ToriCarrington

In Too Deep



It's springtime again, andAlannah White has returned to Ben Edwards's bed in her own unique fashion. Ben is tired ofAlannah breezing in and out of his life for a few weeks of the year, and this time he plans to tell her so. But when he feels her familiar warmth against his body, he knows that he'll gladly play the lustful fool this one, last time. He just wishes she would talk to him about the secret from her past that haunts her, and the scars that mark her body.

Alannahknows her mysteriousbehavior is hurting Ben, but she can't seem to stop herself, and she can't seem to stay put. Ben's the only man who has ever made her wonder what life might be like if she stopped running from her traumatic past and finally planted her own roots. But she can't help thinking Ben deserves a woman who can give him the home and family he's always craved.



She was back.Hot, fleecy-soft, and magnificently naked in his bed.

Ben Edwards knew instantly that the figure stretched out beside him wasn't his pet potbellied pig, Elvis, or, worse, hislongtime butler,Newerth . Nor was the woman a figment of his imagination, a ghostly image from the past, or a manifestation of his dreams. No. It was spring, and beautiful, free-spiritedAlannah White had returned in her unique way by slipping into his bed while he slept. If he had any doubt it was her, he had but to look at the single Aspidistraelatior in the clay pot sitting on the ledge ofthe multi-paned bedroom window, backlit by the coming dawn. Over the past four years the plant had grown taller, the pot it was in bigger. And every yearAlannah took the plant - called the cast-iron plant - with her when she left, along with a huge chunk of Ben's heart.

Ben drew in a deep breath, filling his nose with the sweet scent ofAlannah's skin. He barely dared to budge the hand that lay against her curvy hip for fear that he'd wake her.Afraid that the move would force him to face his own demons. Right then, he merely wanted to relish her gypsy spirit, touch her warm skin and forget that he'd determined to refuse her; told himself that this time he'd be strong enough to turn her away.

Only he hadn't planned to wake up with her already in his bed.

Giving himself over to his baser instincts, he melded his fingers to her supple flesh, oh so gently pressing her more tightly against his aroused body. He closed his eyes and groaned softly. Every year he told himself this was it, this was the time he was going to giveAlannah an ultimatum: Stay forever, or don't come back. If he didn't pull away now, he knew that strength would surrender to his fundamental need of her in his life, even if only for a few hours, days, or weeks.

Alannahshifted in her sleep, wriggling her bottom tantalizingly against him.

Sweet mercy.

Four years had passed since she'd swept into his life. He'd hired her to transform the plain, grass-covered lawn of his vast estate outsideProvidence,Rhode Island, into an English garden reminiscent of the home he had just transferred from to expand his financial consulting business across the pond.Four years since he'd first laid eyes on her, transplanting a buddleia that had been placed in the shade to a spot with full sunlight in front of his house. Herspiraling black hair had shone blue in the warm light, her long tanned legs bent under her while her breasts pressed invitingly against the soft white material of her T-shirt. Then she had turned her electric-blue eyes on him. Ben had felt as though she had somehow managed to turn the sun so it shone solely on him, setting him on fire and making England seem very far way.

And stirring in him a yearning to possess something that could never be his: her.



With agonizing care, Ben circled his hand around her slender hip, over her smooth stomach and up to cup a small breast. The peak instantly stiffened, although her breathing indicated that she was still asleep. Heat, sure and swift, filled his groin and he arched into her. Within a few hours of first meetingAlannah she'd been in this very bed. And within those same few hours, that's where he'd wanted to keep her, always.

But the only certainty in their sometimes relationship was that she would leave.

Ben moved to retract his hand.Alannah stirred and caught the limb, pressing it between her breasts.

"You're awake," he said, his heart thundering in his chest.

She shifted until she was facing him, predawn shadows softening her features and turning her eyes to liquid black. She reached up and curved her fingers along his cheek then walked the tips along the line of his jaw. "Hi."