Praying he had the strength to stop with "some," he shifted his weight onto his elbow so that he had better freedom of movement. While he plundered her mouth with his tongue, his hand went under her skirt, pushing it up slowly, sliding along her cotton-covered legs to their juncture, to caress her feminine mound.
Jess made a soft choked sound deep in her throat, but she didn't pull away. Instead she arched her back, pressing up against his hand. Devlin felt his breath falter at the erotic movement, while the stiff bulge of his erection thickened and grew even harder. It was beguiling, her eagerness, her innocence, her untutored need.
"Part your legs a little, sweetheart . . . that's it."
His lips gently brushed her forehead as he slipped his fingers through the opening in her drawers, finding the triangle between her thighs, touching intimately.
Jess's gasp was loud in the dark tunnel, and then her breathing ceased altogether as his fingers tangled in the curls between her legs. He stroked the warm satin, making her quivering thighs open to him as he murmured soft, coaxing phrases against her temple,
"D-Devlin?" she rasped.
"Hush, sweet. Don't talk."
Purposefully, he continued his intimate ministrant-ions, cupping her swollen, moist flesh, exploring the slick folds. Then his fingers sought out and found the damp, throbbing nubbin of flesh protected by the dense curls.
Jess thought she would die of the incredible sensations . . . but she didn't. Instead she whimpered and thrashed her head at the flaring pleasure that was spreading from his incredible touch to every throbbing point of her body.
Hearing her breathless little moans, Devlin closed his eyes and silently recited the litany that would be her salvation as well as his own. She's a virgin, remember that. A sweet virgin. Not for you.
He was glad of the darkness. Because of it, he wouldn't have to watch the flush of desire spread over her skin, the startled pleasure on her beautiful face when he brought her to climax. He could hardly bear it now. That slick, hot satin flesh was responding so erotically to his eager hand. She was unfolding before him like the petals of some rare flower. . . .
He stroked the tender morsel of flesh and clamped his teeth together against the savage need that was grinding through him. What he wouldn't give to bury himself inside her, to ride in the silky sheath that would be soft and wet and hot. He'd never known such sweet torment as this.
Moments later, he felt her wild clutching at his shoulders, and he increased the pressure, the rhythm, bringing her skillfully, sweetly, inescapably to fulfillment. Jess arched violently, crying out, clinging to Devlin as she experienced a fiery explosion so shattering that she felt herself coming apart.
"Easy . . . easy," he whispered in her ear as tenderly he gathered her close.
He held her shuddering body for long minutes, his breath fanning against her hair. Jess couldn't move. She lay limp and stunned in Devlin's arms, with her cheek on his chest, where she could hear the erratic beat of his heart.
When eventually he kissed the top of her head softly and started to ease away from her body, she tightened her hold.
"Devlin," Jess said in a sweetly hoarse voice, "if you let me go now . . . you'll never find all the pieces."
He smiled in the darkness. His fingers stroked her neck lightly as he remained where he was, enduring the fierce ache of his own body.
"That's . . . what I've been missing?"
"That's what you've been missing."
She was silent for a moment. "That isn't all there is to it, is it?"
His chest shook as he laughed helplessly. "Sweet Jessie, did anyone never tell you that you shouldn't crush a man's ego?"
"Your ego doesn't crush, Devlin. Besides, you know perfectly well that what you did to me was . . . won-derful."
"Was it?"
"Yes."
"A man likes to be told when he's pleased a woman."
"Oh." There was a pause. "Devlin, you pleased me very much."
His chuckle whispered against her brow as he pressed his lips there. "Good."
"But I didn't please you."
"How do you know?"