“No.”She sounded frightened.“Justin—no.”
He froze, tangled with her, her hair webbed over his face.Her breathing shuddered under his hand, ribs heaving, the delicate architecture of bones rising and falling.“All right,” he whispered harshly.“Sure.”I can stop.Sure I can.
Right.
“No, you idiot,” she said, her fingers still working at the button of his jeans.“Not later.Now.”
“Oh.”But he lay still for a moment, sliding his fingers over her ribs, the soft hot swell of one breast brushing his knuckles.She shivered, biting her lip and arching into his touch.Christ, I think she’s responding.How did I get this goddamn lucky?“Rowan…”
“Hmm?”She propped herself up on her elbow, the button finally popping free.He sucked in a breath.Had he forgotten to breathe?Maybe.“There it is.Look, I’m not a virgin.”
What?“Christ,” he said against her cheek, “do you think thatmatters?”
“I just—” Her breath came in quick, shallow gasps; she was actually blushing, her cheeks turning delicately red in the dim light.Her perfume had taken on a darker, musky tone.
“No.”He was having better luck with the zipper on her slacks.I feel like a goddamn caveman, all I want to do is drag her off by the hair.“Right now, kiss me.”
She did, and it was all he could do to restrain himself, to slow down.He had never in his life wanted to getinsidea woman so badly, she laughed as she wriggled free of her panties and he caught her mouth, swallowing her laughter, breathing her in as his skin slid against hers.
He wanted to find out what would make her scream, wanted to pursue a particularly delicious line of inquiry about what it would be like to kiss in a straight line between the soft slopes of her breasts and the shallow curve of her belly, wanted to slide his fingers in and watch her face as she went over the edge.But there was no time for foreplay, because he was going to embarrass himself if he tried to slow down.She was on her back, silk scarves sliding underneath bare skin—God, I can’t even get her under the covers, can I?
That thought was lost when he managed to sink onto her at last, finding the entrance to her body, sliding in.At least she was wet and ready.
She gasped, probably not expecting this so soon, and Del muttered an apology into the curve of her throat, tasting the sudden salt of sweat and the spice ofher.Her fingers slid through his hair, pulled his mouth down on hers again, he was drowning in her, greedy with the taste of her as he was finally, finally home.
She was hot and impossibly tight, velvet closing around him; her back arched as she inhaled sharply.He couldn’t help himself.Sorry.I’m sorry.Christ, I should slow down.I can’t.I can’t.
A helpless thrust, he was too rough, a half-swallowed cry caught in her throat and guilt flooded him.Too fast.I’m sorry, Rowan, sorry.But as sorry as he was, his body wasn’t sorry at all.His hips jerked forward again, and he was buried inside her, impossibly deep.
And he wantedmore.
Then her mind opened under his, the shock of her pleasure exploding against his nerves in a feedback loop, drowning him further.He forgot everything but the taste of her, anticipating her next move.Her fingernails drove sharp diamond points of pain into his back.He gave another deep thrust, and then another.Her mouth broke free and she whispered his name.
“Sorry,” he gasped against her throat.
“What the hellfor?”And she actually giggled, her amusement sliding through him, wine-red, wine-dark, a curious comfort.Her fingers softened, and she made a slight beckoning movement with her hips that set off a most interesting chain reaction in the velvet grip of her muscles around him.
“I can’t?—”
“And they think you’re so controlled.”Another husky laugh, another beckoning little movement, and he lost himself, slipping below the surface of her mind, pouring into her.He thrust again, a nice long stroke that cut her laughter off in mid-gasp.Thatwas satisfying, so he repeated the action.
“Iamcontrolled,” he managed through clenched teeth.I should have done this months ago.You have no idea how long I’ve waited for you.
Her breathing quickened, and he caught the rhythm, her pleasure spilling through him, turning his body into an instrument, something to be used for her.He was too close to the edge, straining to hold on.It wasn’t fair to go too fast.He wanted her toenjoyit, goddammit.
But she moved again, writhing suppleness under him, and he tipped over into the crisis of exploding novas.His release triggered hers, their minds dissolving together into white heat.For a single heated moment he merged completely with her, leaving his body behind and simply drowning in the dark silken depths of her talent and her body at the same time.
Time returned, invaded the world again.He collapsed against her, sweat mingling between their bodies.He buried his face against her throat, breathing in the musk of her arousal, and choked back tears.
“Shhh.”Her fingers trailed up his back, a touch that sparked fresh fire in the base of his belly.
Again.Dazed, propping himself on shaking elbows.As soon as I can, I want to do this again.And slower.Much slower.
“Amen to that,” she murmured, catching the thought.She smoothed his hair.“Relax.We’ve got time.”
No, he didn’t.He was a dying man, and he wanted her, just as soon as his body would cooperate.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.“It should have been better.”
