Forbidden Son (22 page)

Chapter
Thirty-Three

An
off-key whistling drifted to Honey’s Belle’s ears. She had slept late, catching
up on some much-needed rest. She shifted to a more comfortable position against
the pillow. As much as she wanted to close her eyes and drift back to sleep,
savory aromas of bacon and coffee drifted up to the bedroom, tantalizing her
nose. Sitting up, she stretched and yawned. A man in the kitchen cooking
breakfast, while she slept away the morning, was a fantasy come true.

Showered
and dressed in tan khaki shorts, yellow T-shirt, and bare feet, and in high
spirits, Honey Belle bounded downstairs to the kitchen. Tripp stood facing the
stove. She slid her arms around his waist. The smell of his cologne, his clean
hair, and his body overwhelmed her.

The
heat of that body drew her closer. “I never knew a man could look so sexy while
scrambling eggs.”

Tripp
moved the frying pan from the burner and switched off the stove. He turned in
Honey Belle’s arms. “And you, Mrs. Hartwell, look good enough to eat.”

Honey
Belle stared deeply into his smoky-blue eyes. Very slowly, taking her time,
never breaking eye contact, she raised her mouth to his. She parted her lips
slightly and their breaths mingled. He tightened his hold around her waist and
pressed his mouth hard against hers. She tasted the tip of his tongue.

Lightheaded
and unsteady, she was glad he held her, because at that moment she knew she
swayed on her feet.

As
their tongues met and tasted one another, she felt as if the earth had shifted
on its axis. She heard his sharply indrawn breath, felt the heat emanating from
his body. When they finally parted, breathless and panting, nothing seeming the
same as it had a moment before.

Honey
Belle lifted a hand to Tripp’s cheek. “Wow.”

“Wow,”
he repeated.

Her
eyes met his and her breath seized in her chest. A fire burned in his eyes, and
its heat focused on her. His mouth claimed hers with a passion that stole the
breath from her throat and weakened her knees.

She
clung to him, surrendering to an igniting desire so intense, she quivered.
“Th-the eggs are getting cold.”

He
groaned deep inside his throat. His lips nipped the column of her neck. “Forget
about the eggs. I’m hungry for something else.”

She
did not answer for a moment or two. She simply returned his penetrating gaze.
Unexpected tears welled in her eyes. She swallowed hard, trying to push them
back. She could not. Slowly they rolled down her cheeks. “You make me feel
complete, whole.”

Tripp
lifted his hand and wiped the tears away with his fingertips. As he kissed her
cheeks and her eyes, he said against her damp face, “I’ve always loved you,
Honey Belle. From now on there will be only happiness in our lives. I’m going
to make sure of that.”

His
words melted Honey Belle’s heart.

“When
I was a little girl, I used to pull the petals off wild daisies, praying the
last petal would say he loved me. Only I didn’t know until I met you who
he
was.”

She
tucked her arm through his, and together they moved toward the stairs and their
second-story bedroom. They had the rest of their lives together. Eternity.

A
word about the author...

Loretta
C. Rogers’ family roots are tied to the deep south. Her home overlooks a
spring-fed creek where she enjoys watching otters, wood ducks, and an occasional
alligator. When not writing, Loretta and her husband take road trips on their
motorcycle.

Forbidden
Son
is Rogers’ second full-length novel with The Wild Rose Press.
Bannon’s
Brides
and
Isabelle and the Outlaw
are also available.

Loretta
loves hearing from her readers and to receive their emails at:

[email protected]

Visit
Loretta at:

www.lorettacrogersbooks.com

Thank you for purchasing

this Wild Rose Press publication.

For other wonderful stories of romance,

please visit our on-line bookstore at

www.thewildrosepress.com
.

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