I’m revising TOUGH ALLIANCE, my upcoming African romantic suspense. So I have a teaser for you. This is one of my favourite scenes from the book because Maddox and Zoe are vulnerable to each other. But devastation also awaits them, and they don’t know it.
Maddox followed, a step behind her. Close enough to make her skin tingle. Yet not near enough to be inappropriate in front of the elders. He hadn’t spoken since her arrival in the sitting room. But he watched her every move with those sharp, obsidian eyes—his description from their night together at Arufin. An accurate depiction. Now she understood why people thought his gaze was piercing.
Her heart thudded as she chose the sofa against the dividing wall and lowered her body. The only way anyone could see her here was to stand directly behind the couch.
As soon as Zoe sat down, Maddox settled beside her as if he couldn’t keep away any longer. His body heat radiated towards her.
“How are you?” he whispered in a deep voice. His concern sounded genuine, knocking down her defences again.
A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed to speak.
“I’m well, thank you. And you?” she kept her voice low too.
The elders were talking and sounded distant, making her feel like she was in a bubble with Maddox.
“It’s so good to see you. I didn’t think I’d be this close to you today. May I touch you?” He leaned towards her, and her heart raced.
He was doing it again, disarming her by seeking consent to make physical contact. She shouldn’t be near him, let alone allow his touch. But his spicy cologne tickled her nostrils, taking her back to the night with him—the intense k1ss and vigorous s-x.
Desire throbbed through her, making her lashes flutter shut as she whispered, “Yes.”
His callused palm covered her hand, and his thumb grazed her skin, sending heat through her veins. Then his lips brushed her cheek and trailed to her earlobe, tingling her skin.
She yearned to turn, to open her mouth against his. To taste him one more time.
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