love to him in a sunlit valley, or on that flat rock in the gorge she had found, outdoors in the midst of nature, swamped her in fresh heat. She raised her arms in mute invitation.
But he paused again, driving her nearly nuts until she saw the plastic bag he tossed down beside the sleeping bags, and saw the box of condoms half spill out of it. He had thought to protect her. Never would she speak of what it meant to her that he had bought those recently, that he wasn’t pulling some battered packet out of a pocket or wallet.
“So we get a dozen tries?” she asked weakly.
Then he laughed. It was a nice laugh, a genuine laugh, and somehow it burst a bubble of tension inside her, one that needed to burst.
He lowered himself to lie beside her. “Haven’t you heard that laughter is one of the top ten reasons that people stop making love?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I think they were talking about another kind of laughter.” He propped himself on one elbow and smiled down at her. “Nothing’s going to stop me except you.”
“I don’t want to stop you.”
“Then laugh whenever you feel like it. This should be a happy time.”
Wow, what a concept, she thought, just before he stole all thought by stroking his hand right down her front, between her breasts and over the exquisitely sensitive nest of hair between her legs. She drew a sharp breath and lifted toward that touch.
“Easy, woman,” he said with gentle humor. “I’m ready to pop my cork.”
“So am I,” she said breathlessly before opening her mouth to him, to the electric sensations his tongue sent running through her, almost as if there was a wire between her mouth and her womanhood.
His hand found her breast, kneading her until she ached, then he teased and twisted her swollen nipple, adding to the sparks that were zapping through her now. She reached up for him, wanting more than anything to give him what he was giving her. She found smooth, warm skin, felt the ripple of the muscles beneath, then at last came across one of his small nipples. It was pebbled, too, and while she had never tried it before, she brushed her palm over it, then squeezed it gently.
The groan that answered her taught her something new. Hector had never wanted such touches. In fact, Hector had wanted to be touched in only one place.
She banished Hector the instant he popped into her thoughts, and instead focused on the feeling of power her new knowledge gave her. With that sense of power came confidence. She could make him feel good, too.
He surprised her by suddenly wrapping his arms around her and rolling them both over. The next thing she knew, she straddled his hips, looking down at him.
“Help yourself,” he said huskily, his heavily lidded gray eyes almost sparkling. Then he reached up and cupped her breasts, sending her to the moon.
She felt his staff between her legs, hard and ready. Immediately, she started to rub herself against him. He groaned but quickly slipped his hands down to still her hips.
“Me, too,” he said. “Me, too. But I want to take at least some time...”
Gently, he lifted her so that she was no longer riding him. The movement forced her forward, and she reached out to steady herself with a hand on his shoulder. That left one hand to explore him with and she took advantage of it, finding out that he was as sensitive as she. He liked it when she stroked his neck, so she leaned down to kiss his throat. A long sigh escaped him, and she felt his hands tighten on her hips. Encouraged, she trailed her mouth lower, trying to give him the sensations he gave her.
When she sucked his nipple into her mouth, a deep moan was torn from him and he arched, giving her a taste of what she craved.
So good, she thought hazily. So good to make him groan. The sound rippled through her in the same exciting way his touches did.
Then his hands slipped around on her hips, and she cried out quietly as his fingers found sensitive flesh from behind, lightly stroking in the most maddening way. She couldn’t have felt more exposed, and the feeling was exquisite, unlike any other touch she had received ever.
His hips held her wide open even as he denied her what she most wanted. The contrast, the near helplessness lit a hot, fast