"Sorry." He stopped as the usual phrases he normally referred to women he'd known in the past didn't seem at all appropriate. "Is something wrong?"

Rayne shook her head. "Aren't you going to...you know?"

Sean smiled and lifted one hand to smooth an errant strand of hair back from her face. "I wasn't sure if you'd fallen asleep. You looked so peaceful that I hesitated to interrupt."

"I wasn't asleep." She paused and shifted around a little. A second later she pulled a crinkled condom package from beneath her. "Still have enough to go around." Grinning she held the prophylactic up with her fingers.

Sean reached out and took the packet from her. "Just what all did you want me to work my way around?"

"Me?"

He paused before answering, having heard the catch in her throat despite the boldness of her reply. Lightly, he pressed his lips to her forehead, the bridge of her nose, and lastly her chin, completely skipping her lips. From there he kissed her right cheekbone, and then the left. Moving a little on the bed, he kissed her breastbone. Another light kiss and he was between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"You know, if I kiss you all the way around that could open up some interesting...positions."

Even in the dim light Sean could see the bright flush staining her cheeks. Perhaps it was too soon to explore some avenues. Kissing her parted lips, his tongue caressed its way inside and explored the softness within. His hands began caressing her body, from her breast to her thighs and back up. As far as he was concerned, he was ready and about as hard as he'd ever been. But he wanted to arouse Rayne once again. Often he'd satisfy a woman first, and then enter her c.u.n.t, to come inside her tight, wet body. With Rayne, though, he wanted her to climax with him inside of her. He also wanted her to come as hard as she had earlier.

It didn't take long once he shifted one hand between her thighs. While his fingers began to entice and seduce her, his mouth lowered to capture her nipple once again. Soon he matched the sucking motion to that of his fingers until her hips were writhing and her legs scissoring restlessly. He sensed she was nearing her peak so he quickly grabbed a packet and ripped it open.

Rayne's hands lifted to help. "Can I do that?"

Sean shook his head quickly. "Not this time, Rayne. I don't have that much control." He gently pushed her down and moved above her. She was already moving her legs apart, lifting one leg. He paused and positioned her legs, prompting her gently with his words. "That's it, my sweet. Ready?"

He waited until she nodded in agreement and then he eased forward, instead of thrusting. Moving slowly, he pushed forward until he was fully embedded in her hot channel. Bracing with his arms, his hips began moving. With measured strokes he went in and out. He had the thought that he would draw this out as long as possible, but that was before Rayne's o.r.g.a.s.m began. As before she seemed surprised, but he felt the beginning muscle contractions, soon strengthening and quickening. Each one of her muscles seemed to be grabbing and sucking on his c.o.c.k all of a sudden. The air around them felt alive with electricity again.

"Oh G.o.d!" Rayne cried loudly, her arms and legs wrapping around his body, trying to hold him close.

There was no holding out any longer for him, though. With a single shout of release, Sean's hips jerked in and out of her body, with much quicker strokes. He felt her body beneath him, around him, and he was in heaven. Above them he thought he heard the thunder crack through the skies once again. As he released his seed, everything charged with static electricity. When he looked at her, there was an aura surrounding her. His hips jerked forward again for the last time.

Sean leaned down and kissed Rayne's mouth. Her lips were curved upward in a gentle smile. A sudden surge of pride filled him. He had satisfied this incredibly beautiful woman. In truth, while pleasuring a woman had always been a priority for him, feeling that it was the most important part of lovemaking was a shock to him. He started to shift away, but her legs tightened around his hips.

"I'm too heavy," Sean protested quietly. "I don't want to crush you."

The grin on her face made his chest swell. "What a way to go, huh?"

Sean laughed and when she lowered her legs he moved off of her body. "Shall we get under the covers?" he asked softly.

Rayne nodded and moved reluctantly. Quietly she swept the remaining packets together, and set them in the drawer beside the bed. When she glanced up, Sean was removing the used condom. Quickly she turned away, wondering how a person handled things like this. Before she could think about it seriously, Sean flipped the covers back. He climbed into her bed as if he'd done it a thousand times before. Her breath caught in her chest at seeing his broad shoulders and tanned skin against her white sheets with the tiny pink roses. Her eyes lifted and saw his head resting on the bright pink pillow she'd chosen as accent color for the bed. Hurriedly she got under the covers as well.

Lying beside him, with the sheet tucked under her arms, she folded her hands. Reality was. .h.i.tting her hard in the face at the moment. What was supposed to happen now? Idle chatter? Could she possibly sleep in a bed with a man she hardly knew? Suddenly she wished she had discussed this kind of thing with her sisters, or another woman. But she'd been living on her own for so long that the subject had never before come up. So now what? She chewed her lower lip as she pondered.

Slowly, she started circling her thumbs around one another. Going one way about ten times, and then stopping and reversing direction. After her fifth change of direction, Sean's hand covered hers, stopping the restless movement.

"What's wrong?"

Rayne didn't turn to look at him. "Nothing is wrong. Why should anything be wrong? I'm fine."

"Do you want me to leave?"

It shocked her that he had so easily gotten to the hub of her dilemma, which unsettled her deeply. It should have made her feel relieved that he was bringing the subject up so she didn't have to, right? But it wasn't relief she felt. G.o.d! Had he brought it up because he really wanted to leave, but wanted to leave it to her to make the final decision? Was he wishing that he could skip out and never see her again? This was making her crazier than she normally was!

