“How do you feel?” she asked.
“Great.” He kissed her neck just below her ear. “Never better. I remember what happened back in the Shadow Zone. Getting attacked. You rescuing me. You were glorious, by the way. You still are.”
The words were loaded with sensual invitation. No man had ever talked to her in such a voice. His lower body was pressed tightly against her bottom, making her intensely aware of his erection—making her aware of just how much she wanted him.
Why was she hesitating?Because you’re still not sure if you are acting on impulse or intuition.Was the attraction between them purely physical or maybe situational? Was it grounded in a true psychic bond? She was probably overthinking this. But she was shatteringly aware that the answer mattered. A lot. She was certain now that her heart was at risk.
Owen eased aside the collar of her shirt and dropped another kiss on her bare shoulder.
To green hell with trying to figure out if she was giving in to reckless impulse or if her intuition was sending accurate sensory data. She was going to do what she wanted to do and worry about the aftershocks later.
She turned to face him, moving quickly and awkwardly because they were already partially tangled up together. The result was that her knee came perilously close to his crotch, and her elbow caught him in the ribs.
Owen grunted in surprise and managed, barely, to protect himself.
“Oh, no,” she whispered. She started to lever herself up on her elbow. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you okay?”
He laughed, the rumble low and sexy, and rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He pulled her back down on top of him. His eyes got a little hotter. It was still a controlled burn but she knew the fire was real.
“I am more than okay,” he said in the same husky whisper he had used a moment ago. “In fact, I have never been in such great shape. And I like your enthusiasm. A lot.”
Relieved, she flattened her hands on his chest, leaned closer, and brushed her mouth against his. She could feel the sleek, muscled power of him through the fabric of his shirt.
“I’m glad,” she said. “Really, really glad, because I’m feeling very enthusiastic.”
“So am I.”
He moved then, easing her onto her back as if she were weightless. He bent his head and began to seduce her with his mouth. An exciting warmth shivered through her, tightening her insides and rezzing her senses. She could feel her panties getting damp even though he had done nothing more than kiss her.
She lowered her hands to his waist. His shirt had come free of his trousers hours ago. She had no trouble slipping her palms inside it and under the edge of his T-shirt. His bare skin was very taut.
His fingers moved to the buttons of her shirt. She arched against him, trying to get closer. He got the garment off and unfastened her bra. When she was nude from the waist up, he raised his head and looked down at her.
“Beautiful,” he whispered in reverent tones.
He kissed one nipple, worshipping it with his tongue.
She did not want to be worshipped, at least not at that moment, she decided. The energy in the atmosphere was too charged, too thrilling. She was after more exciting sensations. She was in a mood to explore and discover and test the limits—not just her own but Owen’s as well.
A small ping warned her that she still did not know if she was responding to impulse or intuition, but she no longer cared. She felt free and wild and ready for adventure.
She got his shirt open and wrestled it awkwardly off his shoulders. Flinging it aside, she went after his T-shirt. By the time she got to his belt, he had pushed her trousers down to her ankles, leaving her in only her panties.
She was working on his zipper when he sat up, got to his feet, and drew her up off the bed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, dazed.
“Nothing’s wrong.” He leaned down and ripped the quilt aside. “Just arranging my dreamscape.”
“What dreamscape?”
“The one I was enjoying when I was so rudely interrupted a few minutes ago.”
He scooped her up and dropped her lightly onto the sheets. Straightening, he unfastened his belt and stepped out of his trousers. She stared at his rigid erection, aware of a sparkling sense of wonder.
“You really do want me, don’t you?” she whispered.
He gave a hoarse laugh and came down on top of her, mantling her in the heat and weight of his heavily aroused body.
