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He released her arm, but before she could step away, he placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her close.
“Damn you, Rebecca Chambers, don’t cry. I warned you I was a bastard. Why couldn’t you have listened? I’m not trying to hurt your feelings. I want you to understand that I’m nothing like the man you think I am. There’s nothing good in me. Forget me. Find another Wayne and have babies.”
His gentle words washed over her, easing some of her exposed rawness inside. His body was warm and hard, offering shelter and comfort. She sniffed back her tears until he touched her hair. The tender stroking of his palm on her head was more than she could stand.
Her sob caught her by surprise. Her whole body shook. “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to get control. “I—I’m not usually like this. I think it might be the f-fire and everything.”
“I know. It’s okay. You cry as much as you want.”
She didn’t want to cry at all, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. His strong arms wrapped around her, holding her safely in his embrace. His heartbeat was steady against her cheek. She cried for all she’d lost, for the children’s fears and her own. She whispered her concerns, about lying alone at night and wondering how she was supposed to keep it all together. She confessed that the responsibility scared her sometimes, but she kept on because there was no one else.
When the sobs had faded to sniffles, she became aware of the fact that her mouth rested against the bare skin of his chest. He was damp from her tears, yet still warm and smelling faintly musky. Through the thickness of her robe—his robe—she could feel the length of his legs, but little else save his heat. His hands moved up and down her back with long, comforting strokes. His chin rested on her head and he spoke quietly to soothe her.
“You must think I’m a fool,” she said, knowing she should pull away, but not wanting to.
“No. I think you’re very special. I’m sorry I said anything. I didn’t want to hurt you. I was trying to make you see that I’m not anyone’s idea of a fantasy lover.”
“I don’t want a fantasy.”
His hands grew still.
She raised her head until she could stare at him. “You’re right, Austin. I do—” she searched for the right word “—think you’re attractive, partially because you’re nothing like Wayne. But I don’t have a romantic fantasy about you. I don’t know you well enough to be picturing home and hearth.” She swallowed hard. He’d apologized to her, but she was the one who’d started the whole thing. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. If I’d known you could tell what I was thinking, I would have thought about something else.”
His gray eyes flickered with some emotion she couldn’t read. His mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I wasn’t complaining,” he said. “I was trying to explain why I was turning you down. I won’t deal with your regrets.”
“And if I promise not to have any?” she asked without thinking.
“Rebecca.” His voice was a low growl. She felt it vibrate in her own chest and realized her breasts were plastered against him. She thought about pulling away, but didn’t. A wave of courage surprised her. She might never have this chance again.
In a way he was perfect for her. As he’d pointed out, he wasn’t interested in a relationship. She’d already figured that one out on her own. He was wild and experienced. She would never choose to fall in love with someone like him. Which was what made him so safe. She was a twenty-nine-year-old virgin, and she needed a man to fix that. She’d recently started dating, but had always broken things off before they got serious. She didn’t want to have to explain about her condition. She’d tried twice and both men had stared at her as if she were a two-headed snake. Being a virgin at her age said something about a person, and she didn’t like what it said about her. She’d been saving herself for Wayne and then he was gone. Her gift had no meaning, save a painful one. It reminded her of what she’d kept from him. She wanted it done away with.
Who better to help her out than Austin? Heaven knew she’d had enough fantasies that being in bed with him would almost be familiar.
“I’m serious,” she said, drawing in a deep breath and sliding her hands up his arms to his shoulders. She could feel the rock-hard strength of his muscles. “Maybe if we make love, I’ll get over my crush and leave you alone.”
“That doesn’t say a whole lot about my skills in bed,” he muttered.
She was afraid he would be repulsed by the idea and turn away, but he didn’t. His hands resumed their stroking of her back, but this time they moved lower, sliding over the curve of her derriere.
“No regrets,” she said. “No dreams about white picket fences. No fantasies about a future together, I promise.”
His gaze locked on hers. She couldn’t read his emotions. It was like staring into a bottomless pool or jumping off a cliff into a cloud. She didn’t know how far down she would go. Would he catch her, or let her fall and shatter?
He brought his hands around to her face and cupped her cheeks, then lowered his head toward hers.
She drew a breath in anticipation of their kiss. His mouth brushed hers, slowly, carefully, as if she were the most fragile of creatures. Back and forth, back and forth. Her fingers curled slightly as she gripped his shoulders. Her knees began to tremble.
He pulled back. Their gazes met and for the first time she could read something in his eyes. Desire. It dilated his pupils so much the gray got lost in a sea of need. Until that moment, she’d wondered if she was setting herself up again. Had he toyed with her, making her confess her wants, knowing he shared none of them?
