Could she be so bold as to remove her dress in front of him? She was thankful for the dim light. She was no longer a maiden. She’d had a child, gained a few mature pounds and things on her body had moved around. Would Mark be disappointed?
“Sit up on your knees, Laura Jo,” he coached, as he moved to a sitting position.
Laura Jo did as he asked. As he gathered the fabric of her dress she shifted, releasing the long length of material from behind her knees. With it in rolls at her waist, he said, “Raise your arms.”
She did so and he slipped the dress off over her head. Braless, she was exposed to Mark and the elements, except for her tiny panties. The cool air of the night licked her body, making her shudder. She was thankful for it because it covered her nervousness. She crossed her arms over her breasts.
“Please, don’t hide from me,” Mark said in a guttural tone filled with emotion. “You’re beautiful. I want to admire you in the moonlight.”
She’d been so absorbed in him she hadn’t noticed there was a full moon. Slowly, very slowly, she let her hands fall to her sides. Mark’s look started at the apex of her legs and traveled upward. He paused at her breasts. They were already prickly with awareness and had grown heavy. She looked down to see her nipples standing ridged from the cool air and Mark’s hot gaze.
He cupped both breasts and she quivered.
“So responsive,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. “Lie down. I want to touch all of you.”
“But you still have all your clothes on,” she protested.
He chuckled dryly. “If I don’t remain dressed I might not be able to control myself.”
“But I want to—”
“Later. Now I want to give you pleasure.”
He nudged her shoulder then supported her until she lay on her back.
Laura Jo felt exposed, a wanton. She shuddered.
“I’m sorry, you must be cold.” He leaned behind him and brought a blanket over them. “I hate to cover up all this beauty but maybe next time…”
Would there be a next time? Did she want more?
He rested his hand on the center of her stomach. Her breathing was erratic and shallow. He kissed the hollow of her shoulder. She pushed his open shirt off his shoulders. He finished removing it and threw it over his shoulder to the deck.
Her hand went to the nape of his neck. “I want to feel your skin touching mine.”
“Ah, sweetheart…” Mark kissed her gently and brought her against his warm, inviting chest.
Laura Jo went from shivering to feeling warm and sheltered in the harbor of Mark’s arms.
Mark lay down, bringing her with him. His mouth found hers. One of his hands went to her waist and shimmered over the curve of her hip and down her thigh and back up to cup her breast.
Her hands found his chest. She took her time discovering the rises and falls as she appreciated the breadth of his muscles as her hand traveled across his skin. Her palm hovered over the meadow of hair, enjoying the springiness of it.
He sucked in a breath.
She let her hand glide downward along his ribs and lower. He groaned when she brushed the tip of his manhood. With that he flipped the blanket off, letting it fall over her. In one smooth, agile movement he stood. He sat in the closest chair and proceeded to remove his socks and shoes. Seconds later his pants found the deck. He looked like a warrior of old as he stood with his feet apart, his shaft straight, with the moonlight gleaming off the water behind him.
Laura Jo bit her lower lip. This piece of masculine beauty was all hers for tonight.
She pushed away the blanket and opened her arms. Mark opened a package and covered his manhood then came down to her. She pulled the cover over them.
His fingers looped into the lace band of her panties and tugged them off. She kicked her feet to finish the process.
“Perfect,” Mark murmured, as he kissed the shell of her ear and his fingers traveled over the curve of her hip. “I want you so much.”
Desire carried every word. She was wanted. Mark showed her in every way that she was desired by him. It fed her confidence. She arched her neck as his mouth traveled downward to the hollow beneath her chin, to the curve of a breast and out to her nipple. His hand went lower, where it tested and teased until she flexed.
Her core throbbed, waiting, waiting…
He slid a finger inside her, found that spot of pleasure and she bucked.
“So hot for me,” he ground out, before placing a kiss on her stomach.
Mark said it as if he didn’t think she could want him. Was the guilt he carried that heavy?
Laura Jo pushed him to his back. He made a sound of complaint. She slid on top of him and poured all she felt into making him feel desired. Positioning herself so that his tip was at her entrance, she looked into his eyes. Did he know how special he was to her? She pushed back and slowly took him inside her. His hands ran up and down her sides as his gaze bored into hers. She lifted and went down again.
Before she knew what had happened, Mark rolled her to her back and entered her with one bold thrust. His hold eased. “Did I hurt you?” His question carried an anxiousness that went soul deep.
“No, you would never hurt me.”
He wrapped his arms around her as if he never wanted to let her go. When he did let her go he rose on his hands and pulled out of her to push in again.
She moaned with pleasure and his movements bec
ame more hurried. Her core tightened, twisted until it sprang her into the heavens.
A couple of thrusts later, Mark groaned his release to the starry night and lay on her.
Just before his weight became too much he rolled to his side and gathered her to him, twining his legs with hers. He adjusted the blanket around them.
“Perfect,” he said, worshipful praise, before brushing a kiss over her temple.
* * *
Mark woke to the sound of thunder rolling in the distance. Laura Jo was warm and soft next to him. He shifted. Hard boards weren’t his normal sleeping choice but with Laura Jo beside him it wasn’t so difficult. He would have some aches in the morning but it would be more than worth it.
He moved to lie on his back. As if she couldn’t be parted from him, she rolled in his direction and rested her head on his shoulder. She snuggled close. What would it be like to have Laura Jo in his life all the time?
Lightning flashed in the clouds. Thunder rumbled.
A hand moved over his chest. His body reacted far too quickly for his comfort. Could he ever get enough of her?
“What’re you thinking?’
He tightened his hold and then released it. “That if we don’t go inside we’re going to get wet.” The first large drops of rain hit the porch.
“I’ll get the pillows. You get the blankets,” she said, jumping up. He followed.
They scooped up the bedding and ran to the door, making it inside just before the downpour started. They laughed at their luck. They stood watching the storm for a few seconds.
“Oh, we didn’t get our clothes.” Laura Jo moved to open the door.
Mark grabbed her hand. “Forget them.
He dropped the blankets on the floor. “Leave the pillows here.”
“Where’re we going?” Laura Jo asked.
He gave her a meaningful look. “Like you don’t know?”
When she only dropped one pillow he raised a questioning brow.
“I’m not used to walking around the house in the nude and certainly not with a man.”
Mark chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that. But you have a beautiful body. You shouldn’t be so self-conscious.”