He wanted to tear away the rest of the nightgown. Rip off his clothes. Bury himself deep in Cat’s warmth.
He couldn’t.
It was her first time. And, in some way he couldn’t understand, it was his first time, too.
He wanted it to be perfect.
Jake took a deep breath. Forced himself to slow down. To undo the remaining buttons of the nightgown one by one, then fold back the edges. She was naked now, his Catarina, completely exposed to his eyes.
God, she was so lovely! Her skin was the color of richest cream; the curls that guarded her innocence were a soft whorl of chestnut and gold.
He kissed her belly. Her navel. Slid his hands beneath her and lifted her to him.
“Jake?” Her voice shook.
She said his name again as he moved lower, kissing his way down to those curls. Suddenly she reared up, hands outstretched to stop him. He caught her wrists, kissed her fingers, eased her back against the pillows.
“I want to taste you, Cat.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s wrong. You mustn’t—”
“How can it be wrong for me to worship you with my body?” He bent down, kissed her eyes, her mouth, her bre
asts. “Every part of you is beautiful, sweetheart. This part, this hidden flower, is the most beautiful of all, because it belongs only to me. To me, Cat. To—”
She cried out as he opened her to him, stroked the delicate flesh within, then put his mouth to her. She half rose off the bed; she fell back, sobbing with pleasure. He knew she was afraid of what he was making her feel, but she didn’t have to be.
She would fly into the sun and he’d be there to catch her, safely in his arms.
Jake lifted his head. Kissed her mouth. Let her taste their commingled passion on his lips.
“Let go,” he whispered. “Do it for me, sweetheart. Just let go.”
“I can’t,” she said brokenly. “I can’t. Jake—”
He kissed her again, slid his hand between her thighs and stroked her, and all at once she cried out and shuddered in his arms.
“Jake,” Cat said, and she broke free of the earth, of the emptiness that had been her life.
Jake said her name. Entered her. Sank deep, deep into her silken heat.
She felt one quick, sharp pain.
After that there was only ecstasy.
She must have fallen asleep.
It didn’t seem possible, not after what had happened, but the next time she opened her eyes, Jake’s arms were tight around her, her head was on his chest, and the room was filled with a strange white light.
“It’s the snow,” Jake said softly.
She tilted her head and looked up at him.
“The light. It’s because of the snow. It must have started again during the night. It’s still coming down.” His lips curved in a smile. “Good morning.”
She knew she was blushing. It was silly, but she couldn’t help it. “Good morning,” she whispered, and buried her face against his throat.
“Are you okay?”