QUOTE : You’re not beneath me. I’d never think that.” <br /><br /><i>Yes, you are beneath her</i>, he reminded himself, bracing against the forbidden bliss coursing through his veins. <i>And don’t dare imagine you’ll ever be atop her. Or curled behind her. Or buried deep inside her while she—</i> <br /><br />Bloody hell. The fact that he could even think such a thing. He was crude, disgusting. So undeserving of even this slight caress. Her gesture was made out of guilt, offered in apology. If he took advantage, he would be a devil. <br /><br />He knew all this. <br /><br />But he flexed his arms anyway, drawing her close. <br /><br />“You’re worried you’ve hurt my feelings,” he murmured. <br /><br />She nodded, just a little. <br /><br />“I don’t have those.” <br /><br />“I forgot.” <br /><br />Amazing. He marveled at her foolishness. After all he’d said to her, she would worry about him? Within this small, slight woman lived so much untapped affection, she couldn’t help but squander it on music pupils and mongrel dogs and undeserving brutes. What was it like, he wondered, to live with that bright, glowing star in her chest? How did she survive it? <br /><br />If he kissed her deeply enough and held her tight—would some of its warmth transfer to him?