“What happened?”

“He never talks about it with us. All we know is, after being a prisoner of war for months, he was shot in the thigh during his escape. He was captured, probably ambushed, when tending to a corporal who stepped on a mine in the street. Both were captured. The corporal died. We don’t know how. He never talks about it. We know nothing more.”

“He doesn’t talk? At all?”

“Nae,” Alistair shook his head. “He sees his shrink in London, twice a week, but that’s all.”

They sat on a bench in the middle of the maze and Alistair put an arm around Sophia’s shoulders, entwining the hair that fell over it in his fingers.

She turned, resting her upper leg and knee on the bench to look at Alistair’s eyes and murmured, “I love your eyes, did you know that? I have never seen eyes as green as yours. They put the leaves of the Amazon Forest to shame. And your unbelievably long and dark lashes make them even more startling.” She raised her fingers brushing his lashes and his eyebrow. “It should be forbidden to be so handsome.”

How is such a simple, gentle touch so arousing? Alistair felt his whole body stir with that simple caress. No one had touched him so lovingly before.

She cupped his face, sliding a finger over his nose. “Your regal nose,” and down her finger went, “your mouth.” She caressed his jaw line, “Everything about you is rugged, earthy. You’re…” her lips parted, “breathtaking.”

Alistair smiled, “You’re stealing my lines. What am I supposed to say now?” His fingers trailed over her face, over her jaw, and down her throat, his green eyes blistering with desire.

“I want you, Sophia,” he whispered, his gaze hypnotizing her, “Badly.” He framed her face and his head bent, his emerald eyes studying her. “Let’s go to my room. Or yours.”

She blinked, feeling burned by his scorching gaze. “Alistair, please, don’t insist.”

“I want to devour you.” His lips brushed hers, caressing smoothly, before lightly pressing his tongue on the seam of her lips. “You’ve turned me into a greedy, hungry beast.” Beauty and the beast. It figures.

She batted her lashes at him. “I can give you a taste.” She opened to him like a flower seeking water and closed her eyes to enjoy all the passion he put in a simple kiss. His lips were warm, soft, unyielding, and demanded total surrender.

He turned his body to face her. “I don’t want a taste,” he murmured after the kiss, “I want it all.” His hands released her face to wander over her shoulders and unnervingly slowly down her body to find her breasts. He palmed them over her cashmere sweater.

She moaned and arched her back. Her hands sought his shoulders for support. He buried his face on her neck.

“You’re like velvet, like silk,” he said between kisses. “Please, Sophia. Say yes.”

“Good things come…” Her head fell back, giving him total access to her throat “to those who wait. Patience is a virtue, Alistair.”

“I’m patient,” he murmured on her lips “but I’ve told you, I’m no saint.” He smashed her lips into his with a savage kiss. When he broke it, he raised his head to look at her. His kiss left her panting with reddened and swollen lips. He couldn’t resist that vision of beauty in front of him; grabbing her by the hips, he made her straddle him. Sophia jerked away in astonishment, opening her eyes wide.

Alistair gazed deeply at her. “Hush, we’re alone,” before dropping his head again to kiss her leisurely.

Sophia blinked, dizzy with lust, the kisses and the heady thrill of his love. “We’re outside.”

“God won’t be offended,” he whispered back, dragging up her burgundy sweater with one hand. “You’re heaven, you’re paradise.” Firm hands cupped her ass and yanked her tightly against him, grounding her against his erection, rocking her hips.

“This is,” she moaned when his teeth nipped her earlobe, “blasphemy,” she teased in a hoarse voice. Her fingers tangled in his silky hair and she drank greedily from his mouth, stealing his breath away.

Her hand stroked his soft hair. She leveled herself on his steel-like shoulder.

“No. It’s not.” His right hand snaked under her Emilio Pucci tank top. “It’s gospel.”

His deft left hand popped open the button of her leather pants and pulled down the zipper, touching her smooth, flat stomach. “Sophia.”

She made a low, long, gasping sound and he smiled, devilishly.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, moving his mouth over her jaw to capture her mouth again in a hard kiss, coaching the responses he wanted from her.

Sophia lost herself in so many sensations. They started to move together, lust taking control. She felt his erection harden even more.

His fingers touched her lace and satin panties and he growled low in her mouth, the sound a rumble in his chest.

