“Look at me,” he demanded.
Her eyes flew open, met his as her second orgasm tore through her.
“Jesse,” she whispered, and he knew that was what he’d needed. His name on her lips as he claimed her body, her soul…
Her heart.
Jesse flung his head back and soared with her into the moonlit night.
Minutes later, hours later, Sienna drew a long, shaky breath.
Jesse was sprawled over her, his face buried against her throat. Her arms were wrapped around him, holding him to her. His skin was damp, as was hers; their racing heartbeats seemed to be slowing in unison. The scent of him—sinfully sexy, musky and male—was in her nostrils.
She didn’t realize she’d whispered his name until he stirred and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
“I know, baby. I’m too heavy for you—”
“It isn’t that. I just…I just like saying your name.”
He kissed her collarbone; she felt his lips curve in a smile.
“And I love hearing you say it. But I’m still too heavy for you.”
Her arms tightened around him. “Don’t go. Not yet.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Not without you. I’ll be right back, I promise.”
He rose from the bed, went into the adjoining bathroom. Seconds later, he came back to her, gathered her so that he held her in the cradle of his arms, their bodies touching, their faces inches apart. He smiled into her eyes, lay one hand against her cheek in a caress so gentle it made her throat constrict. She turned her head and kissed his palm, and he angled his head above hers and gave her a soft, lazy kiss on her mouth.
“You okay?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Another tender kiss. “I wasn’t too fast?”
“You were wonderful.”
He flashed a sexy grin. “All compliments noted and happily accepted, ma’am.” Slowly, his smile faded. “What’s wonderful is you.”
“Jesse.” She felt her cheeks flush with color. “I’ve never—I mean, I’ve never before felt—”
“No,” he said softly, “it’s never been like that for me, either.” He dropped another soft kiss on her lips. “I feel as if I’ve known you for a hundred lifetimes.”
Two, anyway, she suddenly thought, and shuddered as the sudden coldness of reality intruded.
Jesse rose on one elbow, frowned and searched her eyes with his.
“Baby? Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just—I just…” She took a breath. “What’s that old saying?” she said with forced lightness. “Something about a goose walking over my grave.”
He grinned. “No gooses here. Just me.”
As he’d hoped, that made her laugh. “It’s geese.”
“Nope,” he said, deadpan, “not a one. No gooses and no geese, either. The only other critter here is me.”
Sienna batted her lashes. “Well, yes. You. And me, of course. But…” Her hand slid between them. His breath caught and she smiled. “But then, there’s this.”
In a heartbeat, Jesse had rolled her onto her back.
“Be careful, woman,” he said in a teasing growl, “or be prepared to pay the price.”
“What price would that…? Oh. Oh, God, Jesse…”
A second raced by while he sought another condom, sheathed himself again. Then he wove their fingers together, held their hands at their sides as he entered her.
“Here’s the price,” he whispered. “This. Always this.”
Always, she thought… But how could there be an “always” for them?
Sienna let their passion sweep away the sudden despair that threatened to destroy her.
It was dark when Jesse awoke.
“Sienna?”
She was gone. The sheets, the pillows, still held her scent, but he was alone in the bed.
Fear clawed his throat. He rose quickly, pulled on his jeans, hurried through the dark suite…and saw a bright light beyond the sitting room.
He paused, blew out a breath and asked himself just what was he doing, feeling as if the earth had given way under his feet because a woman he barely knew might have slipped from his bed….
And his life.
Ridiculous. They’d slept together, that was all. He wasn’t looking for involvement. What for? Life was simpler without it, neater and cleaner and…
And, he walked into the pool of light, saw Sienna seated at the white marble counter, wearing an oversized terry-cloth robe, her face buried in her hands, heard the muffled sounds of her sobs, and he knew he was the greatest liar on this lonely planet.
Life might be simpler without involvement, but it was also meaningless.
“Baby,” he said, and went to her, and even as she said “No, don’t, just leave me alone,” he was taking her in his arms, she was spinning toward him, winding her arms around him, weeping as if her heart were about to break.