Tara noticed his smile before his lips crushed to hers, devoured her.

The meeting of their lips was an act of spontaneous combustion. Unlike when he had kissed her before, this time, there was no slow mingling of tastes, or sensuous arousal. This was primal and needy with no room for thought, no question where it was leading.

Chapter 6

Grainna followed them out when they left the dance hall. She watched Duncan pull Tara into his arms. Grainna’s eyes heated with fury and vengeance.

Patiently, she kept to the shadows and waited for both their minds to go blank. Her hands opened palm up, her eyes closed as she probed into their minds.

Duncan’s was filled with visions of a more intimate mating with Tara. Grainna could feel his lust for the woman. She felt his triumph of being her first. In Tara’s mind, passion and trust drove her actions, along with a deeper attachment to the man.

Her resolve to remain a virgin hung on by a thread.

Grainna looked deeper, into the part of Tara’s memories, to where her thought process had kept her virginity intact until now.

Inside a fog, Grainna saw a woman, no—a girl, unwed and weeping over an infant in a broken down crib. The girl in her vision resembled Tara, a sister perhaps. Whoever she was, her life had a great impact on Tara. So much so, she had refused every man until now.

Grainna closed her eyes tighter and pushed the vision out of the corner of Tara’s mind, sweeping it to the forefront.

The girl’s desire was difficult to maneuver through and the effort to control Tara’s mind came at a high cost. Even now, Grainna felt her body weakening with her effort. But she would suffer the deterioration of her body, because not taking the risk, could jeopardize her entire plan.

Voices came from behind them. Duncan broke off their kiss, seeking privacy. He pulled her along with him until they were clear of any prying eyes from the camp. Alone, at the edge of the woods, he gathered her back into his arms. He knew his goal and for the first time, he felt soiled by his intent. For her safety, he needed to complete this union, he told himself, justifying his actions. Her tantalizing mouth taunted and teased, God her mouth was sweet. Never had he wanted a woman more, goal or no.

Her hands moved over his back, tentative at first, and her nails dug into his clothes, growing bolder as his groans revealed the pleasure she brought him.

When Tara felt his hand reach for her breast, this time she let him. With her inhibitions pushed aside, she knew the minute he slipped his fingers under the material of her gown that this time she wouldn’t turn him away. She felt her ni**les harden and strain. Never had she thought someone’s touch could be so pleasurable. His blazing kiss numbed her lips and made her body writhe with desire.

Her vision cleared slightly when he pulled her down to the soft ground. Tara felt his hands working the laces holding her dress together. Her hands pushed past his clothing to feel the warmth of his skin. “Tell me you have something.” She was embarrassed to ask, but knew she needed to.

Duncan’s breath caught at her words. “Have what, love?” His lips continued their descent as his hands pulled her gown off her shoulder exposing her flesh beneath.

“Protection?” The word came out breathy and sounded as if it came from someone else. Birth control...Babies... Tara’s mind clouded over and a vision of her sister emerged. She pushed the image away. She didn’t want to think about Lizzy now, not when she was on the verge of giving this man her virginity.

But Lizzy’s image came back. Tara saw her holding her nephew, crying while Tara dressed for her senior prom. The memory was so vivid Tara could almost smell the powder Lizzy used on her nephew after his bath.

Shock stopped her. “Wait!” What am I doing?

How could she have forgotten?

Duncan’s feverish kisses slowed, but didn’t stop.

“Wait.” Tara shook her head. Both of her hands pushed him away. “Please, Duncan. Stop.”

His ragged breathing sounded like a freight train. He stilled his advance, but he strained in his effort. “I have protection for you.”

“Condoms break.” Her sister’s haunting words fell out of her mouth. Don’t sleep with anyone you don’t want to be tied to.

The man in her arms was leaving after tomorrow. He didn’t deny their relationship would go no further.

Tara pushed him away. Pushed herself away.

She couldn’t think clearly with him so close. “I’m sorry. I should never have let things go this far.” She scrambled away from him, putting her dress in order. “I’m so sorry.”

He took to his feet and put some distance between them. Tara couldn’t tell if it was disappointment or anger she saw on his face? He had a right to feel both. She was being a tease making him think they would make love and then stopping him. Tara put her hand on his arm only to have him pull it away. “You’re leaving,” she pleaded her case. “If I ended up pregnant, I’d be alone.”

She watched him open his lips and bite back his denial. “You can’t deny it, can you?” She searched his angry eyes.

He paced and the air turned desperately cold. “I should go.” Tara started to walk away.

Duncan stood his ground. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“No. I mean I should go home.” Moisture gathered behind the lids of her eyes. She’d only known the man for two days, yet he had managed to sneak his way into her heart. A heart destined to break when he left. How could she be so stupid?

“Don’t,” he told her.

“Why not? This isn’t going to happen.” She moved her hand to point at him and then her. “It can’t. Not with you leaving.”

“Let’s enjoy what we can for the small amount of time we have left. I’ll not pressure you again. You have my word.”

“Why do you have to leave?”

“This isn’t my place, Tara. I wish I could offer you more, but it isn’t possible.” His stern look from before vanished, his anger drifted as he stepped closer.

With a cry, she moved into his open arms and pressed her face against his chest. He soothed her with words, while she shed her tears. “Hush, lass.

All will be fine.”

But his words were anything but convincing.

Tara packed her bags twice, only to unpack them. Finally, she gave up and filled her glass to the top with the wine sitting on the table. Cassy was still out having a grand old time, while she paced the worn carpets thrown on the ground. What was she doing? She had wanted Duncan, completely. She knew there was no future with him, yet that didn’t stop her desire.