She rose to welcome him when he joined them with one deep, smooth thrust. She gasped, quivered and then moved eagerly with him. The explosion came swiftly, rocking through her, curling her toes, forcing a cry from her throat. He held her, murmured her name, waited until she’d wrung every ripple of pleasure from the experience before giving in to his own need. He stiffened and gasped her name. Holding him closely, she thought how right her name sounded on his lips—and knew she would never forget this moment of pure joy.
No matter what happened next between them.
They didn’t sleep. Kelly was too overwhelmed by their lovemaking, and Shane must have been, too. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her, kissing her, looking at her.
“Are you tired of hearing me tell you how beautiful you are?” he murmured, stroking a hair away from her cheek.
She smiled. “How could any woman get tired of hearing that?”
He kissed the end of her nose. “You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she replied with a p
rimness that made him chuckle.
“I’m really glad I brought you home tonight.”
She gave him an exaggeratedly suspicious look. “Are you sure you didn’t sabotage my car battery?”
He laughed. “I didn’t. But if I’d thought of it...”
She pinched his ribs, making him squirm and laugh again.
When he was still, she rested her head on his bare shoulder and sighed lightly. He stroked her arm. “Are you tired?”
“A little,” she admitted. “But not sleepy, really.”
“Me, either. I feel damned good, actually.”
She smiled, spreading her fingers over his chest. She could feel his heart beating beneath her hand. The steady thumping soothed her, and she drifted for a time, savoring the feeling of lying in his arms.
She broke the comfortable silence eventually. “I’ve decided what to do about my father.”
“Have you?”
She nodded against him. “I’m going to see him, I think. I’ll call your uncle Monday and have him set up a meeting.”
“What made you decide?”
“Something you said,” she admitted. “About how you needed to see your mother again as an adult, just to satisfy your own curiosity.”
“Don’t forget that my reunion with my mother wasn’t a particularly happy one.”
“I know. And I’m not expecting much from this meeting with my father. But you were right, I think. I need to ask him why he abandoned me the way he did.”
“You probably won’t like his answer.”
“I’m sure I won’t. I can’t imagine any justification for what he did. But I guess I need to ask.”
Shane nodded. “Trust me, I understand completely.”
“I knew you would. That’s why I wanted to tell you what I decided.”
“Are you going to have anyone with you when you meet with him? Or would you rather see him alone?”
“Alone, I think.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”