Now she knew the truth. He shared the trembling, the heat. Her confidence returned and with it the sense of rightness about her decision. Austin Lucas might be the devil, but she trusted him not to hurt her. She smiled slightly. So much for being logical. For the first time in her life, she was going on instinct.
“No regrets? You promise?” he asked.
She knew this was completely insane, but it felt right. Wayne was gone. She needed to get on with her life. Austin was the perfect solution. Plus, she would finally find out if her fantasies had come close to the real thing. She smiled. “Yes.”
It was as if her single word gave him the permission he’d been waiting for. Before she knew what was happening, he buried his hands in her hair, holding her head still. His fingers flexed against her scalp, sending tingling sensations down her spine.
His mouth angled over hers, searing her with hot, fast kisses. He devoured her, sucking her bottom lip, nibbling on her top. He touched his tongue to the corners of her mouth, then swept across the closed seam, urging her to part for him.
She opened to admit him, her breath already quickening with anticipation. In and around, over and under. Hot, wet, seeking. He plunged inside like a marauding warrior, ready to take that which he’d won. Then he retreated, playing with her, touching, stroking, tasting, discovering every inch of her tender mouth, making her pant with longing.
His hands moved down from her head to her neck. His thumbs traced a line from her chin to the hollow of her throat. His fingers left small warm brands on her sensitized skin.
She clung to him, her anchor in the storm, her source of strength. Mindless half phrases passed through her consciousness. It had never been like this. Not with those men she’d dated, not with Wayne. Before, the buildup had been slow, gentle kisses, a natural progression from kissing to petting. It had been quiet and lovely.
Not frantic like this. Her body was too hot, quivering with need and heat. Her breasts ached. Her nipples pressed against the terry cloth, throbbing for his touch. Between her legs an answering echo pulsed in time with her thundering heartbeat.
His mouth left hers and moved along her jaw to her ear where he whispered that she was beautiful. His tongue traced the shape of her ear. His teeth nibbled on her lobe. Ribbons of heat and desire rippled down her body, making her legs shake and threaten to buckle.
She slipped her hands down his chest and across to the bare strip of skin exposed by his open shirt. He was warm to her touch, smooth except for the crinkling hair. Muscles bunched under her fingers. She moved to his waist and drew her palms up slowly, then across his broadness. He answered with a quick intake of air.
She felt his hand at the tie of the robe. With one tug, it was free. He grabbed the collar, then drew it apart and down her arms. She was naked before him.
The cool air of the room surprised her. Without thinking, she brought her hands up to cover her breasts. As always, their small size embarrassed her.
Austin stared into her eyes. “Has there been anyone since Wayne?”
The intensity of his gaze made it impossible to lie. Not that she would have, anyway. “Just a few dates.”
“So you haven’t made love with anyone in the past couple of years?”
She swallowed. “No.” She hadn’t made love with anyone, ever, but he hadn’t asked that.
“Do you want to change your mind? We don’t have to do this.”
“I want to.” She needed to. Not just because it would rid her of her pesky virginity, but because her body was on fire for this man. She had to feel him on her, in her. She had to know what it was like to be with him in the most intimate way possible.
“Then why do you hide yourself from me?”
She glanced down at her hands covering her breasts. “I’m not like her.”
He frowned. “Who?”
“I don’t know her name. She’s pretty, with red hair. She used to come out here a couple of times a week.” Rebecca bit down on her lower lip and wondered why she was trying to explain this. “I wasn’t spying on you or anything, but people in town talk and it’s hard not to listen when they just happen to mention it and—” She clamped her mouth shut.
“You think you’re too small,” he said bluntly.
She nodded.
His slow grin surprised her.
“What’s so funny?”
“Your old boyfriend did a lousy job, Rebecca. You are a beautiful woman, perfect in every way. Long, lean, with just enough curves to drive a man wild.”
Her spirits lifted slightly. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that makes me feel better. I’ve always been worried that, you know, I was too little on top. I— What are you doing?”
He bent over and picked her up in his arms. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. With only the flickering candles to guide him, he walked to the bed and set her in the middle of the black satin comforter. The slick fabric was cool against her heated skin. Before she could slip away to one side, he placed his hands on either side of her waist.
“You’re just right on top. Trust me, I know.” His smile faded. “I don’t have any protection with me, but I had a blood test for my life insurance a couple of months ago,” he said. “It came back clean. I haven’t been with anyone else since.”
She stared at him. What on earth? Oh! That. He waited patiently. “Ah, yeah, me, too. I mean, I’m okay. You know.” How could there be a problem? She’d never been intimate before.
“So you’re safe then?”
Safe? Of course she was safe. She couldn’t possibly have any sexually transmitted disease because she’d never had the sex required to do the transmitting. “Yes.”
“Good.” He shrugged out of his shirt.
