“I have to cut it, as Gabriela keeps reminding me,” he smiled.

“You know, Gabriela may think your hair is too long, but I like it this way. Don’t ever cut it short,” she ordered lightly.

Alistair nodded. “I won’t,” and he wound his left fingers in her very long hair until he held a fistful at her nape, “as long you keep yours like this.”

“Done,” she grinned, a mischievous look entering her eyes. “Your hair, it is… savage, long. Rebellious. Apart from your eyes-your beautiful, wondrous eyes,” she sighed, enchanted, “it’s this cut that gives away the… barbarian inside you.”

He blinked, startled.

She entwined her fingers in it and pulled his head down. “It reminds me of the legend of Highlander warriors. No control over emotions… Fierce, courageous men, a battle cry on their lips.”

“Legend? We’re not a legend.” And his hand brushed her hair back, exposing her throat. “You like barbarians? Savages?” He raised his eyebrow as his fingers caressed the column of her neck. Oh, Sophia, what I could do to you.

“I like intense men,” she whispered.

She breathed and parted her lips, nervously wetting them with the tip of her tongue.

It was everything he needed. He took full advantage of her opened lips, touching her mouth with a feathery kiss, his tongue meeting hers.

Melting on his body, her elegant hands, light and delicate, tangled in his hair.

He stood there for a moment, simply enjoying her taste and smell. Her tentative touch on his nape undid him.

His hands went down to her waist, so slim. He jerked her to his body, pressing her to him and devouring her mouth. He thrust his tongue deep, mimicking what he wanted to do with his body. His pulse fiercely pounded in his ears, his erection grew painfully hard.

Sophia broke the kiss, panting, “Gabriela-” Her eyes were burning light yellow with a multitude of emotions: desire, worry, fear.

Alistair looked over his shoulder at the little girl bundled on his overcoat on the grass. “She’s sleeping.” And once more dropped his head to kiss her. Her taste was like a drug he wanted to be addicted to.

All thoughts flew away as their tongues danced and he felt her pliant body leaning heavily against his hard, chiseled form. Her scent branded him. A hand pulled her even closer, wandered her back, cupped her butt, while the other sought the skin under her sweater. They gasped in each other’s mouths when his hand touched her waist and his fingers skimmed up the line of her spine. She arched on his chest, panting.

“So soft, Sophia,” he breathed and his mouth glided over her jaw to her ear and he bit her earlobe, sucking it into his mouth.

A shot of pure, undeniable lust whipped through Sophia’s body and she flexed her stomach on his erection, completely lost in his caresses. His feathery touch climbed up her body to intimately cup her breast encased in a skimpy lace bra and he circled his thumb over her nipple, reveling the low moan that escaped her throat.

A fierce hunger is threatening to consume us and we are in the open, a few feet away from Gabriela. Her hand stayed his and she scowled at him. “Too much. Too fast,” she managed to say, between heaves. “Besides, we’re in a public park.”

He looked at her, dark forest-green eyes glazed with need, “I’m sorry. You make me forget where I am.” His accent thickened and made his English nearly incomprehensible.

She rested her forehead on his chest, trying to control her breathing.

“Sophia,” he spoke her name assertively and his hand encircled her throat, a thumb lifting her chin. His eyes blistered with hot green flames. “You’re unraveling me. Are you doing it on purpose?”

“Unraveling you?” She looked up at his eyes, “I don’t know. I’m just being me.”

His hand stayed on her throat, not letting go.

I crave more, much more. I want all of her. I want her to be mine. With the last thought, a fierce anger took control of him. What is she doing to me?

Sophia glanced at his tightened face. Is he… angry? At me? Please, don’t be.

He looked down at her, scrutinizing her face for some telltale sign. Something that would make him angrier, but didn’t find any.

Steady, Alistair Connor. This is just lust.

He waited for her acquiescence, teeming with desire. An intense emotion unfurled as his sun peeked out from behind the dark clouds of his sky. Immediately, he shoved it down deep into his dark heart. He didn’t want to acknowledge it.

She’s just another woman.

He didn’t waste time when she lifted her head for another kiss, dropping his to meet her mouth with a searing kiss, pouring into her all his confusion about how she made him feel.

Feel? I don’t want to feel anymore. His hand removed her hair from the path his mouth traced from her ear to the base of her neck.

