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Her heart was pounding so loudly in her chest, she wondered that he couldn’t hear it. But when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth to his throat, she heard his quick intake of breath and knew that he was as caught up in the moment as she was.
He paused to kick in the door, then strode across the room and set her on her feet. Water sheeted from their bodies, forming puddles on the floor. Neither of them took any notice.
His hands were greedy as he fumbled with the buttons of her wet shirt, nearly shredding it in his haste to remove it. Beneath it was nude lace, clinging to her like a second skin. He disposed of it just as quickly, revealing a body so perfect it had him sucking in a breath.
„You’re beautiful, Grace.“
Seeing the desire in his eyes, hearing the husky quality of his voice, had her experiencing the familiar trickle of fear. Fear of what they were about to share. Not because she feared the act itself, but because the feelings she had for this man were too strong, too intense. He was the one she’d been waiting a lifetime to find. For that reason, she knew she was leaving herself open to heartbreak. If he didn’t share these feelings, she would have only herself to blame.
His hands stilled. „Having second thoughts?“
She lifted her chin like a prizefighter. „Of course not.“
He merely gri
„I’m not afraid.“ But her voice wavered as he lowered his mouth to her breast.
Heat poured between them and she wondered that her trembling legs could still hold her. To anchor herself she wrapped her arms around his waist as his clever mouth slowly drove her closer and closer to the edge of madness.
Desperate to touch him as he was touching her, she reached blindly for the fasteners at his waist and tugged at his wet denims until they joined hers at their feet. As her hands moved over him, she was rewarded by his low hum of pleasure.
He’d been content to move slowly, to taste and touch and explore. But now, with her hands on him, the need was so sharp, there was no way of slowing the passion that was raging. Though he fought to bank the flame of desire, he could feel it burning out of control.
He cupped her hips and dragged her roughly against him, all the while lingering over her mouth. With lips and teeth and tongue he took her on a wild ride. One minute she was holding on tightly, the next she felt herself stepping over the edge of a high, sheer cliff and falling, until the next touch had her soaring.
„Afraid now?“ The word was whispered inside her mouth.
„Should I be?“ She spoke the words on a shudder of pleasure.
„I’ll never hurt you, Grace.“
„I know.“ But she knew, in some small corner of her mind, that he was the only man who could. When she left this place, she would be leaving her heart with him.
While he explored the wonders of her mouth, she drank him in. Dark. Exciting. When he dipped his mouth lower, to the sensitive hollow of her throat, she arched her neck and actually purred with pleasure. Encouraged, he pressed soft, feathery kisses along her shoulder, over her collarbone. When he dipped his mouth lower, to take her breast, she felt her legs buckle.
At once his arms were there to catch her. He lowered her to the rug in front of the fireplace. His mouth covered hers in a kiss so hot, so fierce, it had her breath backing up in her throat. There was an urgency now that had their hearts racing, their lungs straining.
„Come with me, Grace. Let me show you places you’ve never seen.“
He found her, hot and moist, and took her to the first glorious peak. Stu
„Josh.“ She struggled to see him through the haze of passion that clouded her vision. All she could see were his eyes, so fierce, fixed on hers with an intensity that had her heart stuttering.
There was no hesitation now, only a wild exhilaration at this passion they were sharing.
She lifted a hand to his mouth and traced the shape of his lips. „Show me, Josh. Take me with you.“
„We’ll take each other.“
They came together in a kiss that spoke of all the loneliness, all the hunger, all the need. Their lives beyond this cabin no longer mattered. The world had slipped away. Outside a night bird cried, and its mate answered. Neither of them heard. The steady sound of waves slapping the shore matched the beating of two hearts. Their breathing grew shallow, and the air between them grew heated, until their bodies were slick with sweat.
As he entered her, she wrapped herself around him, taking him deep.
They came together in a firestorm of passion and began to climb, to soar. They were beyond thought, beyond words, beyond anything of this world as they felt themselves reach the very summit. For an instant they hovered there, staring into one another’s eyes. In the next moment they felt themselves slipping over the edge, and flying among the stars.
It was the most amazing journey of their lives.
„You okay?“ Too dazed to move, Josh whispered the words against her temple.
„I’m…“ She couldn’t speak over the lump in her throat. Instead, she merely brushed a finger across his lips until they curved into a smile.
„That was…“ He gave a shake of his head. Words couldn’t describe what he was feeling. So alive. As though everything he’d achieved until now was a mere rehearsal for this moment. As though everything that would come after would seem dull by comparison. „That was incredible.“
He leaned up on his elbows to stare into her eyes. „You’re incredible, Grace.“
She managed a smile. „You’re not bad yourself.“
He rolled to one side and drew her into the circle of his arms, nibbling her ear. „That was definitely worth waiting for.“
„I was thinking the same thing.“ She shivered at the delicious curls of pleasure spiraling through her.
He brushed her mouth with his. „Want me to get up and cook the fish?“
„Not especially. Are you hungry?“
He gave an impish grin. „I was. But a very beautiful woman just fed my hunger.“
„Happy to oblige, stranger.“
„Now I know what it means to live on love. Who needs food?“
„I’ll remind you about this in the morning, when there’s nothing to eat but those fish swimming around in a bucket.“
They were both laughing. But moments later their laughter died as they came together in a long, slow kiss.
Inside her mouth he whispered, „Want to go for seconds?“
„Umm.“ It was all the invitation she needed. She wrapped herself around him.
With soft sighs and languid kisses they took each other once more to that place that only lovers know.
Nine
Josh pressed kisses over Grace’s eyelids. „Think Barnaby gave up on us and went back home?“
They’d lost track of the time, but earlier he’d carried her to the sofa, where they now lay in a tangle of arms and legs, with only the army blanket for cover.
Grace sighed, too content to move. „I hope so. It must be dark by now.“
Josh lifted his head to gaze at the window. „Not quite. The sun is just sinking. Want to go watch the sunset?“
She nodded, and he helped her up before slipping into his denims, drying in front of the fire.
Grace ignored her own clothes and merely wrapped the blanket around her shoulders for cover.
Hand in hand they walked outside. At once Barnaby came trotting over, looking happy to see them.
„Oh, look at you. You’ve been swimming in the lake.“ Grace paused to scratch behind the dog’s ears. She was rewarded with a few quick licks of his tongue.
„And look at this.“ Josh pointed toward the trees that ringed the lake. The countryside was alive with the most amazing palette. Deep red maples and bright yellow cot-tonwoods. Flaming orange oaks and gold willows, and purple sumac so rich they looked like velvet.