Page 21 of Her Spanish Scandal

And somewhere between his careless comments to Elvira and now, he’d realized that he didn’t want to lose her. She was the solution that he’d been searching for.

“Thank you, Gui.”

“For what, bebe?”

“For that,” she said, blushing. His hand was still between her legs, her breast still bared to his gaze, and she was blushing over a word. He knew she didn’t feel uncomfortable at this moment, because if she did she would cover herself.

Her thighs were soft and smooth and a nice pale color that contrasted with his own olive skin tone. He leaned down to kiss her.

“You’re very welcome.”

She shifted on his lap against his erection. “Um…you’re not finished, are you?”

“Finished with what, querida?”

“Making love with me,” she said softly. She lifted her hand and cupped his jaw. Her fingers were long and cool against his skin and he felt charmed by the way she touched him. The way she looked at him. She made him feel as if he were the only man on earth. And more of a hero than he’d ever felt before.

“For now,” he said.

She tried to sit up and draw her dress over her body at the same time, upsetting her balance, and she fell off his lap. He grabbed her arm, holding her in place.

“Stop. I’ll help you.”

“That’s okay,” she said, her voice small and tight and her expression so closed that he knew he’d done something to hurt her.

But he had no idea what. He was being a gentleman here. Did she honestly think he didn’t want to be buried inside her silky body right this instant?

He took her wrists in his hands and held them in her lap. She was shaking and he didn’t think it was with rage. “What is going on?”

“I just want to get dressed so we can get back to our discussion.”

“But you were content to lie here a minute ago.”

“Please, Gui. I need to get up.”

“Why?” he asked.

She jerked hard on her wrists. And he held her fast, careful not to hurt her. “I want some answers, Kara. Please.”

She bit her lower lip and he thought he saw that sheen of tears in her eyes again. He definitely saw that sadness that had been on her face at the cathedral earlier.

“What is it, bebe? I am trying to respect you, not push too hard. Why does that make you sad?”

“Is it really about respect?” she asked, then lowered her head so he couldn’t see her pretty eyes.

He cupped the back of her neck and drew her toward him, let her rest her face against his shoulder. “Of course it is. Why else would I stop now?”

“Maybe you were looking at my body and saw how flabby I am…Maybe that made you not want me.”

He shook his head. “You aren’t flabby, Kara. Trust me on this.”

“I’m a size twelve. You may not know what that size is, but it’s big. Large. I’m a large girl, Gui.”

He shook his head again and took one of her hands in his, drew it down between both of their bodies until it rested on the outline of his erection where it strained against the zipper of his dress pants.

“Does that really feel like a man who doesn’t want you?”

She caressed him through his pants and shifted on his lap so that she straddled his hips. The fabric of the dress fell over his hips and their hands. Her fingers traced the length of him, and she reached for the tab of his zipper. Before he could stop her, she drew it down.