He stood up, pinning her against the wall with the strength of his hard, aroused body. His lips claimed hers in a slow, lazy kiss that gave her time to come down from the exquisite high of her climax.

He drew back minutes later, when she could finally think and breath normally again, and gently touched her face. "You're amazing, you know that?"

She smiled drowsily, physically sated for the moment.

"I think you get all the credit for what just happened here, but I'd like to think that I can do amazing things to you, too." She smoothed her hand down his chest and cupped his erection in her palm.

He groaned like a dying man and grasped her wrist to stop her purposeful strokes. "Not here," he said huskily. "I want to take this somewhere private. Let's say goodbye to the host and get the hell out of here."

Kayla wasn't about to argue.

Chapter 10

As soon as they walked into Kayla's house and the door was closed behind them, she was all over Jack, in an aggressive, demanding way that initially caught him off guard.

This time, she had him pressed up against the nearest wall, her mouth wild and greedy on his as she pushed his coat from his shoulders and nearly ripped open the buttons on his shirt in her haste to get it off him. She flattened her palms on his chest, over his rigid nipples, then dragged her cool fingers all the way down to the waistband of his slacks. She slanted her mouth beneath his, taking the kiss to a deeper, more erotic level as her shaking hands worked to loosen his belt, then fumbled to unbutton his slacks.

Her movements were anxious and eager, with a frantic edge that went beyond passion and touched on a desperation that made him wonder at its source. She was attacking him as if she feared he'd change his mind about them. As if this was the last time they'd ever make love.

Neither worries were even a distinct possibility, and he sought to ease her reckless, frenzied actions because he intended for this night to last longer than the time it took for a quick release. And that's exactly where things were heading if they didn't take tonight at a more leisurely pace.

He gently captured her face in his hands and pulled her head back a few inches, so he could look into her eyes. The entryway was dark and shadowed, but there was no mistaking the flush on her cheeks and the barely concealed glimmer of emotion in her gaze. "Slow down, Kayla, sweetheart. I'm not going anywhere."

She gave her head a quick shake in what seemed too much like a denial. "I need you inside me."

"That's exactly where I want to be, too," he said, and slid his thumbs along her jawline in a tender, calming caress. "We'll get there, I promise."

Their last two sexual encounters had been frenzied and quick, with their clothes barely shoved out of the way. Tonight was too important to him and to their relationship to rush. This time he wanted them both naked, wanted to feel her skin against his, wanted to see and watch the way her body responded to the touch of his hands, the stroke of his mouth.

And mostly, he wanted to make love to her on a soft mattress, face-to-face, heartbeat to heartbeat. "Take me to your bedroom."

She hesitated, just long enough for him to decide to take matters into his own hands. Lacing his fingers through hers, he moved down the darkened hallway, past what appeared to be an office she'd set up at home, until he found her bedroom. He pulled her inside, then moved to turn on the lamp on the nightstand.

"Jack, don't."

The panic in her voice stopped him before he could flood the room with light. He wasn't surprised to hear her quivering demand, and told himself to be patient. He'd have to tackle one issue at a time with Kayla, no matter how badly he wanted to see her without a stitch of clothing on, all soft planes and luscious curves for him to gaze upon.

Tonight he'd have to be satisfied with stripping her completely naked by the light of a moonbeam streaming through the window. He'd give her that tonight, and tomorrow he'd tell Kayla he'd fallen in love with her. Slow, intimate steps designed to build her trust in him. To let her know that he wanted more than an affair with her, more than sex in the dark. He wanted a commitment, a future, and he wanted that with her. And that meant no hiding anything-not even her body.

"Come here," he said softly, and waited for her to join him by the edge of the bed, then pulled the pins from her hair and let the wavy tresses fall to her shoulders. "Now turn around so I can unzip your dress."

She did as he asked, and he brushed his lips along the side of her neck as he lowered the zipper down to her spine, then unhooked the clasp on her bra. He felt her shiver as he smoothed the sleeves of her dress down her arms, and pushed the rest of the material over her hips so it fell to the floor and out of his way.

