Chapter 10
They didn't notice the sun sliding slowly under the clouds or that the breeze whistling through the trees had picked up speed gradually. They didn't notice anything, but the sensations, the emotions running through their bodies like wildfire.
He had his hands on her. He had stripped off the pants, the only thing she was wearing, which to his muddled mind saved time.
A hell of a lot of time. He cupped her and lifted his head to see her reaction.
It was gold. Her lips parted, her lids were lowered over eyes gone bright and slumberous.
Watching her, holding her fevered gaze, he slid first one finger into the welcoming warmth and then another and shot her up. Just like that.
It made him crazy to see that sexy body arching, lips parted as she called out his name.
God! What a woman.
His woman. His.
Only his. He had to have her now.
He had reservations about taking her in the open on the crude deck he and his father had built, but somehow it felt right.
Drenched in the middle of nature, flowers all around them, the breeze wafting the leaves, the sound of water lapping at the strong beams, it was fitting. He fought to get rid of his clothes, already fully aroused and desperate to join himself to her.
But he was also careful. The blankets were soft, but so was her skin, and he had no intention of marring the perfection.
Lying on the cushions, he brought her up and over him, settling her so that she sheathed him. Her eyes widened, her back arched in response.
His own body jolted. She settled around him like a tight wet fist.
For a minute, he could not move. He knew if he did, it would all be over, and he wanted it to last.
He wanted to capture the moment, the exquisite sensation of her wrapped around him.
He wanted this feeling to go on forever. His hands lifted to cup her breasts, thumbs feathering over the rigid nipples.
When she murmured his name in that husky voice of hers, emotions filled him to overflowing. She moved, slowly, undulating her hips, those magnificent eyes watching him.
His thrusts increased, driving into her, moving from degree to degree, until they were both desperately driving towards the release. Not yet, not yet.
The words sang through his brain even as his body surged into hers.
When she arched like a bow, was there anything more beautiful than a strong, beautiful woman letting go, letting loose? If there was, he had yet to find that out.
He rose to meet her. First he took her mouth, just drank from her, his hunger knew no bounds.
She responded in kind, fingers digging into his back, his shoulders and then his back again. He gripped her hair, yanked her back so he could feast on her throat, biting the flesh and releasing a moan that echoed through the stillness.
It was going to be soon, he thought hazily. He could not hold back any longer.
His hands drifted down to her buttocks, then to grip her hips as he drove upwards. He swallowed her gasp as her world splintered apart again.
The shock of the release had her body bowing, her fingers digging into his scalp. He had to release her mouth because his breath was strangled.
He couldn't breathe.
The climax ripped through his unsuspecting body like shards of jagged glass and left him bleeding. He poured himself into her, his body shuddering.
It had been great before, but oh good Christ! It had never been like this.
Not near like this. If it had been, he would never have allowed her to leave.
And now, they were sealed, bonded together. There was no way in hell he was letting her go.
She belonged to him.
The wave decreased slowly and even then, they were disoriented. She sagged against him, her face pressed against his shoulder.
He held her close, arms wrapped possessively around her.
He was still intimately joined to her and there was no better position for him. He could stay this way forever.
Or so he thought until he felt the first drop of rain on his skin.
Stirring, he lifted his head and stared at a sky gone gray, the clouds ominous and hanging low.
"It's raining," she murmured.
"We need to…" A crack of thunder cut him off, and he shifted her off him.
He rose hurriedly and found her clothes and his. "Hurry."
She laughed, dragging on her pants as the rain came down.
"This is great. We should stay out here."
He merely gave her a look that spoke volumes as he slipped into his tennis shoes.
"I'm not going to stay and risk being struck by lightning. The thunderstorms in this area are known to be frightening. Come on city girl, haul ass."
Picking her up, he slung her over his shoulder as one would a sack of potatoes and jumped lithely off the deck.
By the time he reached the cabin, they were drenched by the sudden downpour and she was still laughing.
"You're a lunatic."
"I had fun." As soon as he put her down, she shook the water from her hair and showered him some more.
"Hey!"
"I need a long hot bath and some tea."
"You go and make that happen and I'll do the tea."
"Sounds like a plan." Regina floated up the stairs, her fingers trailing along the banister.
