between her legs, a feather’s touch, and she kissed him, soft, light kisses, as he stroked her.
He took her breast into his mouth, and she froze, sensation becoming too intense, and she waited, because she knew what his hands could do, knew how his mouth could make her feel. He was always slow, patient, coaxing her along until her orgasm broke like a pounding wave, and she gripped his shoulders as his fingers slid into her, wet and waiting. His tongue teased her, and his hand moved faster, flat against her now, and she threw her head back as the spasms took her, unable to breathe, mouth open in a noiseless scream. Then she sagged against him, a roar in her ears, and the ragged sound of her own breath.
She opened her eyes at last and she realized it was his body that was trembling now, not hers. His eyes were wide and blue, and his hands gripped her thighs.
“It’s just that I love you so much,” he said, as though picking up a thread of conversation they had just dropped a moment ago. “I love you, and I need you.” His voice was low and hoarse. “Prescott, and the movie, it’s making me crazy, and you are keeping me grounded. I need that, more than I ever knew.”
“What happens when the movie is done?” She swallowed hard. “Will you need me then?”
He shook his head hard. “I didn’t mean it like that.” He looked away from her, finding words. “This house - I’ve lived here for almost four years now, and it’s never been home. Even when Gretchen lived with me, it was just a place to eat and sleep. I never felt it was mine. Until you. You’re here now, and at last I have a place to belong. Wherever you are, that’s where I belong. That’s what I need. That’s what you give me.”
He moved beneath her, and as she rose on her knees, he slid forward, pulling down his down, and when she lowered herself down, he was hard and slick, and he filled her, as he filled all her lost and empty places.
“When we make love,” he whispered, “it’s where I’m supposed to be. With you.”
She moved against him, and a flicker of pleasure took her. He saw the change in her face, and took his hands away from her, forcing them down on the cool leather.
“Go on. Do what you want.” She moved again, rubbing herself against him, and his eyes glittered as he watched her. “Just tell me when. I want us to come together.” He pushed his hands against the couch as she rose and fell, and he clenched his jaw. “Don’t close your eyes,” he told her, and she pressed her forehead against his.
“I’m here, Michael, for as long as you want me.” She did not recognize her own voice. “You know that. I’m right here.” She felt the heat exploding. “Now. Now.”
He gripped her around the waist and plunged and they both felt the white-hot flash, Diane crying out, Michael again finding home.
CHAPTER NINE
MARK BENDER CALLED to ask Michael if he could come out for the weekend. “It’s too fucking hot in Hoboken, man. I need green.”
Sure,” Michael laughed. “Come on out. It’s green here.”
Mark left Manhattan early Friday and drove straight out to Mendham. Fred showed him to a guest room, and he quickly changed and headed out to the pool. Michael was alone, drinking beer, looking out over the lake.
“So - where is everybody?” Mark asked, sitting down, sipping beer.
Michael took a deep breath. “Seth is in Atlanta. I don’t know why. David is up in Toronto, getting musicians lined up. Diane is down at the shore.” He glanced over at his friend. “Glad you’re here, man. I don’t know what I’d do all by myself.”
Mark looked at Michael closely. He was thinner, looking tired. “How’s the movie thing coming?”
Michael brightened. “Great. I’ll have to play some stuff for you. Different, you know? Really different from anything I’ve done before. The director is driving me fucking crazy, but it’s cool. So far I can deal.”
“So, what’s with Diane?” Mark asked. He was fascinated by his friends’ relationship with Diane. They were the same age, and had until now been attracted to the same type of woman. Diane had come out of left field, as far as Mark was concerned. Not just her age, but her interests, background and attitude. Mark was the first to agree she was a