Wicked Forest (DeBeers 2)

for his touch, his lips, but he held back, restrained,

controlled, prolonging the preamble to our

lovemaking, until I could bear it no longer and cried

out with desperation.

He laughed, then brought his lips to my breasts

and followed down my body until he had me

demanding him. He undressed as quickly as he could

and crawled beside me.

"We're safe," I said. "I'm on the pill."

"Oh," he teased. "And how did you know we

would be doing this?"

"I knew. Besides, a girl has to be prepared for a

thunderbolt of love."

"I hope not with just anyone." he said. "You

know not with just anyone. You do, don't you?" I

asked when he didn't respond quickly enough. "Yes," he said, after teasing me again with that

moment of pretended doubt. "I know who you are,

and I love you far that."

This kiss was longer. We kept Our lips pressed

against each other's as he moved to put himself in me. "Scream all you want," he told me when I

muffled a cry of ecstasy. "No one can hear us but the

seagulls, and they couldn't care less."

I did scream and cry and hold him until we

were both panting with wonderful exhaustion, lying

side by side, not speaking but saying volumes with

our breath, our trembling bodies, and our entwined

fingers. Outside, the sea continued to play its lullaby.

I actually closed my eyes and drifted off with its soft,

rhythmic murmur echoing in my ears.

When I opened my eyes again. Thatcher was up