Chapter 1
He had fantasized about this so much that it was etched on his mind. Making love to her, touching her, feeling her satiny skin beneath his fingers. He was slowly going mad with desire but was determined to take his time. To draw this out. To make it last.
Her breasts were small and sweet, potent and he had to get the nipples in his mouth.
But time for that still. Her hands were roaming restlessly up and down his back, his shoulders.
Small moans were coming from her mouth and driving him over the edge.
Her desire for him was evident, heady. He had waited for this since the moment he saw her standing at the graveside.
A forlorn figure that had brought out the protectiveness inside him. No one was going to hurt her.
Her body arched when he started nibbling at her flesh, taking little love bites out of the sides of her breasts.
His hands shaped and reshaped the pert flesh.
When he could not bear it any longer, when the need to taste her became too unbearable, he tugged at the nipple, pulling it into his mouth, tasting the sweetness, his body charged when her moans became louder.
She was grasping at his hair, tugging, sliding her fingers through the strands as he continued to suckle.
He could not get enough. He was hard as iron, bursting with need, his body primed, his heart beating so hard, it was drowning out everything.
It was not enough, he thought dazedly. He wanted to swallow her whole.
Feed on her until she was absorbed into his flesh.
Moving to the other nipple, he pulled it into his mouth, his hand sliding between them to press against her.
A startled cry escaped her as she arched up to fill his hand.
He palmed her-pressing down hard. Lifting his head, he almost went mad at the dazed look on her face, the parted lips.
Her breath was whistling through her lips, body arching as she sought for more.
"Please." The whispered plea broke him enough to slide his fingers into the wetness. She exploded around his fingers, body arching, quivering as her world was wracked and shattered. He closed his mouth over hers, swallowing her whimpers of pleasure, his own body vibrating.
He waited her out, mouth fused to hers, tongue tangling.
Then he realized he could not wait any longer.
It had to be now. Sliding on top of her, he entered her, body going rigid with a pleasure so intense, he almost died from it.
Nothing had ever felt this good. No one had ever had this incredible effect on him.
Tearing his mouth from hers, he lowered his forehead to hers and breathed in deeply.
He needed a minute. Several as a matter of fact.
When her hands came around his neck, he lifted his head to stare at her.
There was so much he wanted to say, but knew instinctively it was not the right moment.
He wanted to declare his love for her, but it had to wait.
He moved then, slowly, the momentum building. His eyes held hers, hands framing her face and sliding into the mass of hair streaming on the pillows.
"No," he whispered hoarsely. "Don't close your eyes. I want you to see me."
Her fingers dug into the bunched muscles of his shoulders as she kept her eyes on his. Shock and pleasure showed on her exquisite face as she crested again, her body quivering beneath his.
He kissed her again, this time with a slow thoroughness that had the tears burning the back of her eyes. Her body went limp, only to be revived again as he increased the pace. The third climax had her clinging to him, her moans swallowed deep inside his throat.
His own climax had him surging hotly towards her, his seed spilling, heart pounding. The control slipped from him in degrees, until he was a quivering mass of mindless pleasure.
It took him several minutes before he could move and he did so reluctantly, wanting to keep the physical intimacy for much longer.
"We should get some sleep," he whispered in her hair as he pulled her towards his chest.
"Hmm," she mumbled. Now that it was over, she had no idea what to say or how to act. Or figure out what to make of what just happened between them. It had blown her mind, and she was still trying to find the pieces to put it back together. Her body was still vibrating.
She always thought of herself as being cold and devoid of certain emotional entanglements. She had been shy as a teen, with too many issues to count. She had been scrawny and flat chested.
As she lay there, enveloped in his warmth, the memories of her youth resurfaced.
Growing up, she had often felt like an outsider, intimidated by the world around her.
The awkwardness of adolescence had left its mark, and the vulnerability she felt now was a stark reminder of those years.
The unexpected intimacy she had just experienced challenged the long-held belief that she was incapable of deep connection.
