Читать книгу Lost In His Arms - Carla Cassidy - Страница 10

T here had only been one thing in his adult life that had inspired passion in Talbot. To his utter shame and guilt, that something had been his brother’s wife. He’d desired her, but knew he would never, ever follow through on that desire.

Still, even reminding himself of this fact didn’t ease the pressure that had been building inside him. And he felt that if they didn’t get out of these woods soon, if he didn’t get away from her, he might explode. The consequences of such an explosion could be devastating to his brother.

Ever since she’d opened her suitcase and he’d spied those red lace panties, his mind had been filled with tantalizing visions of her wearing them and nothing else.

However, what bothered him more than his visions of a half-naked Elizabeth was the vulnerability he’d seen in her for the very first time.

He’d seen the softness in her eyes as she’d spoken of wanting to belong, and he didn’t want to think of Elizabeth as soft. He had seen a strange, wistful light in her gaze when she’d told him that she’d learned early on that venting meant trouble.

He didn’t want to think of her as soft and sweet and somehow needy.

They walked until the sunlight had faded and dusk was deepening. “We’d better stop for the night,” he finally said, reluctant to give up but knowing it was foolhardy to stumble around in the dark.

Elizabeth sank onto the ground with a weary sigh. “I feel like we’re in some kind of demented fairy tale, and our curse is to forever wander and never find our way out of this forest.”

Talbot eased down beside her, not looking at her. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I can’t tell you how sorry I am about all this.”

Her features were nearly hidden by the deepening darkness. “That’s the second time you’ve apologized, and I told you before, it isn’t necessary. I don’t blame you for this mess. I just…I just miss Andrew and hope he isn’t terribly worried.”

Tears suddenly shimmered in her blue eyes and he saw the slight tremble of her lower lip. With amazement, he realized she was on the verge of crying.

Surely not. Not Elizabeth. His mind rejected the very idea of her crying. He’d seen her bail Richard out of jail and never shed a tear. He’d watched her in the throes of labor, when Richard had been playing basketball with a bunch of buddies and couldn’t be reached, and no tears had dampened her eyes.