Beauty and the Beastmaster - Linda Winstead Jones Page 0,37

the fun.

Mia had already been bathed. After dinner Silas took Judge out for a walk while Gabi changed Mia’s diaper and dressed her in fuzzy pajamas with bunnies on them. It had been a long day, and Mia was obviously exhausted. Her eyes, brilliant blue eyes too much like her father’s, were tired. She wouldn’t even think of settling down in her bed until Silas was back with her dog, and Judge settled his long body in his own bed.

Leaving her alone with Silas. Finally. What the hell had she been thinking to invite him here, to believe that they could have… something?

She walked into the living room, and he followed. The night had been easy, and fun. She’d enjoyed having him here, but now they were alone. Really, truly alone.

Her heart pounded so hard she was afraid he’d hear it. If she said goodnight, he’d go. Last night he’d proved that he wouldn’t push her, he wouldn’t ask more of her than she was willing to give. She was willing to give him everything, but did she dare? Be brave.

“We can watch a movie,” she said, sitting down in her chair and tucking her feet beneath her. “Whoever lived here before me left a DVD player and a few DVDs.” Most were children’s movies, but not all. She’d watched Casablanca a dozen times in the past year.

“Maybe,” he said. But he didn’t sit on the couch. Instead he stood directly before her and offered his hand.

If she shook her head, he’d walk away.

She didn’t want him to walk away.

Gabi took his offered hand and let him pull her to her feet. She didn’t protest when he wrapped his arms around her. Silas was going to kiss her, and she wanted to be kissed.

Be brave. Be fearless.

When he did kiss her, all rational thought fled. It was a good kiss, a gentle and deep meeting of mouths that swept her away. Thanks to that kiss, she didn’t want to think anymore; thinking had never done her any good at all! Right now she just wanted to feel.

Last night Silas had left everything in her hands. He wouldn’t push. She didn’t expect he’d even ask. Where they went from here was entirely up to her. What did she want?

Gabi pulled away just slightly, but she didn’t let him go. “I’m not looking for love, I have no expectations, but… will you stay?” Make love to me. Wipe away all my fears, for a while. Those were words she could not make herself say.

Silas answered her question with a kiss, and then, moments later, with a warm hand that slipped underneath her blouse. She took a step, and so did he.

She wasn’t afraid.

Her bedroom wasn’t hard to find. The house was small, Silas had been here before and knew the layout. They worked their way in that direction, kissing, unbuttoning, kicking off shoes one at a time, along the way. His hands… His hands were everywhere, and she liked it. She hadn’t been touched like this in such a long time.

Finally standing beside her bed they shed what little clothing was left. All of it. There was a full moon tonight, so moonlight cut through her thin curtains and illuminated the room. They hadn’t bothered to turn off the lamp in the living room, so a gentle light from that direction shone through the open door. It was a nice light, just enough for her to see Silas.

He had a man’s beautiful body with muscles, with dark hair in all the right places. Silas was strong and hard, rough and unyielding. Gabi raked her hands down his sides and across his hips, exploring and learning. He caressed her, too, his big hands surprisingly gentle, his fingers probing.

She was swept away. For the first time in such a long time, she let herself feel. Just feel. And heaven above, she felt so good.

“Oh, God,” she whispered. “I hope you have a…” Why hadn’t she thought of that before?

“I do.” He reached down, grabbed his jeans off the floor, and reached into the pocket for his wallet while she pulled back the covers on her bed and slipped beneath them. Silas withdrew one wrapped condom and placed it on her bedside table, then he joined her in the bed.

Gabi closed her eyes and rolled into his big, warm body. There was something special about skin to skin contact. It had the power to wipe away everything ugly in the world. She’d missed it. She