TALL DARK AND HUNGRY Page 0,75

fumbling with it for a moment, Bastien moved to help. Within moments, his pants were undone.

Terri caught the waistband and tugged down as far as she could, then she changed to pushing the cloth down over his hips. She gave up the effort the mo¬ment his sex sprang free of the clothing and landed, hard and heavy, on her stomach. Forgetting about re¬moving his trousers, she caught it in her hand.

Bastien gasped, then reclaimed her mouth, kissing her almost violently as he thrust into her hold. Then he reached between them and brushed her hand away, replacing it with his own as he eased himself lower against her. She felt him probe at her entrance, then he guided himself into her a little way, stopping when she moaned at the stretching sensation.

Terri shifted; and Bastien withdrew, eased back in a little, then withdrew again. It was as if he were teas¬ing her, taunting her with what she might have but didn't. She turned her head slightly to break their kiss, then bit at his chin in silent demand. Then Terri reached down to his behind and dug her nails in there as she arched upward, trying to force him to enter her all the way.

Bastien gave a breathless laugh at this maneuver. But he also reclaimed her lips and gave her what she wanted, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth even as he finally, fully, thrust his body into hers.

Terri cried out as he filled her. It was what she wanted, needed, but it was almost too much. It was almost a relief when he withdrew. Almost. But the moment he did, she wanted him all the way in once more. Fortunately, Bastien had finished with his teas¬ing and thrust forward again almost at once. Then he withdrew and thrust forward again and again.

Giving up her hold on his buttocks, Terri moved her hands to his back, her nails unconsciously digging in and scraping the skin up to his shoulders, then she grasped his upper arms and thrust against him. That need was building once more, straining, urging her to urge him on as Terri struggled toward the release he'd already given her once. She wanted it again. Needed it.

A keening started in her throat as the pressure built. The urge to twist her head back and forth was strong, but even as she tried to do so, Bastien caught one hand in her hair to hold her in place. His kiss be¬came more insistent as he drove into her over and over until Terri stiffened beneath him, her eyes shoot¬ing open as release slammed violently through her body. The moment it did, Bastien broke away with a groan, tossed his head back, thrust one last time, pin¬ning her shuddering body to the couch, and spent himself in her heat.

"Are you all right?" he asked a moment later.

Terri stirred lazily, her eyes fluttering open. She lifted her head to peer at Bastien. She had been barely aware of his coming down atop her, then shifting them both so that their positions were changed. He now lay on his back on the couch, with her splayed on his chest, limp as a rag doll.

"Yes. Thank you," she said, her voice a husky rasp.

Bastien smiled at the polite words and lifted a hand to brush the hair from her face. "I wasn't too rough, then?"

Terri shook her head, aware that a blush was mak¬ing its way up her face. It was rather dismaying to have to actually discuss what they'd just done. Which was silly, she supposed. They had just performed the most intimate act known to man, and she found it embarrassing to talk about it?

Bastien lifted his head slightly and pressed a kiss to her lips, then drew her head down on his chest and continued to simply hold her. His hand rubbed sooth¬ingly over her back, caressing the soft skin. She felt her eyes droop closed; then he murmured, "Thank you."

Terri blinked her eyes open and raised her head to peer at him. "What for?"

"For this," he said simply. "For giving me the greatest pleasure I've experienced in my life."

She uttered a wry, almost embarrassed chuckle. "I didn't do much. You did all the work. I should be-- Thank you," Terri ended lamely.

Bastien smiled and ruffled her hair, then tugged her upward until their lips met.

Much to her embarrassment, the moment his tongue swept her mouth, Terri felt the tingling begin in her body again. There was no