The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [128]
Beneath her fingers she could feel his labored breaths, and she opened her palm, amazed by the way his hard muscles shifted and moved in response to her touch. She felt powerful—no man had ever made her feel that way before.
As if he’d known her thoughts, he caught her other hand, which had been idly clasped at his waistband, and dragged it up to his chest. “Damn, I love it when you touch me.”
Misty tucked her face beneath his chin and tried to take a calming breath. Instead, she inhaled his hot male scent and renewed desire. Rather than pushing his advantage, Morgan looped both arms around her and rocked her gently.
“It’s almost too much, isn’t it?” he growled against her temple.
Words were too difficult, so she nodded, bumping his chin. She felt like crying and hated herself for it. She’d never been a woman who wept over every little thing, so she assumed it must be the pregnancy making her so weak.
Then again, Morgan wasn’t a little thing. He was a great big hulking gorgeous thing, and how he made her feel was enough to shake the earth.
His fingertips smoothed over her cheek. “I’m trying to give you time, sweetheart. I know you’ve been through a lot and until this morning, I’ve done nothing but push you away. But it’s not easy.” He gave a shaky laugh and admitted, “It’s damn near impossible, if you want the truth.”
His words prompted a new thought, but there was no way she could look him in the eyes right now. Morgan would see everything she felt and he’d stop trying to be so considerate. If he pushed even the tiniest bit, she’d give in to him and she knew it. As much as she wanted him, she didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. She needed more time.
Hiding her face close to his chest, she did her best to sound casual when she spoke. “It was a rather quick turnaround for you.”
“No.” He kissed her ear, then nipped her lobe, making her jump. “I wanted you something fierce the first second I saw you. I just figured it’d be too complicated if we got involved.”
“Because you’re looking for a wife?”
He stiffened slightly, then deliberately began rubbing her back. “Because you’re Honey’s sister, so you were off-limits for a fling.”
It felt like her heart broke, his honest words hurt so much. Her throat was constricted, and she swallowed hard so he wouldn’t know how strongly he’d affected her. “But now, since it’s obvious what type of woman I am, my relationship to Honey no longer matters?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Morgan tried to tip her back to see her face, but she held onto him like a clinging vine and he finally quit trying. His mouth pressed warmly to her temple and his arms tightened. “I don’t think you’re easy, Malone, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“No?” She forced herself to unclench his shirt. The man would wear wrinkles all day thanks to her. And his brothers would probably take one look at him and know why. “I’m pregnant, with no husband, no job. I’m a convict, for crying out loud. What’s your definition of easy?”
He took her off guard, thrusting her back a good foot with his hands wrapped securely around her upper arms. His scowl was enough to scare demons back to hell. Misty held her breath, not afraid of him physically, really, but very uncertain of his mood.
He started to say something, then paused. “Damn it,” he growled, “don’t look at me like that. I would never hurt you.”
She nodded. “I know it.”
“Then why are you shaking?”
“You’re shaking me.”
He looked poleaxed by that observation, then dropped his hands to shove them onto his hips in a thoroughly arrogant stance. Misty wrapped her arms around herself and watched him cautiously.
He didn’t apologize. “And you deserve it, too.”
“For asking a question?” Now that he wasn’t touching her, she could regain her edge.
“For suggesting something so stupid.” He took a quick step toward her, leaned down in a most unnerving way and practically shouted, “I do not think you’re easy!”
Misty blinked.
“Hell, woman, you’re about the most difficult female I’ve ever run across. You fight me at every