‘Because I—I can’t bear to think of you with her like—like that! I hate it, I hate it!’
His mouth closed over hers with a savagery that took her breath away, forcing her lips apart with a brutality that was reminiscent of Michael West and what he had done to her, the attack he had subjected her to. She fought against him with all her strength, hating the rough handling he was forcing on her. She finally managed to wrench her lips away from his. ‘Stop it, Leon!’ she cried her anguish. ‘Don’t do this to me,’ she pleaded.
At once his hands were gentle on her shoulders. ‘I’ve had just about all I’m going to take from you,’ he told her huskily, his voice unsteady. ‘You’ve made too many wild accusations, and taken the feelings you know I have for you for granted just once too often. God knows I’ve tried to be patient, I haven’t done more than give you the most brotherly of kisses for two weeks now. And it’s driving me mad, Helen. I haven’t been working late because I want to but because I have to. I have to be so damn tired when I get home that I can’t think straight, let alone attempt to make love to you.’
Her eyes were wide. ‘I didn’t realise…’
‘Of course you didn’t,’ he rebuked tersely. ‘You’re an open invitation to everything I want to do to you—and for all you care I might as well be your brother!’
Her face flamed at his accusation.
‘That isn’t true! It’s because you’ve been treating me like a stranger that I—I—’
‘Yes? You what?’
‘I thought you didn’t care for me any more, Leon,’ she explained chokingly.
‘Not care for you!’ He raised his eyes heavenwards. ‘It arouses me just to look at you,’ he admitted with a groan. ‘I can’t keep my hands off you. I’m sorry Sharon had to come here and upset you, but she really was just a fleeting affair.’
‘And aren’t I?’
‘No! If we ever get you over your hang-up you could be the most important person in my life,’ he said almost reluctantly.
‘And what am I now?’ Helen persisted.
’The most important person in my life!’ he admitted with a groan.
‘Oh, Leon!’ and she went into his arms, her mouth raised invitingly.
‘You’re sure you want this?’ he asked uncertainly. ‘I may not be able to stop once I start kissing you.’
‘I’m not sure I’ll want you to.’
‘And if you find you do?’ Still he held back.
‘Let’s worry about that if it happens,’ she dismissed impatiently. ‘Surely this has to be a step in the right direction?’
‘A step?’ he scorned. ‘It’s a leap, that’s why I think it’s too soon.’
‘Does that mean you aren’t going to kiss me?’ Her disappointment showed.
‘Like hell it does!’ His head swooped and his lips claimed hers.
To Helen it was the climax of days of waiting, her whole body on fire for him. Her arms were up about his throat, her fingers buried deep in the thickness of the hair at his nape. She was mindless to the warning bells going off in her head, her body only aware of Leon and the wonderful things his lips were doing to her.
His mouth left hers and he buried his face in her throat, pulling her out of the chair so that they both knelt on the fluffy white rug in front of the fire. Her breasts were crushed against the hardness of his chest, their hips moulded together so that she knew of Leon’s arousal.
For the first time in her life she was aware of her own sexual arousal, her nipples firm and upthrusting against Leon’s chest, his hands moving slowly across her back in erotic stimulating movements, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine.
She felt him lower her down on to the rug, sinking down into it as his weight came down on her. Their lips clung and she raised no protest as Leon pushed her blouse aside, releasing the single front fastening of her bra to cup and caress her naked breasts.
Helen undid the buttons of his shirt with hurried fingers, pulling it free of his body. She felt the touch of warm metal as the gold medallion she had bought him lay between her breasts now, her hands caressing the firm contours of his muscular back and shoulders, her nails digging into his flesh as she felt the electric thrill of his lips on one of her hardened nipples.
‘Did he do this to you?’ Leon demanded raggedly. ‘Did he give you pleasure like this?’
‘No! Oh no,’ she gasped as his tongue moved sensuously against her firm flesh. ‘He never touched me like this.’
‘Thank God for that. Your body is mine, mine!’ He groaned. ‘Oh, Helen, touch me there. Yes, there,’ he encouraged as her hands fluttered near his thighs. ‘Oh God, that feels so good!’