eventually stopped shivering.
Brian smiled, rubbing his cheek against her silky hair. She hadnât opened her eyes yet, but he was confident that she would wake up soon. Her body was warming, and her breathing was reassuringly steady. He held her for a long time, relishing the feel of her in his arms, before he finally drifted to sleep.
*****
Brian woke instantly when she sighed and turned over as she began to rouse. She snuggled into his arms to get closer, obviously seeking the warmth that his body provided. Her cheek settled on his chest as if it belonged there. He was instantly hard. He remained completely still, so that he wouldn’t startle her.
She felt as if her entire body was bruised and sore, and her brow wrinkled with confusion. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Her head throbbed, and she gave a low moan.
Her surroundings gradually began to register in her sluggish brain. She didnât recognize the room. Not a single item of furniture looked familiar, and she frowned as she wondered where she was. She didn’t remember coming to this place.
Her limbs felt weighted, and she lay for a long while not moving. It took several minutes for her dazed senses to register the fact that there was a large male body snuggled against her radiating blessed heat. Strong male arms encircled her. Her eyes widened on a gasp, and she turned her face up to see him.
She gasped again as she stared into a gorgeous pair of vibrant, translucent green eyes. They reminded her of intense, sparkling jewels. They were framed by lush, thick black lashes and set deep beneath handsome black brows.
She dragged her eyes away from his compelling gaze and scanned the rest of his features. A sculpted nose, strong cheekbones, a firm jaw, and well-proportioned lips completed his gorgeous face. He grinned, and she mentally added straight white teeth and a pair of deep dimples to the list of reasons why he was the most sinfully handsome man she could ever imagine.
“Well hello, angel. I was beginning to wonder when you would wake up.”
His deep, husky voice was every bit as appealing as his face. She shivered with awareness.
âHello. Who are you?â she asked with a bemused frown.
He raised one dark brow.“I was going to ask you the same thing.â Seeing her deepening confusion, he chuckled lightly.“Iâm sorry, maâam. Iâm Brian McKenzie. And you areâ¦?â
She frowned up at him. Her forehead crinkled between her brows, and she moaned softly from the movement. She closed her eyes briefly, rubbing soft fingers along the bridge of her nose to ease the ache. She met his gaze again, her eyes clouding with confusion.
âWhere am I? How did I get here?â she asked, glancing once more at the surrounding room. Her eyes were growing increasingly worried.
âItâs okay, youâre alright now,â Brian soothed. “You’re probably just a little confused. I think you must have had an accident. I found you lying unconscious in the snow. You had hit your head on a rock. I brought you home to take care of you.â
He watched as her delicate pink lips parted in surprise. Her chocolate brown eyes were opened wide, but Brian could imagine how they might look if they were heavy lidded and full of passion. Although she was still pale, a blush of rosy color had returned to her cheeks, and he longed to brush his thumb over their graceful planes. Her face was both elegantly beautiful and temptingly sensual.
He was even more aroused by the lush body pressed against him. When she had turned to face him, his shirt that she was wearing had twisted up around her waist, leaving her entire bottom half naked. The neckline was also gaping open. Brian could feel the twin pebbles of her nipples boring into his chest. It was all he could do to resist the urge to glance down at the sumptuous view.
To make matters even more temptingly delightful, his hands had landed on her naked bottom. The globes were smooth, heated perfection beneath his palms. He desperately wanted to knead them, but he knew he would startle her if he moved his hands. He didnât think she had realized yet that she was lying practically naked in his arms, and he was in no hurry to point it out to her. He didn’t want to frighten her off.
âWhat kind of accident?â she asked quietly.
It was Brianâs turn to frown.“I’m not sure, angel. I was hoping you would be able to tell me.â
Her forehead creased with worry as she searched his face. She studied him as if she might find the answers she sought in the green depths of his eyes
âI donât remember what happened,â she whispered. Her eyes began to fill with tears.“I donât remember anything.” Her voice rose with panic.“I donât even remember my own name!â
âShhh, itâs alright,â Brian said, tightening his arms around her.“Youâve been through an ordeal. Iâm sure your memory will return as soon as youâve had a rest.â
âDo you think so?â she whispered forlornly. She looked up at him, desperately seeking reassurance.“What if I never remember?â
âShhh,â Brian soothed again.“Donât talk like that. You probably have a concussion. Donât worry, Iâll take good care of you until you feel better, and your memory will come back. I’m sure of it.â
She clutched his shirtfront, instinctively seeking his protection. Looking into her frightened eyes, Brian couldnât resist the urge to offer comfort. He bent his head and gently kissed her lips, nibbling them lightly. She tensed for only a moment before she returned his feathery kisses, sighing with pleasure.
