his hands as if made for that purpose and no other, and the nipples formed delicate buds between his thumbs and forefingers.
She arched her back, pushed her breasts into his hands…then broke from him suddenly, shockingly. Ripping her mouth away from his, she sat up straight, trembling. 'I thought…we hadn't decided…what to do about this.'
'One day at a time.' Wade growled, resting his elbows on the back of the couch and rocking slightly…easing himself. 'One minute. And at this minute-' Realizing he didn't need to say it, he stopped and simply looked at her.
She looked back at him and said nothing.
He smiled. 'I may not have your gift, darlin', but I know you feel the same way I do. It's why you waited up for me. isn't it? You could have left me a pillow and a blanket, like I told you.' He waited, and when she still didn't say anything, added a gentle, 'Why didn't you?'
'I wanted…' She stopped, licked her lips.
'Yeah,' he said softly, 'me, too.'
He rounded the end of the couch and she stood up to meet him. His plan had been to scoop her up in some grand passionate gesture and carry her off to her bedroom, but something in her face…in her eyes…stopped him. He halted, facing her, and reached for her hands. Entwined his fingers with hers.
'Tee, don't make this more complicated than it is.' He said it in a breaking voice, something he hadn't expected. His face felt rigid, as though the muscles there were fighting for control over the emotions that had somehow taken over his being. 'It's just two people…you and me…making love.'
She gazed at him for a long moment. Then, as quickly, as shockingly as she'd broken from him. she reached up, took his face between her hands, stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Kissed him deeply, fervently, in a way that left no more doubts, no more questions.
Except for one, maybe. It flashed through Wade's mind to wonder what it was she'd read in him when she'd looked at him for that time…that seemingly endless moment. But then again, he was pretty sure he already knew.
He did sweep her up into his arms. then, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave a soft giggle of pleasure.
'That bed of yours…you mentioned it's big?'
She nodded, bumping her forehead against his, and breathlessly whispered. 'And comfortable. Um…in case you were wondering, it's thataway.'
'I have condoms,' he said in a gruff murmur as he carried her into her bedroom. 'I stopped at the store.'
She laughed softly. 'Callahan, I think that train has left the station.'
It was different that night-the sex. Different, though no less overwhelming. Tierney couldn't have said for sure why, except that it may have had something to do with the words Wade had used to describe it.
That, and what she'd
At first, though, in her bedroom, alone with him. she felt nervous…shaky. Shy, as if she'd never made love with this man-maybe
While he sat on the foot of the bed and took off his shoes, she folded back the covers…plumped the pillows… little wifely gestures that felt strange to her. Then she stood self-consciously and watched him as he rose and unbuckled his belt.
Somber-faced, he watched her eyes watching him as he tugged his shirt from the waistband of his pants, unbuttoned the cuffs, first, then the front.
She stepped closer, reached out and pushed the two halves of his shirt apart, then slowly over his shoulders. Still clinging to his gaze, she hooked a thumb under one strap of her nightgown and drew it over her shoulder. She was about to do the same to the other when his hand covered hers, stopping her, and his feelings flowed over her like a crystal cascade, like the little waterfalls that bathed the southern slope of the Columbia River Gorge, nurturing moss and ferns and delicate flowers. She nodded, biting her lip as shivers of anticipation rippled through her and her nipples budded against the caressing fabric of her gown.
Wade smiled as he watched the sculpt of her breasts rise in bold relief under her nightgown, and blessed the light from the streetlamps outside her bedroom windows that made it possible. If he'd had his way he'd have all the lights blazing, the better to drink in the sight of her body. He wanted to see her, every detail, every freckle. He wanted to witness the changes heat and passion brought to her eyes…her skin.
But he wouldn't ask that of her. not tonight. Someday soon he would, but she was nervous tonight. And for some reason that only made her more precious to him. He'd never felt such tenderness before. Not for any woman.
Not for anyone.
Quickly, then, he hauled his undershirt up his back and over his head and pitched it in roughly the same direction he'd just tossed his shirt. And he caught his breath when Tierney's hand came to rest on his chest.
His muscles felt cramped with thwarted urges…to reach for her, pull her against him, hold her tightly, push into her…all the things his male imperative demanded he do, sooner rather than later. But he wouldn't allow them, not yet. He sucked in a breath and held himself still and let her fingers wander where they wished…and then her mouth and her teeth and tongue.
Light-headed for lack of breath, he finally exhaled and murmured. 'Tee…please.' She lifted brilliant eyes to his, and he laughed painfully. 'To quote someone I heard recently…I'd like very much to see you naked.'
She smiled, biting down on her lower lip, and he put his hands on her shoulders and eased the straps of her nightgown over her shoulders…down her arms. She drew her arms free, and the gown fluttered to the floor.
She stood trembling, naked under his eager gaze, making no move to cover herself even though her every instinct longed to do so.
A moment later she knew he did.
He drew a shaken-sounding breath and wrapped her in his arms, cupped her head in his hand, tucked her face in the hollow of his neck and buried his face in her hair. And simply held her.
She no longer felt vulnerable, not even a little bit. She felt invincible, as if the strongest armor in the world surrounded her. She felt protected and powerful, but gentle, too, because she could afford to be. She felt confident she could move mountains…and was utterly secure in knowing she didn't have to.
It was different tonight-the lovemaking. Wade couldn't remember ever having felt like this before. None of the usual masculine issues-and he suspected they were pretty much universal among males-seemed to matter to him.
There were no doubts or insecurities, no thoughts about whether he was the best lover she'd ever known, or even simply a good one. He didn't think.
Afterward he couldn't even recall what they'd done, precisely. He remembered a perfect melding of his body with hers, without any words being spoken. Remembered losing track of where he left off and she began, and feelings so intense there wasn't anything to be done but surrender himself to them and let them carry him where they would.
He remembered a climax that came for them both at the same moment, as naturally and effortlessly as the sun rising.
And thinking, just before sleep came for him.
He woke in darkness. Suffocating, absolute darkness.
His heart raced, pounded. He was sweating and shaking, and he wanted desperately to cry. The sobs were like something alive inside his chest, hurting him, fighting to get out.
But he was too big to cry.
So he didn't cry.
Then came the noise. Terrible noises-deafening. Things crashing, breaking, thumps and bangs, voices yelling…