Moaning low in her throat, she gave him room.

His fingers tightened on her waist, pulling her against his frame and she gasped as she felt his growing erection print itself on her belly. He was definitely turned on. His hand tensed up on her butt, kneading it.

Sophia pulled away, panting and, stepping back, put a hand on his chest. This madness has to stop. Now.

He towed her to sit near Gabriela, leaning his back on a tree and nestling her between his firm thighs, an arm snaked around her, his erection pressed on her hip.

“I apologize.” His breathing was labored and his smile taut and crooked, “again.” Fuck. What are you apologizing for, Alistair Connor? “I find it difficult to deny myself the pleasure of having you in my arms, and when I have you where I want, all my thoughts and reasoning fly out the window.” He looked so serious. “I have to have you, Sophia,” his raspy velvet voice entreated, “or else I’ll become crazed.” He stroked his thumb over her silken lips. “This is torture.”

“Alistair, we’ve been going out for a week.” She fingered her hair, combing it. “You cannot expect me to go to bed with you after such a short time.”

“Why not?” he whispered roughly. “I’ve been aching for you since the day I met you. And I know you feel the same. We’re grown-ups and we both have been married. You know me.” His fingers caressed her neck and wandered down, pausing at the swell of her breast. “Let me know you,” he purred on her ear.

She took his hand and put it below her left breast, pressing it on her ribs. “Feel me, Alistair. Can you feel my heart?” How can I explain to him? “I do want you, but… we need to talk about what is happening between us.”

This doesn’t sound good. “What do you want to talk about, sweetheart?”

He didn’t want her rationalizing what was happening between them. Their attraction - magical, intense, and aggressive even - had nothing to do with reason.

“Things are going too fast between us. We have to slow down before they get out of hand. I need more time.”

“Slow down as in slow down?” Slow down? Is the woman a nun? Christ! This is a bad idea. He felt rejected. He felt denied. Never had a woman asked him to slow down. Does she want to destroy my ego?

“Is there another connotation to slow down?” She bit her lower lip.

“Slow. Down.” He released a breath and tugged her lip from her teeth. “You don’t know what you do to me, Sophia. I don’t know if I have enough control.”

“I understand this is difficult… I mean… I want you too, but I don’t want to rush things this time.” She stared at his taut, serious face.

A long silence ensued between them. Sophia watched as he schooled his features into his usual poker-faced look and hooded his eyes so she wouldn’t see the irritation in them.

Too late, Handsome. They have given you away. This intense inferno of yours. She licked her lips. “You okay?”

“Aye,” he expelled a long breath, “yes, I am.”

Sophia shook her head and shifted in his embrace to better look at his eyes. “The thing is… I don’t know if we should insist on this relationship. I’m not the kind of woman you’re used to. I don’t do one-night stands. I don’t have sex just for sex. I need something more than a hello-let’s-go-to-bed handshake to…” Make love? Sophia’s laugh echoed bitterly inside her. He simply wants to fuck you, Sophia. He doesn’t do relationships. She bit her lip and tapped her fingers on her thigh. I’m an idiot. Yes, you are, Sophia. An idiot.

He noticed her ticks. He remembered them well from that day at the pool. She’s nervous.

“I wonder if I-”

He lifted his hand and softly put his fingers on her mouth, interrupting her words. “Listen to me.” He shifted her to straddle his lap and his fingers curled under her chin to raise her face to him. “Slow down,” he repeated lowly and breathed deep, exhaling, deep in his thoughts.

Sophia waited, studying his handsome face. A quietness surrounded them and the only sounds she could hear were the chirps of the birds perched high on the tree he reclined on. His fingers absentmindedly caressed her lips while he looked into the distance, trying to decide what to say.

An almost pained breath escaped his lips and he softly conceded, “All right, Beauty, I’ll try to maintain a hold on my desire.” He kissed her, hugging her tightly, pressing her down onto his erection, “I desire you as I never did another woman.” His green gaze locked onto hers. “This is not normal behavior for me. I don’t usually do… I don’t do relationships, period.”

So, Edward is right. Sophia felt her heart tightening in her chest. She opened her lips and closed them again, insecure. “Well, I don’t do one-night stands,” she finally said. “So, this is the end-”