The Hellion and The Heartbreaker by Jennifer McNare Page A

tender lips like a man
possessed.
    Scarlett’s senses were reeling as Alec kissed her into a
near-mindless state of euphoria.  She felt like she was in a dream, but
astonishingly, the reality was even better than the most amazing dream she’d
ever had.  Thus, she was totally unprepared when he suddenly stopped
kissing her and abruptly broke away.  She opened her passion-glazed eyes,
blinking in confusion as Alec took a step back.  Her hands fell to her
sides as her head slowly began to clear.  In dismay, she noted the
disgruntled look on his face.
    Dragging his lips from the sweetness of Scarlett’s mouth was
one of the hardest things he had ever done, but with the last bit of sanity he
possessed, he’d done it.  “We can’t do this Scarlett,” he said, his
breathing heavy and ragged.
    “Why not?”  Scarlett asked breathlessly, struggling to
regain her senses.
     “My darling Scarlett, you are desirable beyond words,”
he avowed with complete sincerity, “but I am not presently in the market for a
wife.”  When Scarlett merely blinked at him in confusion, he lightly
grasped her chin, brushing his thumb across her smooth jawline.  “You are
not only a lady, but Colin’s sister, and unless my intentions are anything
other than honorable, you are off limits to me my lovely lass.”
    As Scarlett’s thoughts began to clear, she tried to make
sense of what Alec had just said.  It took only a moment for her to
realize that despite his reputation as a rake, Alec Weston clearly was not
without morals.   She wasn’t surprised, for she had suspected as
much, but if possible the unmistakable confirmation made him even more appealing. 
Unfortunately, it also made things a great deal more difficult.  How could
she expect to garner Alec’s affection if he wasn’t ready for marriage, and she
was otherwise untouchable?  She could hardly expect him to fall madly in love
with her after one kiss she realized, her thoughts spinning in a crazy whirl as
his thumb drifted across the smooth plain of her cheek, his expression
apologetic and resolved.  
    As Alec moved to pull his hand away, Scarlett reached up to
forestall the movement, covering his hand with her own.  In that instant,
she realized that she would do just about anything to make him hers.  The
astounding pleasure of his kisses had only reinforced the certainty that Alec
Weston was the only man for her.  Instinctively, she knew no other man
would ever have the ability to affect her as Alec did.  Now, more than
ever, she wanted to be the one to tame his licentious ways, to be the woman to
capture his defiant heart.  She hesitated for only a moment before she
spoke.  “And if my intentions aren’t honorable?”  She
surprised even herself with the boldness of her question, but met him squarely
in the eye nonetheless.  She wasn’t giving in without a fight.
    Despite the fact that she no longer acted like the spoiled
hoyden of her youth, Alec recognized that Scarlett McPhearson was still very
much accustomed to getting what she wanted.  She was young and reckless
and still far too willful for her own good.   “You don’t mean that, Scarlett,” Alec said softly.
    Did she?  Was she willing to cast aside her virtue for a
chance to capture the heart of a man who wasn’t interested in marriage? 
But what other choice did she have?  In a few days he would return to
London and to the scores of women who were more than willing to surrender their
bodies to the glorious Duke of Worthe.  So what then?  Did she dare
enter into a scandalous affair with Alec Weston, with only the hope that he
would fall in love with her as she had with him?  She didn’t have time to
think or to question the possible ramifications of her actions; she only knew
what she was feeling at that moment.  She was in love with Alec Weston and
she intended to have him, one way, or another.  “You said you weren’t in
the market for a wife.”  Though she was trembling