She had sex outside and to cap it off, she had been caught in the rain. Two things she had never done before.
And it felt wonderful. Her body felt used in a very good way.
Stripping off her wet clothes, she walked naked into the bathroom and with the rain drumming on the roof, turned the water on. Soon, steam was rising and the scent of jasmine and vanilla filled the air.
When he came back with the tray, she was already submerged in bubbles.
"Want to join me?"
"You don't have to ask." Putting the tray down on the little table next to the tub, he stripped and stepped in.
She made room for him by easing forward so he could slide in behind her.
Leaning back, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the incredible sensation of his magnificent body against hers. He made her feel wonderful, special, as if she were the only woman in the world.
"Sponge."
She handed it to him and stretched as he ran it down her back. Wiping the suds off her neck, he pleasured himself and her by taking little bites of her flesh and soothing it with his tongue.
"The tea is getting cold."
"Hmm." His hands came around to tease her nipples, sending sparks flying.
"Craig." Her moan sent his blood pressure soaring.
"Hmm?"
"Don't stop."
"As if I could." His hand drifted down, down, until he was cupping her.
Twisting her head around, she found his lips and explored slowly. Her body jerked, passion exploding when he found her with his fingers.
Slow, slow, slow, until she was dying. The release was explosive and had her body heaving towards the source.
Tossing the sponge, he lifted her so that she was facing him. And holding her aloft, he nuzzled first one nipple and then the next.
The scent of jasmine and vanilla filled his mouth. Her fingers dug into his hair as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the incredible sensations racing through her body.
When he settled her on top of him, she moaned, her hands going around his neck. Water and suds sloshed over the lip of the tub, but they didn't notice or if they did, didn't care.
Thunder boomed followed by the lightning that ripped through the sky. The rain pounded on the roof, but the storm outside was nothing compared to the one inside.
His fingers dug into her back, her hips as he tried to slow things down.
It didn't work. The release came fast and violent, ripping them to shreds and leaving them breathing raggedly and sagging against each other.
He held her against him, his head spinning, his heart thumping. He had never met a woman who could turn his world upside down before and it staggered him.
He almost blurted out the words but stopped just in time. She wasn't ready to hear them.
He had listened to her talking about her father and heard the bitterness. He would give her time.
Easing her back, he kissed her on the mouth before reaching for the cup of tea. Taking a sip, he grimaced.
"You were right, it's lukewarm."
Taking the cup from him, she drank it down. "I'm hungry."
"Give me about ten minutes tops." He grinned when she poked at his chest.
"For actual food." Pushing off him, she grabbed towels and tossed him one when he rose, suds covering his long, lean body.
"How about I make us sandwiches and a pot of coffee?"
"Sounds like a plan." He toweled off and watched as she did the same.
He was going to have to decide on which bedroom they were going to share.
*****
When he wandered downstairs, he took the time to observe her without her noticing and what he saw made his heart do a slow dive. She had her hair piled on top of her head in a messy do with thick coils floating down her neck.
The robe was belted around her small waist and his body quickened with the realization that she was naked under it.
His eyes drifted to what she was doing. The coffee was already made, and she was busy slicing tomatoes for the sandwich.
She had already done the onions and lettuce. The ham and cheese were stacked on a plate.
And she was humming. A grin spread over his face as he recognized the tune.
'I'm every woman.'
She sure was, he mused as he walked silently in and snagged her around the waist.
Biting off a scream, Regina put down the knife and turned her head to glare at him.
"You scared me to death. How come I didn't hear you come in?"
"Because…" he nuzzled her neck and inhaled her scent. "You were…" he took another bite and soothed with his tongue.
"Caught up in Whitney Houston's popular tune. You were humming."
"Uhm," she murmured, not sure if she was mortified or annoyed that he had caught her unaware. "Go pour coffee."
"Just a minute."
"Go away, Craig." She nudged at him.
"Coffee."
"Spoilsport." Twisting her face towards his, he indulged in a kiss that had her toes curling.
The man had a mouth on him, she thought shakily.
"You're a fan of Whitney." He poured two mugs of coffee and brought hers before sitting across from her.
"Who isn't?" She opened the bread bag and selected four slices, popping them into the toaster.
"You?"
"More into the classics. Beethoven, Bach, that sort of thing."