Sunset Seduction - By Charlene Sands Page 0,31

ear. The evidence of his desire pressed the side of her body.

She slid her hand onto his chest, feeling hot, firm skin and powerful muscles underneath her fingertips. Fanning her fingers across washboard abs, she let go a sigh. How many times had she dreamed of this? How many times had she wished she would once again have the freedom to touch Luke and feel his body come alive with hers?

She reached for his belt buckle, helping him unfasten it. Boots flew and pants were tossed aside quickly after that. Audrey got a glimpse of Luke approaching her and her breath caught in her throat. His hair was pushed back and sandy tendrils curled at his shoulders. His chest was big and broad and when she darted a glance lower, her memory was jolted back to weeks before, and how she’d enjoyed every fulfilling second of their lovemaking.

“Come closer, Luke,” she said, repeating the words he’d whispered in the cabin.

He stood tall by the side of the bed like a Greek god, tanned and mighty.

She watched him sheath his manhood and then slide a lingering glance over her entire body. Warm waves of expectation zinged through her belly. Before he climbed onto the bed, he cupped her womanhood and stroked her with the heel of his hand several times, making her mind go fuzzy and her heartbeats speed up. Everything inside turned to hot jelly.

He took her thighs in his hands and spread them, then lowered himself over her. Her eyes were wide with wonder. She didn’t want to miss any part of this. She needed Luke and wanted to see him take pleasure from her body, in much the same way he had given to her. With a potent thrust, he filled her and closed his eyes. “So tight,” he said with a deep rasp. “So good.”

He moved on her slowly and she followed his lead, her heart swelling with love. She gave back to him thrust for thrust, and when he increased the pressure and rose above her, she bowed her body back to accommodate him. He took her hips in his hands and drove harder, faster, bending her back even more. Then she closed her eyes and her body burst into flames when he pressed his thumb where they were joined. It was only seconds later that everything spun crazily out of control. Her breaths were short, quick puffs and her body seized up just as Luke let out a long satisfied groan from the depths of his chest. Their cries mingled in the still night and echoed against the walls in a chorus of sweeping sensual sounds.

Every drop of strength oozed from her limbs. She couldn’t move, yet she was floating. And Luke, the maker of dreams, was slow to remove himself from her body. He held on and watched her come gracefully down to earth. He took a swallow and bent to kiss her on the lips before he slid to the side of the bed.

He entwined their fingers and set them on his chest. “Are you okay?” he asked, staring at the ceiling.

She was in heaven. “I’m fine.”

His gaze roamed over her naked body, taking a leisurely tour. “I’ll be agreeing with you there. You’re fine.”

She smiled at his compliment. After all the years of yearning, wanting and loving Luke, she could finally savor and enjoy this moment. Beams of happiness set her heart aglow. She was where she’d always wanted to be.

“Are you cold?” Gripping the sheet, he was ready to cover her.

“Not at all.”

He let the sheet drop and kissed her shoulder, and another wave of warmth coursed through her body. She’d never be cold with Luke nearby. He was beautiful, a perfectly muscled man of the earth. A modern-day cowboy who loved the same things she did.

He leaned back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling again. He seemed to go someplace that put a frown on his face and then his jaw twitched as if in pain. It only took a minute for his demeanor to change. A long sigh, heavy with regret, rose from his chest.

Audrey prayed she was imagining his change in mood. She wasn’t ready for a lecture right now. She wanted to bask in the glory of their lovemaking.

“Why’d you do it, Audrey?” he asked.

She squeezed her eyes closed. “Do what?” But she knew.

“Why’d you come to me that night in the cabin?”

Because I’ve loved you for the past ten years. Dare she tell him?