TALL DARK AND HUNGRY Page 0,72

Bastien bent his head to her breast and took her nipple in his warm, wet mouth. She felt his tongue rasp the erect nub then press against it firmly as he began to suckle. Her head twisted on the back of the couch, a denial of what she was feeling. Her entire body had gone stiff under the sudden as¬sault of sensation.

It had been so long since she had felt anything even remotely like this, so long since these now aching mus¬cles had even been utilized. She wasn't sure if she could handle it. She'd thought his kisses overwhelming at first, but this--this was a sort of torture, a pleasure pain.

Her fingers, already tangled in his hair, curled clawlike and dragged at him. A moan of pleading slipped from Terri's lips as she tugged until Bastien fi¬nally got the message and released her.

"What is it, baby?" he asked. There was concern and question in his voice.

Terri stared at him helplessly. She wanted him to stop, but she didn't want that. In truth, she really wanted him to continue. Yet it had been so long for her, she wasn't sure she knew what to do to please him--or if she ever had. And Terri so wanted to please him. The need to do so was almost an ache in her heart. Bastien was giving her such pleasure, she wanted to be able to do that for him, too.

"I... It's been a long time since Ian," she said helplessly at last. "I'm afraid--"

"Shhh." Expression softening, he drew her into his arms, his hands caressing her back in soothing mo¬tions. "There's nothing to be afraid of. I won't hurt you. I won't do anything you don't want."

Terri pulled back at his words, her eyes wide. "No. I know. That's not what--I want to please you, too," she blurted.

Surprise entered Bastien's eyes. He took her face in his hands, simply staring at her long and hard before saying solemnly, "Terri, you please me all the time. Just by being you."

"But--"

He covered her mouth with one finger and shook his head. "Let me please you this time. I want you to just enjoy it and do what feels right. Do what you want to do."

"But I want--," she tried to say around his finger, but he shook his head again.

"You're always trying to please others. Let me please you for a change. I want to."

Terri wasn't all that certain she could stand much more of his pleasing, but she didn't argue the point.

When Bastien returned to kissing her, she forced her¬self to relax and simply feel the softness of his lips moving over hers, the taste of him on her tongue, and the pleasure it all brought.

Soon enjoyment wiped all concerns from her mind. Moaning, Terri slid her hands to Bastien's shoulders, clutching the material there as she arched toward him. The action sent her breasts rubbing across the wool of his sweater, sending tingles racing through her body and rushing her toward the fever pitch she'd been at earlier. Liking it, Terri pressed closer and rubbed across the cloth again, chafing her sensitive nipples against the wool.

Bastien nipped at her lower lip, then slid his mouth across her cheek to her ear. Taking that plump lobe lightly between his teeth, he caught her breasts and cupped them with his hands, allowing his thumbs to flick back and forth over their sensitive tips.

She moaned into his mouth, the sound a half growl, wanting him so keenly it was a physical ache. If Terri had ever felt this particular need before, she couldn't recall it. She was pretty sure Ian had never affected her this way. It was doubtful she would have avoided sexual entanglements all these years had she known she was missing this heady, exciting, and des¬perate experience.

"Bastien." Terri knew her voice echoed the need she felt. She didn't care. She did need him. She wanted him. Now. And if asking would get, she would ask. If not, Terri felt she could be even more demanding.

"Shhh," Bastien whispered by her ear, his hands gentling on her back. "It's okay. We have all night. We have all the time in the world."

Terri groaned, her body shifting restlessly in his arms. He didn't understand: She didn't care if they had all night. She wanted him now. Now.

On that thought, she nipped his chin with her teeth, her nails digging through the material of his sweater and into his shoulder. Neither action was meant to cause