Once in Every Life

He cupped her breasts in his hands and pushed the heavy mounds together. At his touch, desire blasted through her in a dizzying wave. Blood pounded in her ears until she couldn't hear anything except the thudding beat of her own heart. "Yes," she moaned. "Oh, yes."

His tongue breezed across one nipple, wetting it, and then was gone.

She moaned, arched her back. And he was there again, sucking gently on one nipple, then the other, until her body was shaking so badly, she couldn't control it. She couldn't catch her breath. She pressed downward, rubbed herself against his hardness until she was light-headed with need.

"Jack . . ." His name was a breathless moan. "Please ..."

His hands slid around to her back and moved to her buttocks. Clutching her with fingers of fire, he drew her downward as he thrust up. She spread her thighs farther and let him guide her onto him.

He pushed inside her, filled her. A whimper escaped her mouth at the unexpected pleasure of it.

He stilled. "Does that hurt?"

She shook her head. Sweat-dampened hair whipped across her face. "No. God, no. Don't stop."

He held her firmly against him and started to move. Slowly at first, then faster. With each upward thrust of his

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body, Tess gripped the pillows tighter, clenching her fingers around the puffy softness. Her hips ground against his. The pressure between her legs quivered, thrummed, grew so hot and throbbing, she felt tears prick her eyes. She whimpered, moaned, tossed her head, but nothing helped.

"Oh, God, Jack . .." She writhed atop him, desperate for release.

He pulled her toward him and buried his face in her breasts. She felt his tongue on her nipples, felt him take a hardened peak in his mouth. The sensation sent her into a tailspin of desire. She clutched his head in her shaking hands, holding him where he was. Her breath came in lung-searing gasps.

His hands moved urgently, almost roughly, across her breasts and along her flushed flesh. Tess squeezed her eyes shut and strained forward, panting, aching. "Oh, God, oh, God, oh, GodV

It burst upon her so suddenly, Tess screamed out. Wave after wave of intense pleasure went through her body. Tears stung her eyes, blurred her vision.

Jack thrust into her one last time, deep and hard. He clung to her, his breathing ragged, whispering her name against the crook of her neck.

Tess collapsed on top of him like a rag doll. Her body felt boneless, sapped of all strength, and there was a tremble in her legs she couldn't quell.

They lay there for a long time, panting, shaking with the aftermath of their passion. Jack held her close, stroked her hair. Tess curled lovingly against him, amazed at how comfortable it felt to be in his arms, how right.

He turned slowly toward her and pushed up on one elbow. "Lissa?"

She looked up into his eyes and felt a rush of love. Idly

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she brushed a sweat-dampened lock of hair from his eyes and smiled. "Uh-huh?"

He leaned down and kissed her. It was a soft, gentle kiss that spoke not of passion sated, but of promises made. Of futures and the kind of love that lasts. "I've loved you ever since I was in a kid in short pants, Lissa. But I have never, ever loved you as much as I do right now."

Hot, stinging tears filled Tess's eyes. A huge lump of emotion swelled in her throat, made it difficult to breathe. She knew she should simply say nothing at all, but she couldn't. There was something she had to say?she, Tess Gregory, not Amarylis Rafferty. If it caused problems, or required explanations, or screwed up the damn time-space continuum, she'd deal with that later. Right now she had to utter the words she'd waited all her life to say.

She touched his face, and wasn't surprised to find that her fingers were trembling. "When I was little, I used to dream of someone who would be all mine, someone who would hold my hand and check under the bed, and tell me the world was a safe place. Every night I wished on the moon and waited." She kissed him, tasting the salty tang of her own tears against his lips. "I love you, Jack Rafferty. I have ever since I was a little girl."

As she spoke the words, Tess realized the truth of them. She had loved Jack Rafferty since she was a child. She hadn't known what he'd look like, or where?or when? he'd live, but those were only details. All her life she'd waited for this moment, this man. He was the somebody she'd always prayed for and never really let herself believe in.

"Thanks, Carol," she breathed.

"What was that?" Jack asked.

Tess stifled a smile. "Nothing. Now, put those strong arms to good use and give me a hug."