“What circumstances?” Clay demanded, but he could barely control the smile that hovered on his lips.
“I don’t want to talk about this.” Ellie balled her hand into a fist. “I want to make love. I’m sick and tired of being a virgin. It took all my courage to go through with this tonight, and you’re determined to spoil it. I wish I’d never told you.”
Clay tipped her chin up with his hand. Tears of frustration filled her green eyes. “I’m glad you told me. It doesn’t change the way I feel about making love to you. If anything, it makes me want you more. We’ll just take our time, that’s all. When I get back from Monaco, we’ll spend a few days together. Get to know each other so you won’t be so nervous. Then when we make love—“
“Are you telling me you won’t make love to me tonight?” Her voice rose a notch. Clay reached over and caught her hand.
“Ellie, listen to me. The phone call I got was from my father. He’ll be here in the morning. We’re flying down to Monaco with the Contessa Pavetti. I don’t want to make love to you tonight, then leave you in the morning.”
“I don’t care what you do tomorrow,” Ellie cried, near hysteria. “I can’t stand this one minute more. I swear, Clay Whitfield, if you won’t make love to me tonight—this second—I’ll walk out that door, go back to my hotel, and find someone who will!”
“Don’t be absurd.”
“I will, I swear it.” Clutching the robe, she came to her knees on the bed. “I’ll go to Flex. Or maybe I’ll find Gerry.”
“Surely you don’t mean that.” But he had seen that determined look before.
“Every word.”
“Ellie, be reasonable. I have to leave in the morning. I have to—“
“I’ll do it, Clay, I swear it.”
She might. He knew her well enough to know how stubborn she could be. “Damn you, Ellie, this isn’t some kind of game.”
“Isn’t it?”
Clay clamped his jaw. “You little witch, you’re leaving me no choice—because I’m sure as hell not going to let someone else take you to bed!” With that he reached out, grabbed her robe and jerked it away.
Ellie caught her breath. Clay circled her wrist with his fingers, pulled her into his arms and kissed her, a kiss so hot and demanding Ellie’s knees went weak. In moments, his erection pushed against her, and she heard her own little purr. Clay shrugged off his robe and pressed her into the mattress, his hands everywhere, touching her, teasing her, heating her from the inside out.
The ache returned to the place between her legs, and her the peaks of her breasts went hard. He nipped them with his teeth, licked and sucked until her fears receded and all she could think of was Clay. When he began to stroke her, she cried out his name and begged him to take her.
“Soon, love,” he promised. “Soon.”
Kisses trailed over her stomach while he continued to touch her, tease her. Dear Lord, she felt consumed by desire, ready to burst into flame. Clay seemed to know. By the time he positioned himself above her, spreading her thighs with his knee, he felt even bigger than he had before.
Inch by inch he pushed into her, a little easier this time since she was so ready. She felt no tearing, just a tightness that had her moaning and shifting beneath him.
Clay kissed her endlessly, whispering soft, encouraging words, telling her he didn’t want to hurt her. All Ellie could think of was how much she needed the fiery ache to end.
“Please, Clay,” she pleaded.
Clay clenched his jaw, fighting to go slow until he filled her completely. When he eased back and slid into her again, heat rushed through her, desire so thick and hot she dug her nails into the muscles across his shoulders.
Out and then in. Out and then in, the rhythm slow at first, then building. She arched her hips to meet each thrust, heightening the pleasure, immersing herself until she was acting on instinct alone.
A momentum built inside her, a feeling so powerful, so intense, she couldn’t think of anything but the impact of flesh against flesh, the fiery heat of their bodies joining together. Clay was relentless. She felt his hands beneath her hips, lifting her, driving himself deeper and deeper. He kissed her again, his mouth and tongue as insistent as his body.
With a soft sob, Ellie came apart, pleasure bursting through her in thick, glorious waves. Stars burst behind her eyes; her skin tingled and burned as one spasm followed another, the force of her response sending Clay over the edge. Still driving into her, he came with a shuddering climax so powerful it seemed to surprise even Clay.
Ellie spiraled down, her body limp and sated. For long moments, she lay there, heart pounding, joy filling her. Then the incredible feeling began to recede as Clay gently withdrew. Insanely, she wished she could hold him inside her forever.
When their breathing eased, he rolled to his side and took care of the condom she hadn’t realized he had put on. Clay relaxed on the bed and settled her in the curve of his arm.
They lay quietly for a time, Ellie full of wonder and contentment, praying Clay was one-tenth as happy as she. Slowly, his breathing returned to normal, and he propped himself on an elbow.
Clay smiled down at her. “Glad you didn’t go back to the hotel and find Gerry?”
