Luc grabbed Kate around the waist just as she started to get up. Pulling her flush against him, her back against his chest, he held on tight. Her silky gown slid over his bare chest, adding fuel to the already out-of-control fire.
“Don’t,” he whispered in her ear, clutching the silk material around her stomach, keeping her body taut against his own. “Just relax.”
“You need to be sleeping.”
Her body was still so stiff, so rigid beneath him. Something had seriously freaked her out and she wasn’t telling him what it was. Damn it, was it something he already knew but couldn’t recall? Or was this not about her at all, but something to do with his fall?
A sliver of fear slid through him.
“Did the doctor say something you’re not telling me?” he asked.
“What? No.”
She shifted, relaxing just a touch as she laid her hand over his on her stomach. The first contact she’d initiated since climbing into bed.
“He didn’t say much when I walked him out,” she went on. “Just that he felt it necessary for you to remember on your own.”
“The only thing I want to do right now is to get you to relax.”
Luc slid his hand out from beneath hers, to the lacy edge of her silk gown. Her body stiffened briefly, then arched as if she was fighting her own arousal. When she sucked in a breath, Luc knew he had her.
“Luc, you need to rest.”
Her shaky voice betrayed her, indicating she was just as achy and excited as he was. He pushed one of her legs back, easing his fingers beneath the silk until he found the delicate elastic edge on her panties.
“What I need to do is pleasure my woman,” he whispered in her ear, pleased when she trembled.
Kate’s back arched again and her head fell against his shoulder. “Luc, you don’t have to—”
He nipped at the tender flesh of her earlobe as he eased his hand inside her panties to stroke her. “I want to.”
Her soft moans, her cry when he found just the right spot, left his mouth dry. It didn’t take long for her body to give in and shudder beneath his touch. She gasped, trembled all the while Luc trailed kisses along her shoulder, her neck when she’d turn just so and the soft spot below her ear.
Yet nothing triggered any memories.
All the same, he didn’t regret giving her pleasure. Everything about this private moment only made him want her, yearn for her more.
“Are you always this responsive?” he whispered.
Slowly, she rolled toward him, rested a palm on his chest. With the pale glow from the moon, he didn’t miss the shimmer in Kate’s eyes.
“Baby, don’t cry.”
She blinked, causing more tears to slide down her flushed cheeks. “You didn’t remember, though, did you?”
He smoothed her damp hair away from her face. “No.”
When her hand started down his abdomen, toward the top of his boxer briefs, he gripped her wrist.
Kate had been through a rough time, and even though he was the one suffering the medical concern, he wasn’t about to let her think he’d given her pleasure only to get his own. This moment was all about her, reassuring her that he—no, that they—would be okay.
“We both need to rest right now,” he told her, dropping a kiss to her forehead. “You’re exhausted, I’m recovering. We’ll make love tomorrow and I’ll make this up to you, Kate. Our trip won’t be ruined. I promise.”
* * *
So stupid. Foolish, careless and flat-out irresponsible.
First she’d let him touch her, then she’d cried. The tears came instantly after she’d crashed back into reality after the most amazing climax she’d ever had.