Sophia startled and broke the kiss, gasping. Disengaging from the embrace, she stepped away unsteadily, breathing heavy and adjusting her clothes back into place.

Alistair rose and stood behind her, his arms hugging her waist, bringing her to lean on him. She could feel his raging erection on her back. Her head fell to the side nestling between his chest and arm.

“Shhh, it’s okay.” He rested his face on her cheek. “I told you we’re alone.”

“That’s not it. I’m not that kind of woman. I don’t make out in public or…” She shook her head as she remembered Tavish’s and Alice’s earlier words. “You’re mistaking me for someone else.”

“I’m not mistaking you for anyone else. I just got carried away,” he said, nonplussed, turning her in his embrace to face him. “We got carried away.” So, what kind of woman are you, Sophia? “Come now.” He bent his head. “Don’t play coy with me,” he whispered in her ear.

“I’m not pretending,” she snapped at him shoving both hands in her hair. “I’m confused.” She bit her bottom lip hard.

“Confused about what?” He gently coached her lip from her teeth.

She shook her head, mute.

“Sophia, talk to me.” He framed her face and lifted it to scan her features. He wanted to look at her eyes but she kept them averted. “Talk to me. What are you confused about?” He stroked her lip with his thumb.

“My feelings,” she breathed. “I like you. I really do.” But I wish I didn’t. I’m afraid you’re going to break my heart.

“So?”

“So?” she repeated, dumbly. I don’t want to be hurt again.

“If you like me, why do you keep torturing me?” He lifted her face an inch more. “Look at me, Sophia,” he ordered. Damned impossible woman.

She slowly raised her eyelids. The intensity of emotions simmering inside her eyes startled him.

“And if I said I was afraid?”

“What are you afraid of?” he asked kindly. “Tell me and we’ll work it out together. There’s no reason to be afraid.”

“I do like you. Nonetheless, I-” she put a hand on his chest “please, don’t be angry…” he shook his head and she continued, “sometimes I think you’re more than you let me see. You’re so different from what I’m used to. You’re mercurial. As is your brother.”

Christ! What kind of powers does this woman possess? Then a thought struck his mind, leaving him cold. Baptist isn’t the only one in Britain that does that kind of service. He knew of at least four or five good ones.

“You’re… stubborn and overpowering,” Sophia whispered, her breath an airy kiss against the skin of his chest exposed by his V-neck black cashmere sweater, “you have a terrible temper. You’re arrogant, with a tendency to sulk and you seek darkness. Your flaws are numerous and they are multiplying.”

He couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. He growled and, squeezing her, he dipped his head and bit her shoulder, making her cry out.

“But then, you’re protective and steadfast. You’re kind and gentle. You’re intelligent and thoughtful.” Her fingers brushed his jaw softly, as if a breeze caressed him. “You make me laugh.”

“Ah, I see. And this is a remarkable accomplishment?”

“Yes, it is. You really make me laugh. I feel… happy, when I’m around you.”

“I don’t understand.” He stole a bemused glance at her. No man with any sense in his head made the mistake of thinking he understood women and Alistair never before had tried. But he wanted to understand Sophia.

But this one, this one, she utterly mystifies me. “So why you keep pushing me away?”

“I don’t.” She shook her head, “I don’t push you away. It’s just that I don’t know you and I’m afraid.” Of my own feelings.

“Very well.” He took a ragged breath. “So, let me tell you, Sophia, you’re unpredictable and mysterious. Utterly inconstant and temperamental. Your mood is as changeable as the weather. I cannot read you, sweetheart.”

“I’m not a book,” she scowled at him.

“I know,” he chuckled. “Believe me, I do. You’re a ravishing woman, Sophia. An intriguing, fascinating, and stunning woman. A challenge. And I’ve always liked a challenge.”

“I’m no challenge, either,” she snapped.

He chuckled low in his chest. The sound was downright male. “Yes, you are. You know,” he breathed against her lips, his deep voice vibrating inside his chest, “it’s never been like this for me.”

What is he talking about? The need, the lust? Cupping his jaw in her soft, long hands, she asked. “What? What has never been like this?”

“A woman. This need, this desire, this yearning. It’s so strong, so uncontrollable, and so savage that it hurts.” His green eyes blistered her, “No one else will do. I crave you. Every minute, every second. Not only your body. It’s you. Only you. All of you. Please, say yes.”