When he stood up and started unfastening his jeans, she told herself to look away. But she didn’t. She’d already seen him naked. It had been thrilling, and she wanted to see him again.
But he didn’t look exactly the same. When he pushed his jeans past his hips, his arousal sprang free. He was a lot larger than she anticipated, hard and ready. Despite the flicker of fear that raced through her, she was glad. At least she knew he wanted her, too.
Without speaking, he lay down beside her. There wasn’t enough light from the candles for her to be able to see his expression, but she felt his warmth. He leaned over her, trapping her arms between them. He raised up, pulled her arms free and drew them around his neck. Then he bent down and kissed her.
The touch of his lips was electric. Hot, sparking sensations shot through her body, clear to her toes. Her fingers curled into his hair and she felt the silky brown strands slipping against her skin.
He moved his mouth slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. As if nothing existed but them and the night and the storm. She supposed she should be nervous and appalled at her own behavior. She would be. Later. For now there was only this man.
He raised his head and smiled at her. She smiled back. Bare legs brushed. Shivers raced from each point of contact and collected in her breasts and between her thighs. Anticipation made her muscles contract.
He moved his chest back and forth. His sprinkling of hair tickled her breasts and made her nipples pucker. Then he bent his head lower and took one hardened tip in his mouth.
She sucked in her breath on a gasp. His lips caressed the taut point. His tongue traced erotic circles over and over again. He reached for her other breast, cupping her small curves, stroking the sensitive skin, tweaking her nipple into a tight bead.
She felt his hardness against her thigh. She longed to touch him but didn’t have the courage. Instead, she stroked his back and sides, reaching down to cup his rear, squeezing the firm, muscled flesh.
She touched his shoulders, then his long hair. Warm to cool. His scent invaded her. Her index finger traced his ear and the gold hoop.
He moved his mouth to her other breast, exchanging fingers for tongue and vice versa. Her heart rate increased and the pulse between her thighs grew more insistent. Her arms fell to her sides. She grasped at the satin comforter and held on. It had been too long. Her breasts were too sensitive. Just the feel of his hot breath, his tongue flicking over the nipples, making the tight points higher and tauter, sent her flying toward ecstasy. Her last conscious thought was that her fantasies about making love hadn’t even come close to the sensual magic of this moment.
Austin raised his head and looked at Rebecca’s face. Her eyelids closed and her mouth parted as she drew in more and more air. He felt her quivering response as he suckled her.
He slipped his hand lower, across the smooth skin of her flat belly to the dark curls below. Heat radiated from her. It would be so easy to bury himself inside her waiting warmth and just explode. However, as hard as he was, that explosion would occur in about three thrusts. Hardly enough to satisfy her. He wanted to feel her body ripple with satisfaction and watch her eyes slowly return to focus. He wanted to learn every inch of her. Only then would he take his own pleasure.
His finger sought and found her tight opening. He traced the entrance to paradise, making his stomach tighten in anticipation as her body thrust toward him.
The night made her pale skin glow as if iridescent. Despite his best intentions, his need throbbed heavily. Just looking at her and thinking about what he wanted to do was enough to send him close to the edge. He forced himself back.
He drew her nipple deeper into his mouth. At the same time, he sought out the tiny point of her pleasure. He touched it with the tip of his finger. She jumped. Slowly, carefully, he caressed that place, over and around, moving faster and lighter.
Her body quivered, her hips shifted beneath his hand, making it easy to find the rhythm that pleased her. He’d planned to bring her close, then take his time tending to every part of her before finally sending her over the edge. But when her breathing suddenly quickened and her muscles tensed, he knew he couldn’t stop.
He raised up on one elbow so he could watch her face. Her eyes opened, but she stared at him without seeing. Her pelvis thrust in time with his movements. Soft moans escaped her lips.
He could feel her tension and the promise of her release. His finger moved more quickly now. She spoke his name and was suddenly still. He rubbed her sweet spot once, twice, forcing her into the fiery explosion. He urged her on, touching gently, keeping pace with her, until she relaxed against his touch.
He looked at her. Perspiration coated her chest. She gasped for breath. Slowly her eyes focused on him. Another spasm caught her and her entire body trembled. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen in his life. He had to have her now.
He rose to his knees and positioned himself against her slick opening. She smiled welcomingly.
“Finally,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes as he eased himself inside. So damn tight and wet. He held on to her legs, struggling for control. He wanted to let go right away, but he didn’t. He couldn’t.
He was less than halfway in when he felt resistance. His mind tried to focus but his body wouldn’t let him. His need was overpowering. He flexed his hips and pressed on. The barrier resisted, then gave way. Against his palms, the muscles in her legs stiffened.
He stared down at her. Realization dawned and, with it, a sense of disbelief. Rebecca Chambers had been a virgin.
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