He caught her flailing wrists in one of his broad hands. How dare she condemn him for taking what she had unwittingly offered? Self-contempt for her own shameful surrender only enflamed her panic. She shoved against his chest, near to swooning in the fear that he might shove the trews aside and ravish her right there on the terrace. His lashes swept down, but not before she caught a glimpse of the hungry Highland beast sleeping beneath his thin veneer of manners. The scattered light cast harsh planes across his features. He caught her chin between two biting fingers and tilted her head back. She strained away from him as a fear deeper than that of discovery and stronger than the fragile strands of new desire beat frantically in her belly. He dragged her against him, wrapping his arms around her as his palm was replaced by a greedier hardness rubbing against the soft folds of tartan between her legs. His knees slipped between hers, parting her legs and lifting her to the balustrade in one smooth, balletic move. His arm slid lower down her back, his hand curving around her rump, as his mouth plundered hers with punishing heat. Something in his grip had changed it was now as implacable and relentless as the dark passion that rose between them. She shuddered against him, expecting pain but finding only pleasure. Growling, he sank his teeth into her swollen lower lip. How could she have been such a fool? She lowered her eyes, thankful for his mask as the heat of a blush stained her cheeks. Her wanton behavior must have disgusted him. What had she done to anger him so? Icy needles of shame pricked her.

Her vision gone misty with need, she smiled tremulously at him.Ī black fury darkened his eyes. Sebastian caught her hair and forced her to look at him.

Heather and velvet by teresa medeiros