up close , his green gaze was a caress , his male scent too enticing , the tension between them building , overwhelming her , restricting her breathing , making her forget that never again had she wanted to be close enough to see into the irises of his emerald eyes ... or the grain of his skin as it weaved and dipped its way over a strong nose and lean cheekbones ... nor had she ever wanted to touch the fullness of his lips , to know she 'd once ached to have them on her body .