He ventured closer, cupping her face as he kissed her once more. She tasted as he knew she would, of liquid pleasure. Her bottom lip trembled slightly as his kiss gently brushed over it.
Easy, he told himself. Make love to her slowly.
His kiss touched the corners of her mouth, teasing it open slightly before he kissed her once more. She responded as he hoped she would.
When he pulled away the second time, a bit of the fear was gone from her eyes. He waited, unsure of what to do next to keep from frightening her. How could he show her the other side of an act she’d only seen as evil? If one moment reminded her of her nightmares, any hope he had of loving her for a lifetime would be lost.
He couldn’t bring himself to touch her. The stakes were too high. He hesitated.
She grew impatient and reached for his hand. Placing it over her breast, she asked, ‘‘Is the kissing and touching a part of your loving?’’
‘‘Definitely.’’ ‘
‘‘Then you will do that part first.’’
Wes laughed. ‘‘If you insist.’’ He moved his hand over her warm skin as his mouth touched hers once more. The kiss deepened to a point he knew she enjoyed. She sighed against his lips and rolled closer, pressing her breast deeper into his palm.
Wes stroked her gently. He kissed her until all the stiffness and hesitancy in her body vanished. Then he leaned away slightly and lifted her hand to his mouth. As before, she enjoyed capturing his kiss within her hand. And when he placed her fingers on his chest, she didn’t pull away.
‘‘Touch me,’’ he whispered. ‘‘Like you did a few nights ago.’’
She followed his lead, feathering her fingers across his chest and through his hair as he rewarded her with light kisses. As she moved, their bodies came into contact again and again, a tap, a brush, an accidental pressing. She seemed unaware of the impact her touch had on him. It was as though she accepted his nearness as part of the kiss and the touching she did.
Watching the fire build in her eyes was like watching passion’s birth. A touch at a time, she became aware of him. An accidental brush of her body against his was repeated. A slight embrace became bolder on the next passing.
Slowly, his kisses deepened. His hand covered hers and moved over his body, encouraging her to touch where she hadn’t dared. At first, she pulled away. He tried again and again, pulling her hand over his flesh, making her know every part of him with his gentle persuasion.
After the first few jolts of panic, she relaxed. His kisses drew her back to the paradise, the warmth. Finally, when he lifted his hand from hers, she didn’t pull away, but continued to touch him.
His kisses moved to her throat, and then her breasts, making bolts of pleasure shoot through her and warmth grow within the very core of her. When she was deep into the middle of paradise, he moved close against her ear, his words more a kiss than speech.
‘‘Say you want me, Allie.’’ He kissed her cheek. ‘‘Look at me and say you want to make love to me.’’
‘‘I want…’’
His hand lowered over her abdomen as she began, intentionally venturing into territory she’d said was forbidden.
‘‘I want…’’
His hand was firm across her stomach, moving downward, making her forget words.
His fingers pressed over the place between her legs, where she said he’d never touch again.
‘‘Say it, Allie.’’ His voice was low with need. ‘‘Say you want me.’’
Suddenly there was no air in her lungs, no air in the room. Allie wanted to fight and run. She wanted to get away from all the world, all the hurt and all the pain. But his body leaned warm and protectively against her side. His hand rested low, holding her in place, holding her to him.
His soft kisses rained against her cheek. ‘‘Say it, Allie. Look at me and say the words.’’
She looked at him then as her blood pumped through her veins in panic. Thoughts of fighting filled her senses. She’d fight. She’d kill if she had to. No one would hurt her again.
Only she saw no devil. She saw only Wes with his warm brown eyes filled with worry and doubt. His strong body held her still, but she knew he understood her pain. He was not the enemy but there beside her to help her fight the nightmares.
There was no overwhelming desire, no passion-driven look about him. There was only concern. And she knew he wasn’t doing this for himself, but for her.
She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his hand over her. ‘‘I want you,’’ she forced the words. ‘‘I need you to make love to me.’’
Wes kissed her and whispered against her mouth, ‘‘Say it again, darling.’’
‘‘I want you,’’ she answered as she felt his hand began to explore. ‘‘I need you to love me.’’
When she stiffened suddenly, his voice filled her world.
‘‘Look at me, Allie,’’ he ordered gently. ‘‘Don’t close your eyes.’’ His hand grew bolder, but his stare never left her face.
She held her breath, expecting pain, but none came. His eyes told her all she needed to know. He’d never hurt her.
Suddenly, a fire exploded within her, and she began to move with his touch.
He slid a few inches away so that he could watch her. Only his hand rested on her now. She could have pulled from his hold easily if she’d wanted, but she didn’t want to leave the pleasure.
His fingers were bold as they moved, making her cry out for more. She’d expected him to kiss her, but his mouth closed over the tip of her breast and the pleasure she thought could grow no greater increased.
When his mouth returned to her lips, she pulled him close, needing his kiss as she had never needed anything in her life. She wanted to be kissed fully, and he gave her what she wanted. A kiss so full of desire it took her breath away.
When she relaxed back on the bed, he smiled down at her, his hand still touching her. ‘‘You’re ready now, Allie. There will be no pain.’’
She’d expected him to move above her, but he pulled her atop him. She went willingly, unafraid.
He kissed her tenderly as his hands slid along her hips and lowered her body over him. A warmth spread through her as he moved within, filling her completely with his passion.
Any noise she would have made was muffled in the depths of his kiss as the joining of their bodies became complete.
His hands on her hips, he taught her the dance of loving, one step at a time. Emotions overwhelmed her as his kisses continued. Her breasts molded against the wall of his chest, and a part of him touched deep inside her, stirring a fire… a fire that built until she moved without his encouragement.
As pleasure suddenly shot through her like a cannon, Allie felt him tighten every muscle. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him as his body shook from the passion.
For a long while, she lay atop him, listening to his breathing return to normal, enjoying the way his hands slowly stroked over her from shoulder to thigh.
Finally, he drew her face up gently with his hands and looked into her eyes. ‘‘Are you all right, darling?’’
She saw that the sudden flame of passion had reached him also, for his eyes still hinted of the wildness they’d just experienced. His hair was tossed, and his face slightly flushed. He’d never looked so handsome.
‘‘Again, please,’’ she whispered.
TWENTY-NINE
WES HIT THE ICY WATER LIKE A DEAD MAN TOSSEDin to float downstream. He hardly felt the cold surround him and remained underwater until his lungs demanded he surface to breathe.
He’d made love to Allie four times, and it wasn’t even dawn yet. In between, she touched him and he touched her. They kissed so often and so deeply, he was sure he scraped her face raw with his stubble.
And each time he finished, Wes felt like he drained his very soul into her, and she only begged for more.