He felt her shift slightly in his arms, her breath still coming in soft, uneven waves.
His hand brushed tenderly against her cheek, a silent reassurance that he was there for her.
Words weren't necessary at this moment; their bodies communicated an understanding far beyond what language could convey.
The night around them seemed to hum with the echoes of their shared passion, a silent witness to their newfound closeness. She closed her eyes, finally surrendering to the comfort of his embrace, and allowed herself to drift into a peaceful slumber.
But sleep did not come that easily for him. Even after he heard her even breathing, he could not drift off. His thoughts were a whirlwind, cycling through the events of the night, the feel of her body against his, the emotions that he hadn't anticipated.
He stared at the ceiling, listening to her rhythmic breathing, trying to make sense of the intense connection they had forged. It was more than physical; it was something deeper, something that had stirred within him and refused to be ignored.
Tomorrow would bring questions, perhaps even doubts, but for now, he wanted to hold onto the purity of the moment. He glanced down at her peaceful face, framed by the moonlight that filtered into the cabin. She looked serene, a stark contrast to the turmoil he felt inside.
As the minutes ticked by, he found himself whispering promises into the night, vows that he hoped he could uphold. He pledged to protect her, to cherish her, and to explore the depths of this unexpected bond. With each word, his resolve strengthened, even as sleep continued to elude him.
Eventually, the soft glow of dawn began to creep in, casting gentle shadows and heralding the start of a new day. He felt the weight of reality begin to press down on him, but he embraced it, knowing that the night had changed everything.
Closing his eyes, he willed himself to shut down and get some sleep.
*****
They overslept and had to rush to get their stuff together in order to get off the ship. She woke up to find the place next to her empty and did not have time to wonder at how bereft she felt.
Refusing to dwell on it, she was grateful that the morning had suddenly become very hectic.
By the time they got through the long lines and retrieved their luggage, a car was waiting to pick them up.
He did not say anything to her, and she was content to stare out the window at the passing scenery.
And wondered what was going to happen next.
Succumbing to the exhaustion of the night before, she drifted off and never felt when he eased her into his arms, so she could be more comfortable.
Pressing a gentle kiss on the top of her head, Jordan was mired down in his own thoughts.
He had left her before she woke up this morning, because he did not want to see the regret on her face for what happened between them last night.
And if he had stayed, he would have wanted to make love to her again.
So, he had taken the easy way out and slid out, feeling the crushing regret that he was not free to stay, to indulge and feel her body beneath his again.
Turning his head, he stared at the exquisite face and yearned for her. Tonight, he vowed silently. Perhaps they would not talk, but he had every intention of a repeat performance. Now that he had a taste of her, he wanted more, and he was not going to stay away. No matter what she decides.
*****
"We're here." His deep voice whispering in her ear had her stirring and opening her eyes. It took her a moment to realize that she was snuggled against him, practically lying on top of him in the spacious backseat of the stretch limousine.
"Oh."
He smiled at the flutter of her hands as she tried to brush back the hair that had come undone from the neat chignon she had styled it in before they left the ship.
"Don't worry, you look as beautiful as ever."
His teasing tone had her staring at him and for a second, she could not move. Memories of last night came crashing back and with it, the confusing thoughts. Pushing them to the back of her mind to take out and deal with later, she turned to open the door, but the driver was already doing so.
She stepped out to a surprise, which had her rooted to the spot. It was her aunt's house, the place where she had been brought up in when her father died, but it looked completely different.
"What-"
She turned to look at Jordan as he came alongside her.
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
"It-" her voice trailed off as she made her way towards the brand-new porch with the revarnished swing. The door was also new. Whereas it had been a dull metallic gray with the paint peeling, it was now a solid oak, gleaming golden in the sun.
"Just leave the bags on the porch John, we'll get them inside," he instructed the driver. As soon as the man left, he joined her as she stood at the base of the steps and stared around.
"What did you do?"