Only 05 - Autumn Lover

woman who was afraid of something. When he thought about what had happened the last time he was this close to her, he had a good idea of what she feared.
    I told you, next time you’ll enjoy it .
    My God, you must really think I’m stupid. “Next time you’ll enjoy it.” What rot !
    Suddenly last night’s foolproof plan looked like purest folly in the light of day.
    I hate you .
    I don’t want you anymore. Ever. In any way .
    Nothing had changed since Elyssa had made those searing declarations.
    Tension drew Hunter’s body so tight he had to fight to breathe. Slowly he lowered Elyssa’s feet to the sand until she was standing next to the bedroll he had so carefully prepared.
    When Hunter spoke, his voice was much more harsh than he intended.
    “Don’t be frightened of me,” he said. “I swear before God I never meant to hurt you.”
    Elyssa didn’t trust herself to speak. She simply closed her eyes and turned her face away from Hunter.
    “Do you really hate me so much?” he whispered.
    Her eyes flew open.
    “Do you?” he asked in a raw voice.
    Silently Elyssa shook her head.
    “Then why are you trembling and turning away as though you can’t bear the sight of me?” Hunter asked. “My God, you won’t even speak to me.”
    “I—” Elyssa’s voice broke.
    She turned her back on Hunter and swallowed again, fighting for control of herself.
    “It—it would be easier to hate you,” she whispered.“But I can’t. So I hate myself instead. I was such a fool.”
    Hunter’s eyelids flinched at the pain in Elyssa’s husky voice. He turned her until she was facing him again.
    Facing him, but not looking at him.
    “Marry me,” Hunter said starkly.
    Elyssa shook her head. Though she said nothing, her past words hung between them in an echo of feminine outrage.
    No wonder churches and townships make sure girls are virgins before they marry. They never would suffer it otherwise .
    With aching tenderness Hunter’s fingertips brushed over Elyssa’s eyebrows, her cheeks. Tears were caught in her eyelashes like warm rain.
    “Don’t cry, honey,” Hunter whispered. “I’d rather be horsewhipped than make you cry again.”
    Elyssa didn’t answer.
    She couldn’t. Hunter’s lips were touching her tenderly, brushing butterfly kisses against her temples, her cheeks, her eyelashes. In hushed, trembling silence, he stole her tears before they could fall.
    Breath caught in Elyssa’s throat. Her heartbeat speeded in a wild rush. Tremors she couldn’t control rippled through her. Her fingers curled into her palms until her nails left marks.
    He doesn’t love me .
    I can’t stop loving him .
    Elyssa felt as though she was being torn apart. she wanted to flee. She wanted to stay in Hunter’s arms. She wanted to push him away from her.
    But most of all she wanted to bathe in the healing, intoxicating fire of Hunter’s gentleness.
    “Don’t be frightened,” Hunter whispered against her lips. “I just want…”
    Hunter’s voice died. What he wanted would send Elyssa running right out of the cave.
    He closed his eyes and called himself fifty kinds of fool. Then he hugged Elyssa very gently against his chest, rocking slowly, stroking her back with one big hand.
    “It’s all right,” he said huskily. “I won’t hurt you. Please, honey. Don’t cry.”
    With each word came a tender kiss, a tear sipped from her eyelashes, another kiss.
    The trembling in Elyssa increased.
    “It’s all right, little one,” Hunter whispered against her lips. “You’re safe. I’ll let you go as soon as you stop trembling. If that’s what you want…”
    Though Hunter didn’t mean to, the tip of his tongue traced the outline of Elyssa’s mouth in a silence that trembled with possibilities.
    “Is that what you want?” he whispered.
    Hunter’s breath was warm and sweet against Elyssa’s skin. She made a small sound.
    “Is that yes or no?” Hunter asked. “Let you go or keep you close?”
    The smooth heat of his lips against her eyelids both reassured Elyssa and increased the trembling of her body.
    When Hunter felt the tremors raking through her, he ached with an emotion more complex than desire.
    “Elyssa?” Hunter whispered helplessly against her lips. “Let me kiss you. Just one kiss, honey. Then I’ll let you go, if that’s what you want. I can’t stop thinking how it felt just to kiss you. You liked that much of my lovemaking, at least.”
    Before Elyssa could think of all the reasons to refuse,