her pulse scrambled. Her choice, she thought again, and one she'd taken

much too long to make. Then her mind filled up with him so completely

there was room for nothing else.

He felt the change, the slow, hesitant response as her lips parted

beneath his, as her body seemed to melt against him. He was trembling

himself as he skimmed kisses over her face. Then her arms came around

him and she found his lips with her own.

He lifted her up. It seemed the only way to love her this first time.

He continued to kiss her, light and promising, deep and drugging, as he

carried her into the bedroom.

The shades were drawn so that the sun beat against them in yellow waves.

He wished it could have been candlelight.

Emma tried not to stiffen when he laid her on the bed. She knew it

would go quickly now. She wanted him to go on kissing her, holding her.

But she knew better. She thought she knew better.

He was beside her. He didn't roll on top of her and tug at her clothes.

His mouth sought hers again, to seduce as much as to rea.s.sure. Though

her body was taut as wire, she seemed so fragile. Her skin, her mouth,

the scent that he could wallow in when he buried his face in her hair.

Her fingers brushed hesitantly over his bare chest, nearly driving him

mad.

With a little moan of pleasure, he began to tease her tongue with his.

Her taste ran through him like a warm river. He moved slowly, confusing

her. Seducing her. She waited for him to take, but he continued to

give.

His hands ran over her, making her shudder. But there was no fear in

it. Here, at last, was generosity. Here, at last, was compa.s.sion. A

pleasure so deep and dark coursed through her that she moved against

him, hands clutching. Greed poured into her. She hadn't known she

could feel it, not for a man. Her hands were in his hair, dragging his

mouth back to hers so that she could sink into those hot, wet kisses.

When he drew back, she moaned in protest and reached for him.

"I want to look at you," he told her. "I've waited a long time to look

at you here."

She could only stare, bewildered and aching as he brushed his hands

through her hair, watching the way it fell from his fingers onto the

pillow. He continued to watch her face as he slowly unb.u.t.toned her

blouse. He could see the confusion in her eyes, and the cloudy haze of

desire. It made it easy to be tender.

When she lifted a hand to cover herself, he took it, pressed her fingers

to his lips. With her hand still in his, he lowered his mouth to her

breast. A groan escaped him. She was small and firm. Sweet.

Unbearable.

Her skin fired with the slightest touch. He filled himself with her,

the taste, the smooth silky texture. He could hear her breath, as fast

and shallow as his own. Her body arched as he peeled the blouse from

her.

His mouth was everywhere. She shivered from the heat as he ranged

quick, openmouthed kisses over her face, her shoulders, then gently,

torturously, down her rib cage. She jolted when he used his teeth, but