Brian gradually deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with bold strokes of his tongue when she parted her lips. She was sweet and warm, uninhibited in her response.
His mouth on hers was a tempting delight, plucking at her senses. A nagging hunger began in her lower belly, and she squirmed against him. She threaded her fingers through the hair at his nape, so intent on these new sensations that she didnât realize she had flattened her naked breasts against his chest.
Brian groaned. He finally gave in to the urge to explore her bottom, and he squeezed the rounded globes. The heat from his palms was like a fiery brand, and her eyes popped wide open. She pulled free of the kiss and stared at him in horror. He could feel her heart pounding.
âIâmâ¦Iâm naked!â she squeaked in a weak whisper.
âYes angel, you very nearly are,â Brian replied, struggling not to grin.
âDid you …” she gulped down a breath before she continued, âdid you undress me?â
âUh, yes maâam, I did. You were nearly freezing, and your clothes were wet from lying in the snow. I had to get them off you in order to warm you up.â
âSo, youâve seen my bodyâ¦naked?â she asked, wincing with embarrassment.
Brian could no longer contain his grin, and he gave her bottom another familiar squeeze to punctuate his answer.“Yes angel, Iâve seen every inch of your body, and it was as naked as the day you were born.â
She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, groaning in mortification. Brian watched as her face turned red, and it was hard to resist the urge to see whether her blush extended to the tips of her breasts. His erection was aching from the mere thought.
âThis is dreadful,â she moaned, covering her face with both hands.
Brian chuckled and pulled one hand off her face to meet her cautious gaze. The situation was too delicious. He really shouldn’t tease her and enhance her dismay, but as usual, his naughty nature made it impossible to resist.
âThereâs nothing to be ashamed about, angel. You happen to have the loveliest body Iâve ever had to pleasure to see. I couldn’t help but notice. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You are absolutely beautiful from head to toe.”
She squeezed her eyes closed with a groan, but he noticed that she didn’t pull out of his embrace. That pleased him immensely.
“Don’t worry, angel. Your virtue is safe with me. I promise. I have yet to ever corrupt a virgin.â
He kissed her brow, and she relaxed slightly against him. The thought occurred to him that he didnât know whether she was a virgin or not, but he didnât voice that conjecture at the moment. Not only would it increase the temptation to find out, but she was distressed enough without adding one more mystery to think about.
For some odd reason, his reassurance pleased her, and her renewed blush was due entirely to the effect of having an incredibly handsome man pay her a compliment. Her thoughts raced. She felt afloat in a sea of confusion. She couldn’t remember a single thing about her past. But she knew with absolute certainty that she shouldn’t be lying naked in the arms of a stranger, no matter how sinfully handsome he might be.
Her mind was telling her all those things, but her body was flooding her with temptation. The feeling of his hot, calloused hands on her bottom was delightful. She noticed the sensation of his crisp chest hair tickling her naked breasts for the first time, and she had to stifle a moan of pleasure. She felt an empty ache in the pit of her belly, and there was an unfamiliar throbbing between her thighs.
She knew if he didn’t leave her bed soon, she would be unable to resist her own body’s impulses. She bit her lip and reluctantly met his eye once more, clearing her throat nervously.
âYou shouldnât be here in bed with me. Itâs entirely improper.â
Brian held her gaze for a long moment before he grinned again.“Youâre right, of course. Iâll go, but I want one more kiss before I do.â
He raised a questioning brow, and when she didnât protest, he captured her lips again. He kissed her with more passion, showing her a hint of how badly he wanted her. The thrill he derived from tasting her was sweet. Her soft moans of pleasure were even sweeter. He couldn’t resist the urge to cup the perfect globes of her bottom and squeeze them gently.
She opened her eyes, and her wide brown eyes met his sparkling green ones. He could feel her body tense. The urge to pin her down and have his way with her was strong, but he couldn’t do that. For one thing, he had promised. For another, she didn’t belong to him. She hadn’t given herself to him. In fact, she might belong to another man, for all either of them knew.
While Brian struggled to subdue his own raging desires, he didn’t realize that hers were burning out of control too. Nothing had ever felt as wonderful as this man’s kisses. At least she couldn’t remember anything this wonderful. Her conscience was screaming at her to pull back, but her traitorous body was driving her relentlessly into his arms. With a regretful sigh, she gently wedged her arms between them and pushed him away.
“Please,” she whispered.“I need … we need to stop.”
God, how he wanted her. Brian would have sold his soul to make her his in that moment. But he knew in his heart it would be wrong. When her memory returned, she would hate him if she found out she was already married to another man.
