Her breath was escaping in tiny gasps, a staccato burst that echoed her pulse, as the pleasure inside built into an unstoppable force. She tightened around him, her body arching until she was barely touching the sand, her toes digging into the smooth grains, trying to keep her grounded. She was flying, convulsing around him, the ecstasy lighting her up like a beacon in the night. He held her as she soared, his lips capturing hers, tasting her pleasure he coaxed from her.
She never wanted him to let go.
20
Though the candles were still flickering, they were almost burned down to the wick. The flames turned her face orange and yellow, a contrast to the blackness of the sand and sea beyond her. He could see the sparks in her eyes as she stared up at him with the same innocent yet sexy-as-hell look she always had. The one that made him want to protect her from whatever hurricane was coming.
And there was always a hurricane.
“It’s getting late,” he said, his voice low. “We should go.”
There was disappointment in her eyes. “I guess. I don’t want to, though. I’d happily lay here with you for hours.” She smiled at him, her lips pink and swollen from their kisses. He loved the way she looked right now – content, sated. As though every muscle in her body was relaxed.
He did that to her and it made him feel ten feet tall.
“We might have a bit of explaining to do if we stay here.” He winked. “Let me take you home. We can come back another day.”
“But you didn’t…” She looked down, biting her lip. “You know.”
“This wasn’t about me.” He was still hard, but under control. There was a cold shower back home with his name on it.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be like that. So quick. It’s been a while.”
He was amused at the way she was talking around the subject. As though she was afraid to say the right words. “How long?” She’d piqued his interest.
She blinked, her eyelashes sweeping down as a frown formed on her face. “Um, yeah. Quite a long time.” She laced her fingers together. “Like a really long time.”
Now he was curious. A half smile formed on his lips. Normally, he wasn’t the possessive sort, but the thought he’d reawakened something in her made him want to do it all over again. “A year?” he asked.
She shook her head, still not meeting his gaze. “Longer.”
So she was making this a game of higher or lower. He could handle that. “Two?”
“Longer.”
He tipped her chin up with his fingers, needing to see her eyes. “How long?”
There was something going on behind those pretty eyes – a struggle that made him want to reach out and calm her. Though he couldn’t tell in the candlelight, he tho
ught she was blushing. “I can’t.” She shook her head again, her lips twisting together. “It’s so embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s just us. Nobody else. I don’t care about your past, though I’m interested in it. I want to know your story.”
She relaxed against the sand, pulling her hands apart. “I haven’t had sex since I got pregnant with Nick.”
He tried to keep his shock under control, but failed miserably. His eyes widened. “Seriously? You haven’t had sex in nine years?” Damn, so much for not caring. He tried to temper his tone. “Why not?”
“It’s hard being a single mom. Even getting to go out was a miracle, and don’t forget I lived on my parents’ estate. I couldn’t exactly bring guys home, even if I’d wanted to. Which I didn’t.”
The way she looked away from him made him sense that wasn’t the entire story. “Okay. That’s understandable. You had Nick to think of.”
“And I guess, you don’t miss what you haven’t had.”
He tipped his head. “Can you explain that? I don’t quite understand.”
“I’ve only had two experiences of sex in my life, and both times ended with consequences. There was us that one night that we got caught…” She waved her hand. “And then you left.” Her voice trembled. “Then there was Jamie.” She sighed. “Which led to me being pregnant.”
His stomach tightened. He hadn’t expected that. “You’ve never had a good experience of sex.” He shook his head, trying not to frown too hard. “That’s terrible.”