The Winner Takes It All: Winning Back His Wife / In Her Rival's Arms / Royally Seduced. Melissa McClone

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СКАЧАТЬ a bull from the streets of Pamplona looking for a fight?”

      He took a deep breath and another, as if reining himself in yet again. “I was worried.”

      “Worried.”

      “I like Paulson,” Cullen admitted. “But he’ll hit on any female with a pretty smile.”

      “You thought he would hit on me.”

      He clenched his teeth. “You deserve better.”

      Sarah had deserved better from him, too. She raised her chin. “Yes, I do. Bill is a big flirt, but it was innocent, all in fun.”

      “He didn’t—”

      “He was a perfect gentleman.”

      Cullen’s brow furrowed. “Gentleman and Paulson don’t belong in the same sentence.”

      “Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think you do,” she said. “Bill made me laugh and feel better than I’ve felt in a while. Since long before the accident.” Cullen opened his mouth to speak, but she continued. “But even if I swallowed a ‘stupid’ pill and threw caution to the wind, I would never get involved with Bill…with any man…because you and I are still married.”

      Relief washed over Cullen’s face. “Good.”

      His response angered and confused her. Why would he care, if he wanted a divorce? “That’s all you have to say?”

      “What more do you want?”

      “An apology,” she said. “You charged in here assuming the worst without considering that Bill is your friend and I’m your wife.”

      “I haven’t been thinking straight. I’ve…been working a lot.”

      “What’s new?” She didn’t need to explain, but she didn’t want him thinking the worst of her. “Just so you know. I have been good. Very good. Doing everything you and Dr. Marshall told me to do. Which is more than I can say for you.”

      Lines creased Cullen’s forehead. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

      “You told me you had shifts to make up, but you haven’t been here at all. Heaven only knows where you’ve been spending your nights.”

      A devilish grin lit up his face. “You’re the jealous one.”

      “Am not.” Okay, maybe a little. But no way would she admit that to him. “I was…worried.”

      “Worried.”

      More than she wanted to admit. More than he would ever know. “Yes.”

      His eyes softened. He grinned sheepishly. “The way I was worried about you and Bill.”

      Busted. Darn it. She nodded once, feeling stupid and petty and pathetic.

      His gaze met hers. “No need for you to worry. I stayed at a friend’s place near the hospital so I could sleep more between shifts.”

      “Makes sense to stay with a friend.”

      But she didn’t know if his “friend” was male or a buxom blonde named Bambi. And she wanted to know. Badly.

      Cullen strode toward the couch. “I’m learning how important it is to have friends. I realize I’ve been taking them for granted.”

      The way he’d taken her for granted. But he’d never considered her a friend. Her throat tightened.

      She should say something, but she hadn’t a clue what. “You shouldn’t get a pet if you’re gone so much.”

      His eyes widened. “I don’t always work this many shifts. A cat might work. As you said, they’re independent.”

      “Even cats need to feel wanted and loved.”

      Not that he wanted and loved her, but once he had. At least, that was what he’d told her.

      Cullen stood next to her.

      Sarah’s pulse skittered. Tension simmered between them. She shouldn’t want him to kiss her. But she did. Badly.

      Look away. Move away. But she couldn’t—okay, didn’t want to. Instead she was mesmerized by his blue eyes and full lips.

      Once again she was reminded of magma rising. Only this time moving closer to the surface, where the gas pressure increased, accelerating faster and faster until erupting.

      She wet her lips.

      “In case you’re still worried, the friend I stayed with—he’s an anesthesiologist from the hospital,” he said.

      The surge of relief did nothing to douse the flame building inside her, threatening to explode. “Thanks.”

      The blue of his eyes deepened. “Thank you.”

      “For what?”

      “This.” Cullen lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. Hard.

      Heaven. His kiss made Sarah feel like she had died and gone to heaven. Best to enjoy every second, every minute if she was that lucky. She had a feeling this might be as close as she ever got to the pearly gates while her heart still beat. And beating it was.

      In triple time.

      His lips moved over hers with skill and familiarity. The kiss brought her home, back to where she’d longed to be for months now…in his arms. She’d thought about him, dreamed about him, missed him, even though she should have been getting over him. And now she realized why she was having so much trouble getting over him. He tasted warm and inviting. This was a yummy, comfy place she never wanted to leave. Each touch of his mouth, of his hands, made her tingle inside.

      Forget pain medication—this was all she needed to feel better. Her blood simmered, rushing through her veins. It had been so long, too long, since she’d felt wanted. She didn’t want the feeling to end.

      His hand ran up her back, caressing her, until her hair was running through his fingers.

      More. She wanted more.

      Sarah parted her lips. He accepted the invitation and deepened the kiss, pressing harder against her mouth.

      He’d followed her lead. It was time to follow his.

      Her tongue reacquainted itself with him, exploring the recesses of his mouth. She remembered all the times they’d kissed before. Remembered the good times in their marriage when she had believed it would last forever. Maybe her memories were hazy because of the concussion, but this kiss felt different. Better, somehow.

      She didn’t want to analyze it too deeply. She wanted to…enjoy.

      Heat pooled deep inside her. Need ached. Grew.

      A moan escaped her lips.

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