ssed on the path until the kiss wasn’t enough, then she let him lead her down the rock-cut steps to the tidal platform below. It was deserted, dry, baking in sunlight and reflected warmth. He picked a spot where he could see the steps, where she’d be sheltered behind an old cliff fall, where they were as safe from exposure as possible on a rock ledge ten metres to the sea.
She held her next squeal but it was in her expression. “We can’t do this. Not here.” He shucked his shirt. “Oh God, Reece, that’s not fair.”
He cocked his head, opened the stud on the top of his jeans. In summer they’d have had less clothing on. He considered their shoes, he should keep his on. He’d protect her feet. “Top off.”
She shook her head. “Too cold.”
He opened his arms. “I’ll keep you warm.”
She stayed where she was, stared at him like she looked at Mia when she was out of bed for the umpteenth time at night. Then she broke and stepped into him, her hands going to his ribs.
They kissed, and he got her jacket off, her top. He got her bra off too, mastering the hooks with a twist of his fingers, and by that time she was into this, stopped thinking about where they were and what he wanted them to do. He wanted her legs wrapped around him. He’d take her standing. She was more than into it when her nails hit his shoulders. He went to his knee and undid her shoes, slipped them off with her socks so she didn’t feel stupid in just socks, because she would.
Her hands were in his hair. “This is crazy.”
He smiled up at her. “We can stop.” It might topple him over, he’d need resuscitation, but he’d do it for her.
“Don’t even think about it.”
He stayed on his knees to peel her yoga pants off. She shivered as he drew them down her legs, lips following hands, but she wasn’t cold. The sun bounced off the cliff wall beside them and sent out warmth he could feel on their skin. He left her underwear, he’d work around it, pressed his face to the triangle of black cotton, then groaned against her. She was wet already. Change of mind, they had to go, he plucked them off her hip with his teeth, hands up and down her legs. She didn’t protest.
He pushed a finger inside her and she tightened her hold on his hair. “Don’t stop.”
He loved her for this. For the thrill; for the trust. “Not till you’re limp and I have to carry you out of here.”
Two fingers, adding his thumb to her clit. He closed one eye as she yanked his head up. “This is madness.”
They stared at each other, frozen in the moment. If she’d let him, he’d kneel at her feet, he’d make her feel free and safe and loved like this forever.
He put his teeth to her hip and she jerked against his hand, the sound of her breathing coarse, rasping. He could make her come like this easily, but she’d tire and he was too greedy to miss coming with her. He kissed his way up her body, lingering on parts that made her gasp or twitch; her belly button, the bottom edge of her ribs, the underside of her breast. He filled his hands with her softness, took her mouth. He had so much to learn about what she liked, what turned her body on and her mind off, but the only thing he wanted to catalogue now was how she felt wrapped around him.
Electricity sparked in his lower back; his spine was a blue streak of sensation. This woman affected his limbs, tissues and organs; altered his brain chemistry like no one else. He backed off to look at her, to see her greed as he unzipped, rolled the condom on. His hands shook but he’d never felt so steady. Hands to her waist, he lifted her and she wrapped her legs around him.
Her hands went around his neck. “How’s this going to work?”
He could hold her effortlessly, hands under her thighs. “Like this.” He moved her into position and stroked across her core.
“Oh God.” She curled her upper body, dropped her head to watch as he seated her, tugged her hips down, drove up inside her. “Oh. Oh.” Her head dropped forward to rest on his chest.
He gave her a few seconds to adjust. “Hold on, baby. This is going to be hard and fast.”
She lifted her head. “You wreck me, Reece.” She kissed his throat. “You take me apart with the love in you. Wreck me again.”
He bent his knees, tilted his pelvis up and lifted her; reversed it, set a rhythm and punished them both with the rocking, thrusting ache of it. Audrey moved her hands to his arms and leant into it, using her own hips as leverage.
He had white light in his eyes, a laser beam carved heat up the shaft of his spine. She muffled her screams in his chest, but he roared his own release. She wrecked him too. Stripped the skin off him and tore his nails out, fritzed his senses.
He loved her. She made him violent inside with the vulnerability of it.
He didn’t know what she needed from him beyond caring for Mia, beyond this, and this was where he wanted to live.
He held her till their breathing settled and Audrey lifted her face to his. “You’re unbelievable.” She stroked his face. He saw wonder in her eyes. “Why did it take me so long to meet you?”
“Why did it take you so long to seduce me?”
“I need my head examined.” She pulled at his neck and he bent to kiss her. “I’d stay in your arms all day.”
“I’d keep you but if kids or fisherman don’t catch us, the tide will.” And if he didn’t detach them, he’d be ready for round two.