Excerpt from From the Ruins (unedited)

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew him down to the rough cotton covering the floor. He'd intended to leave some distance between their bodies, but now that her lush breasts were pressed against his chest, he couldn't bring himself to move. He'd never wanted a woman more. Her body fit him perfectly. He could only imagine how her soft curves would cradle him as he thrust into her.

As much as he wanted her, he forced what was left of the gentleman in him out of hiding. “Moira, I can't do this.”

Hurt flashed through her wide, guileless eyes. “You don't want me?”

Shifting to his knees, he laughed—a half desperate sound and scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “Christ, yes, I want you. I want so badly I can't sleep at night. I imagine what it would be like to make love with you—to pleasure you until you cry out my name. But I can't.”

She rose to her knees and faced him. Her arms crossed over her chest, drawing his attention to her full breasts—breasts that until recently had been pressed against him. “Are you married?” she demanded.

“What? No. Of course not.” He sighed, not wanting to give words to his fear—to give it any kind of credence. “Soon, I don't know when, but I'll be joining the rest of the troops in France .”

She moved her hands to her hips, tapping her fingers in annoyance. “Were you planning to leave tonight?”

He was slow to answer, not sure what she was driving at. His brow furrowed. “No.”

“If you want me, and you're neither married nor leaving tonight, why won't you touch me?” She pursed her lips in frustration, but it didn't hide the rejection in her deep brown eyes.

“I don't want to take advantage of you,” he murmured. Well, he did. Desperately. But he wouldn't. If this war were over he'd marry Moira. He'd meant what he said the night they'd met, but this war wasn't even close to being over.

“Have you considered that I might like you to?”

“Would you care to repeat that?” His head buzzed with arousal and disbelief.

She held his gaze. “Perhaps, I'd like it if you did...if you took advantage of me.”

She was serious.

“I might not survive.” The thought of never seeing her again twisted his gut. “I want you to be taken care of...to marry.” The thought of another man kissing her, loving her made him want to vomit.

Her fingers rose to the bodice of her dress and toyed with the buttons. “I don't want to be taken care of.” She slid the glass disc through the hole, baring more of her creamy skin. “I don't want to marry.” She unfastened another closure, her trembling fingers belying her composed demeanour. Dropping her gaze to the floor, she slipped the bodice off, letting the fabric hang limply over her hips. “I just want you.”

Her pale skin shone in the sputtering candlelight. David had to shove his hands deep into his pockets. It was the only thing he could think to do to keep from touching her.

It didn't work.