by

An excerpt

Later, as the evening approached, they strolled down to the Mississippi, and Patsy got her first glimpse of the mighty river. Austin's arm snaked around her waist when a strong breeze met them at the edge of the delta.

"Look! Just look at that," she said of the blazing red, blue and orange spectrum that sheltered the sun as it dipped from sight, a spectacle created for lovers. But he was not seeing the sunset, for he had his gaze fixed on her. "Austin!" she gasped, having caught him with his feelings unsheltered. Bare. "Austin, I---"

His aura wrapped around her, his heat settled on her and enveloped her, and she tasted him, smelled the hot man in him. And wanted him. Then, she was in his arms, and his mouth was on her. Heating her. Branding her. Loving her. Never had he loosed his passion in that way, as if he welcomed the consequences. Heedless of all but his need of her. Giddy with lust at the sensation of his arousal against her belly and his tongue dancing in her mouth, she undulated against him until he stepped away.

"What a place you picked to kiss me like that," she said as her eyes feasted on him.

"I didn't pick it." His voice, husky and rasping, told her more of the emotion that gripped him. "It's what I feel, and I'm feeling a lot right now. I mean a lot." He brought her into the curve of his arm and held her tightly to his side.

"Me too. I think I'm about to burst."

Darkness encroached, and they held each other quietly as if words were irrelevant, without meaning. High above them, stars danced and the moon raced through the clouds, and his breath caressed her forehead, then her lips.

"Velma's expecting us for dinner," she said. "Maybe we should go back."

He seemed reluctant to leave, as if he feared letting go of the moment. "We can go to New Orleans tomorrow, if you'd like."

She wanted him to know she didn't need to do things. "Honey, I don't care if I spend the day sitting on Velma's back porch in the swing, provided you're there beside me."

He stared down at her without a smile or any semblance of jocularity. Inscrutable. "And after we leave Gretna, does that still hold?"

"As long as I live, Austin."

His eyes widened, and his facial muscles worked furiously as if fighting among themselves for position. "Don't say anything like that, Patsy, unless you're sure you mean it and you know what it implies."

"I'm as sure of that as I am of my name."

There's so much that I need to say and can't. How far are you prepared to trust me?"

I'll have faith in you until you prove it's unfounded."

His exhalation in relief was sharp and so palpable that she could almost feel it. "That's all I ask."

Holding her cold, damp fingers, Austin walked into his room, flicked on the light and closed the door.

Patsy gasped."Oh!"

He followed her stare to the queen-sized bed and then looked down at her, examining her facial expression. They had never shared a room, not to mention a bed. Her face a mass of questions and of uncertainty.

"Let's go outside and talk," he said, giving himself time to get a handle on the situation.

"All right."

They talked about their lives, about everything except what mattered.

With his breath coming short and fast, he said, "There's a double bed in that room," and waited.

"No. I want to share that bed with you."

His blood raced through his body, fanning the heat of his loins into flames. "Our problem is still there, Patsy."

"I told you I trust you."

He carried her to his room and kicked the door shut.

Minutes later, he stood before her big and strong and with an aura of power that hadn't previously reached her as it did now. She didn't see the gentleness and tenderness he'd always shown her, only that raw power, the primal male and hot man that leaped out to her and snared her. He widen his stance and waited, his fists clenched and nostrils flared. Why wouldn't her feet take her to him?

She could taste the tension flirting between them, imprisoning them in the confines of wanton desire. His hot stare seemed to bore into her. Promising. Daring. Fire raged in his eyes and jolts of electricity whistled through her veins. Her nipples tightened and liquid heat coiled in her loins.

"Come here, Patsy."

His low, barely audible and guttural words electrified her nervous system. She swallowed and tried to calm herself, but a wildness in him captured her will.

"I said come here, baby."

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