than the champagne, more intoxicating.
He repeated the procedure, this time filling his mouth with the liquid and then letting the bubbles explode against her nipples. She called his name. Her arms fell to her sides and she clawed at the sheet. He traced a trail of dampness to her belly button, then back to her breasts. He loved her there, over and over, until her breath came in pants and her hips were permanently plastered against him.
He taunted them both by moving back and forth against her center. Several times he had to stop because he was about to explode. He could feel the pressure building, so he backed off.
He bathed her thighs in champagne, then licked her clean. He dipped her fingers into the slender glass and suckled them. Her eyes glazed over, her head tossed from side to side. At last, when perspiration coated her body and she had drawn her knees back to expose her most secret place to him, he reached between them and touched her there.
Just once. Very lightly. The tip of his index finger found her center and rubbed it. Then again. She gasped. Her eyes opened, but she couldn't seem to focus.
'What are you doing?' she asked weakly.
'Trying to drive you crazy. How am I doing?'
She smiled. 'Great. Except you lied to me.'
'When?'
'You said it wasn't going to be different.' She blinked and looked at him. 'It is. It's wonderful. Why are you being so good to me?'
He shifted until he was lying next to her, supporting his head with one hand. He stared at her face, at the way her breasts moved, at the faint lines on her belly. Every inch of her was precious to him.
His forearm was against her thigh and he could feel her muscles tensing as she neared her release. He moved faster.
Her lips parted. A flush started at her breasts and climbed toward her face. He glanced at the place he touched her. His fingers slipped back and forth, parting the light brown curls. Her knees drew back toward her chest and he could see all of her. His throat tightened as he stared at her beauty, at the tiny place that brought her pleasure, at the dampness that would soon welcome him home. He felt the moment when her muscles locked and heard her stop breathing. He continued his quick, light ministrations.
Then she exhaled his name. Beneath his forearm her legs trembled and jerked slightly. Her hands opened and closed against the sheets. He glanced at her face and watched her try to catch her breath. The flush had climbed to her hairline, her nipples were erect. Satisfaction poured through him, as if the pleasure had been solely his. He wished they could do it again and again until he learned everything about her. He wanted to make love to her until she was too weak to walk or even stand.
Instead, he drew her close to him. He held her tightly in his arms as she continued to shake. He released her long enough to brush away the tears that trickled down her temples and kiss the questions from her lips.
'It's never been like that,' she said, staring up at him.
The gladness filling him made it impossible to speak.
After a few minutes, she pushed him away. 'Take your clothes off,' she demanded. 'I want to see you.'
He grinned and stood up. He was shaking so hard, he had trouble with the buttons on his fly, but he got them undone and pushed the jeans and his briefs down in one quick movement. Sandy knelt on the bed in front of him, staring at his arousal.
He wanted her to lie down or move back or something, but she just knelt there staring. It was going to be a problem in about two minutes, he thought. Already the pressure was uncomfortable. Soon it would be uncontrollable.
'Sandy, I can't wait much longer,' he said. 'I hate to be a jerk, but you've had me like this since the day you arrived and a cold shower can only do so much.'
She raised her gaze to his. 'Really? I turn you on that much?'
'You tell me.'
'Can I touch you?' she asked, reaching toward him.
'No!' He stepped back. 'That wouldn't be a good idea. Not unless you want me to ah-'
She raised her eyebrows. 'As fast as that? Gee, I'm surprised. I would have thought you'd be more controlled.' She scooted back on the bed.
'I have damn
'I understand,' she said kindly. 'You don't have to explain it to me.'
'Dammit, woman.'
She giggled. 'I'm teasing. Come on, let's take care of your little problem.'
'You said it was big,' he grumbled as he opened the package and started to slide on the condom. He was still shaking, so it wasn't an elegant procedure, but when it was finally fitted in place, he moved to the bed.
Sandy was grinning up at him. She moved to the far side and relaxed back against the pillows. Her hair was loose around her face, her body naked to his gaze, her thighs parted in welcome.
'You're the most incredible woman I've ever known,' he said, moving across the bed and kneeling between her legs. 'I swear I'll make it up to you.'
Her pupils dilated. 'You already did. This is just for you.'
She reached down and touched him. He about exploded right then and there, but managed to salvage a little control, just enough to press into her. Heat surrounded him as she stretched to accommodate him. She wiggled her hips and he almost lost it again.
'This is going to take about one second,' he said, wishing he could do better.
'I don't mind.' She touched his face, then his chest. 'I wish I could make you understand how terrific it makes me feel to know that you're losing control with me.' She tightened her muscles around him. 'The faster, the better, as far as I'm concerned. Impress me later.'
He took her at her word. He pressed in until she'd taken all of him and withdrew slowly. Her muscles clenched harder as if begging him to stay. He plunged in a second time, then a third. On the fourth time, she drew her knees back and grasped his buttocks. She pulled him closer until he was buried inside her, deeper than he'd thought possible. She did something incredible, tightening even more and he crashed into paradise.
The sudden explosion shocked him. His muscles turned rock-hard, then released. He tried to pull back and plunge in again, but he couldn't move. He could only feel. She caressed him from the inside, her body rippling around him, her hands holding him against her, her breasts brushing his chest. He thought he might have said her name, he was pretty sure he got loud, which was kind of embarrassing.
When the pleasure had faded to a memory and his body was limp with relief, he held her close and inhaled her scent. It had been better than he'd hoped for. Better than anything he'd done before. It wasn't just about passion, though. There was a tenderness, a sense of joining between them that scared him to death. Not because she might trap him into staying. Hell, he wanted to stay. What terrified him was the fear that as much as he wanted to be there for her, he didn't know if he had what it took to last through the long haul.
'I'm convinced,' Sandy said as she struggled to catch her breath.
'You're sure?' he asked.
'Positive.' She stretched her arms over her head and sighed with contentment. 'I could do more.'
He thrust his hips forward. Despite their both having just found their release, the sensation of him moving inside of her sent a slight tingling through her body. Would she ever grow weary of being with him?
A faint light showed through the drapes at the window. The pleasantly tired aching of her body told her it was dawn. For the past four days, they'd done little but make love, eat and sleep.
Kyle had arranged for time off while the kids were at camp. Every afternoon, Sandy returned to her house to pick up the mail and water the plants. She was having her calls forwarded to his number, so if something happened with the children she would know. But there had only been blessed silence and the quiet isolation most enjoyed by
