He laughed. Her acceptance filled an emptiness inside him. He could have said that gnawing hole had begun with Joe’s illness, but the empty pit had been eating away at him for a long time. Since his parents’ deaths.
And that emptiness had led to the need to fill the void. He’d fallen back on travel, and the old desire was beckoning again. But he hadn’t been able to outrun the void in the past and he knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything now. He was fighting it this time, but it was difficult.
The woman in his arms made it easier. He made his way to the bedroom with her nuzzling at his neck, her breath warm against his skin. Without warning, she began to tug at his earlobe with her teeth. The sensation was hot and erotic, shooting desire straight to his groin. She’d not only chased away the pain but she’d filled that void.
The realization struck him hard, but before he could deal with what that meant, he’d reached the bed and more urgent needs called to him.
He lowered her to the comforter and came down on top of her in the nick of time, spreading her thighs and settling his hard, aching erection between her legs. Though he was fully dressed, he realized she wasn’t.
Her robe parted easily, and instead of thin silk, he discovered bare flesh, moist heat and damp folds waiting for his touch, his taste, his aching member. He curled his fingers around the down comforter surrounding them and prayed for restraint.
“Don’t you think you’re overdressed?” she asked.
To hell with it. Restraint was overrated. He rose and began stripping out of his clothes, mindless of where they fell, but not unaware of Rina. She watched him undress. Her bright gaze followed his movements, the need dilating her eyes an arousing sight. As was her pose. She lay on the bed, robe parted, exposing a hint of white skin and cleavage above the belted knot, and those enticingly damp curls below.
He eased himself beside her, fully naked and completely aroused. Flesh against flesh, he thought he’d died and gone to heaven, except for the hard ache he’d yet to satisfy.
“I have a surprise.” Her light laughter only served to inflame his need even more.
“I like surprises.”
“Then close your eyes.”
He lay back and complied, his body charged, his mind barely able to focus. In the darkness, he heard her open a drawer and rummage through it. “No peeking,” she warned him.
He covered his eyes with one arm for good measure.
“Ready?” she asked in a husky voice.
“That’s a loaded question, Rina.” And then he nearly flew off the bed as he felt the first silken touch of—“What is that?”
“What’s it feel like?”
“A soft tingling,” he said through gritted teeth as a featherlight sensation teased his skin and worked its way up his thighs. “A feather?”
“Wrong.”
The fluttering torment continued as she caressed his lower abdomen, flirting with him, circling close to where his erection pulsed thick and ready.
“Guess again.”
The sensation came once more, this time teasing the head of his penis, causing his hips to jerk upward. He nearly came then. Unable and unwilling to play anymore, he opened his eyes.
Rina straddled his thighs, a long ponytail in her hand, a warm, inviting smile on her flushed face. “I remember how much you liked the long h
air, so I thought I’d satisfy that ultimate male fantasy.”
“What male fantasy?”
“Wrapping long hair around your body. Don’t tell me it’s not something you’ve dreamed about.” She studied him through too-innocent eyes for a woman so bewitching.
“If I admit to the obvious, do you think we can do something about this?” He glanced at his unrestrained erection.
“I think that can be arranged.” With a wicked grin, she tossed the hair extension aside and covered his thighs with splayed hands, inching upward until her fingertips touched his coarse hair.
He let out a groan. This woman would be the death of him.
“But first I need you to tell me what you want.” She swallowed hard and hesitated, the uncertainty more endearing than her earlier boldness had been.