It took every ounce of his willpower to release her. Brian reluctantly rolled away from her.
He had never wanted a woman as badly as he did at that moment. His cock was aching in his breeches, throbbing painfully for release. He heaved a frustrated sigh and sat up on the edge of the bed, facing away from her.
She suddenly felt guilty for both her actions and for making him stop. She pulled the covers up to her chin. She felt empty and needy. She almost reached for him to draw him back to the bed, but she resisted the urge.
When he spoke, his voice was gruff with passion.“I’m sorry, angel. I apologize for my behavior.â
âThereâs no need to apologize,â she whispered, surprising him with her candor.
He turned to search her gaze.“I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you,” he insisted.
âI enjoyed every moment,” she admitted shyly.“We just need to take things a bit more slowly,” she said softly.“I donât even know you.â She wrinkled her brow, and the worry returned to her lovely brown eyes.“I donât even know myself.â
âYou will,â Brian assured her, brushing her golden hair behind one delicate ear.“You will regain your memory very soon, but until you do, I promise you are safe with me.â
She smiled at him, feeling entirely reassured by his promise. She had no idea where she truly belonged, but being here, with him, felt like the most natural thing in the world. Being in his arms had felt right somehow, even though she didn’t understand why.
Her stomach gave a loud growl, and they both laughed. It served to ease the tension in the room.
“Sounds like I should get you something to eat,” Brian said with a grin.
She smiled back at him with soft, glowing brown eyes that melted his heart.“I would like that if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Just rest here. I’ll be back soon.”
Brian tucked the quilts more securely around her and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. She could hear his footsteps treading down the hall.
She released a deep sigh. She was both relieved and disappointed that he had left. The room felt suddenly empty without his presence.
She lifted the quilts and took in her appearance. She groaned from embarrassment. She straightened the shirt she was wearing, pulling the hem down nearly to her knees and buttoning the front all the way to her neck. She had to roll the cuffs several times to keep them from falling over her hands. Even with all the buttons fastened, the shirt was so large that it had a tendency to expose her upper shoulders.
She searched her memory, trying to recall something about her past. Who was she? What had happened to her? Did she have family or friends who would be worried about her? Was she married? All she got from the effort was a throbbing headache.
Instead, she focused on everything that had happened since she woke up. Her pulse was still beating fast, and she felt the oddest sensations between her thighs. She felt moist and achy down there, and her clit was persistently throbbing. She wondered what might have happened if she hadn’t insisted that Brian leave the bed.
His kisses had been beyond pleasant. He had awakened a hunger in her body that wouldn’t settle. Although he was a stranger, it was as if her body instinctively recognized him as her one and only true mate. She was tempted to invite him to crawl beneath the covers and finish what he had started.
However, there was no way she could do that when she didn’t remember anything about her life. Maybe she was married to another man, and he was waiting for her and worried about her. If so, she couldn’t possibly betray him. She simply had to remember.
Chapter Two
Brian brought her a tray with a bowl of hearty stew, a thick slice of cornbread slathered with butter, and a glass of buttermilk. He helped her into a seated position, with pillows fluffed behind her, and the quilts tucked securely beneath her arms. She ate with gusto, polishing off everything before settling back with a sigh.
“That was delicious, Brian. Thank you.”
He grinned at her.“You’re welcome, angel. Feeling better?”
She nodded, wincing slightly as her head throbbed from the movement.“Much better. If only my head would stop aching.”
“It will. Give it time.”
She squirmed slightly in the bed, looking uncomfortable. Brian raised an inquisitive brow.
“Can I get you something else?”
“I was just wondering …” her cheeks flooded with color.“I um … I need to …” she trailed off, groaning slightly from embarrassment.
“Oh,” Brian said with a teasing grin.“Do you need to relieve yourself?”
Her blush deepened even further. She looked absolutely adorable, and his grin widened.
“Yes,” she said softly, looking everywhere but at him.
Relenting, Brian removed the supper tray and set it on a small table.“Sorry. I should have thought of it myself.”
She shot him a brief glance before squirming slightly again.“Would you mind turning around? I need to get up.”
Brian turned around. He could hear the shushing of the covers as she pushed them aside. His imagination filled in the details of her body from memory, and he was once again instantly hard.
She moaned slightly, and he turned back toward her without thinking. She had sat up on the edge of the bed, and her beautiful legs were dangling down. He would have enjoyed the sight, except that she was wobbling precariously and holding a hand to her forehead.
Naughty Angel: Brian's Bride (The McKenzie Series #2) Page 2