He eased her back around again and grew excruciatingly hard at what he'd uncovered. Since he'd taken off her panties earlier, she stood before him in nothing but smoke-hued stockings that ended with a feminine band of lace at mid thigh. He took in the dark shadow between her legs, the swell of her hips silhouetted by moonlight, and the full breasts that balanced the shape of her body perfectly.

He reached out to touch her tense jaw. He could see in her eyes that, even in the darkness, she couldn't bring herself to shed her doubts about herself, about her lush body, which was his every fantasy come to life.

He smoothed his fingers along her jaw to her chin. "You have no reason to be uncomfortable with me, so let it go," he murmured gently. "Especially here and now."

Something shimmered in her eyes, the barest hint of hope, and much to his wonder her slight resistance faded. Without him asking, she scooted on top of the bed and lay there, silently waiting for him to join her.

After quickly removing his slacks and briefs, he sheathed himself with a condom, then moved to a position by her feet, determined to make this experience one she wouldn't soon forget. Grasping the lacy band hugging her thigh, he slowly, leisurely stripped off one stocking, then the other, letting his fingers trail sensuously along the back of her knee and over her smooth calves as he peeled away the silky fabric.

Then he began kissing his way upward, relying on his senses of taste and touch to make up for his lack of sight. He used the lazy glide of his hands, the damp heat of his mouth, and the soft stroke of his tongue to blaze a fiery trail along her parted thighs.

She said his name on a breathless, plaintive sigh and clutched the bedcovers in her fists when he finally pushed one finger, then two, deep inside her creamy center and put his mouth right where she needed the pressure of his tongue the most.

She came almost instantly, bucking against his mouth, and her moan of pleasure meshed with his as he took her higher still, until she begged him to please, please stop. He did, but only because he'd yet to skim his lips over the curve of her hip, the softness of her stomach. She writhed as he dipped his tongue into her navel, and her fingers tangled in his hair to urge him up.

He deliberately took his time, refusing to be rushed, and gradually made his way up to her voluptuous breasts. He laved her nipples, traced the swell of her cleavage with his tongue, and grazed the plump flesh with his teeth. She squirmed beneath him, whimpering fretfully.

Long minutes later, he kneed her thighs wider apart and moved over her so that his throbbing erection was nestled against the lips of her sex. Entwining their fingers, he pinned her hands at the side of her head. When they were finally face-to-face, heartbeat to heartbeat, then, and only then, did he thrust deep, stretching her, filling her, his penetration so powerful and complete that they both moaned simultaneously.

But still, it wasn't enough. "Wrap your legs high around my waist," he said.

She did, her thighs clasping his hips and her ankles locked at the base of his spine. The position caused her bottom to lift, her hips to tilt, and he buried himself to the very base of his shaft.

"Oh, yeah," he growled. He slowly ground against her as he trailed hot, openmouthed kisses along her jaw, her throat, and then gave her a love bite on her neck.

She sobbed in frustration, her body arching, straining against him, trying to urge him to a wilder rhythm. In his own sweet time he eventually gave her what she wanted, gradually surging faster, harder, deeper, until both of their bodies submitted to the inevitable… a glorious, stunning climax that drained them both.

As the tremors faded, he lowered his mouth to Kayla's and kissed her, their bodies still joined, and the beat of her heart matching his. He let go of her hands and touched her face, and everything within him went still as he felt something wet against his fingertips. Even without the lights on, he knew exactly what that moisture was, and all he could do was pray they were tears of joy, not regret.


* * *

Kayla woke up alone in her bed, but the sounds coming from the kitchen assured her that Jack was still there. Smiling drowsily and with more contentment than she could ever remember feeling, she stretched beneath the covers, completely naked and thoroughly sated-her body, heart and soul.

She sighed, remembering the way Jack had held her so intimately during the course of the night, never letting her stray very far before he'd pull her back against the heat of his body and snuggle close. Kayla had to admit that she loved the feel of his warm, strong arms around her, of having him cradle her as if he never wanted to let her go. And despite knowing that the morning could quite possibly bring heartache, she'd reveled in his attention and affection.