"Is that what you want to do? Uhm...is that what you usually do...in situations like this?" She spoke softly, hated the unsteadiness in her voice and hesitation.

Immediately the bed shifted beside her. A moment later Sean was pressed to her side and his hand was turning her face toward his. The anger on his face gave her another unexpected surprise. G.o.d! This was turning into a night full of unexpected emotions and happenings.

"Let's get a few things straight, Ms. Waters."

Rayne heard the affronted tone in his voice. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to reply, but then it became a moot point as he continued.

"Number one-this is a first for me. I have never, got that, never had s.e.x with a woman I've only just met. Not even in my wilder days. That isn't me. Understand?"

Rayne nodded, but Sean wasn't really waiting for her acknowledgment as he continued.

"Second-if you don't want me to spend the night just say so, d.a.m.n it! You don't have to handle me with kid gloves. I've got a tough skin."

Silence followed his words. Rayne waited for at least a minute for him to go on, but he didn't. Finally she spoke up. "Third?"

"Third? What makes you think there's a third?"

Rayne shrugged her shoulders. "I just a.s.sumed from the way you were going that there had to be a number three."

"All right! Third-don't ever twiddle your thumbs after we've made love. If I bored you, or I didn't measure up to your expectations, then just tell me to my face, lady! Don't sugar coat it, sweetheart, or play bored. I won't act like your boy toy that leaves your bed immediately after he's performed his tricks." He turned away and laid down, flat on his back. "And if you chew your lower lip, I'm going to kiss you every time."

Rayne felt her mind reeling under all those telling revelations. Obviously this confident and a.s.sured man was feeling some of the same things she had. It certainly made her feel better to know she wasn't the only one feeling like a fish out of water here. She started to twirl her thumbs again, but stopped abruptly, separating her hands and placing them palms down on the sheet covering her stomach. Her lower lip crept between her teeth unconsciously before she realized it, but stopped that quickly as well. She wasn't stopping because of Sean, though. And she'd tell him that, in a minute.

"You shouldn't be using the pink pillow," she said a moment later. The minute the words left her lips, she knew how stupid they would sound. Beside her, she heard Sean chuckle softly.

"Pink isn't my best color? Is that what you're saying? Or are you one of those people who think redheads shouldn't wear pink or red?"

Rayne couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled out. Giggling, she sat up, holding the sheet in place. "You don't have red hair, but Colleen does. She'd look beautiful in any color. And I only said that because I didn't know what else to say at this point."

Sean sat up beside her, reaching behind her back and exchanging her sage green pillow for his pink one. "How's that?"

"Better," she told him softly, intensely aware of his masculinity suddenly. "I've never done this before, either, so I really didn't know what I was supposed to do. My grandmother didn't cover this, so if there was a proper etiquette-way to handle it, I never learned it. I know I screwed up the whole condom thing. Oh, and the chewing my lip thing would make number four."

Sean smiled at her, reaching out to casually push her hair back. His fingers brushed her shoulders and she felt the frissons of desire course through her again. "You won't hear any complaints from me. I thought you handled it quite well."

"Thanks, I guess. This was a first for me too, and I didn't know...anyway, I always chew my lip or twiddle my thumbs when I'm nervous and don't know what to do, or say. I wasn't bored. I couldn't be bored. It was amazing."

Sean grinned and lay back down, this time with his hands behind his head. Rayne looked at him over her shoulder and decided that he looked the epitome of a satisfied male, on several levels. She wasn't angry and a moment later scooted back down in the bed as well. Taking a deep breath, she ended up yawning.

"I'm getting rather sleepy myself. Do you want me to go, or stay?" Sean asked.

Rayne pondered for a moment, yawning again as she did so. "You can stay, please. Uhm, I do have a question, though."

"What is it?"

"If you stay, do you think you'll want to do it again? Tonight, I mean."

Sean grinned, but he didn't answer her right away. Instead, he tossed the covers back and went over to turn off the single light. Despite the darkness, he still made his way to her bed without b.u.mping into anything or stubbing his toe once. As he climbed back into bed, he shifted around and rearranged his pillows.

"If you insist, I could probably manage to do it again tonight. But I am rather tired as well, so if you could wait until morning-"

Rayne punched his arm.

Sean cuddled up close to her warm body. "Besides, there is nothing like morning s.e.x. All warm, relaxed and still drowsy. Now go to sleep, Rayne. I'll wake you if anything important comes up."

Rayne fell asleep with her head pillowed on his chest, cradled in his arm.

Chapter Six.

Dawn was just lighting the sky as Sean approached the front porch of his house. As he walked along, idly he'd kick at rocks. This was pretty much the last place he wanted to be right now. But discretion had told him to get back home before his sister was up to begin cooking breakfast. He also wanted to be cleaned up and ready to face the day before Bob, or any of the workers, started their morning ch.o.r.es.

"Look what that mangy cat dragged home."

Sean's head jerked upward. In spite of the dim light, he could see Bob seated on the porch. Trying to think quickly, he opted for delay tactics.

"What makes you say that?"

"Perhaps it's those scratch marks."

"d.a.m.n!" Sean realized that he'd forgotten to slip his shirt on before he reached the house, but he'd been too lost in his thoughts to remember. "So you didn't know that I'd left the house last night?"

"Nope, and I doubt Colleen does either. But you should probably get cleaned up before she comes down. I got the impression that she is quite fond of your new 'friend' even though she doesn't know her well yet. She might have a hard time choosing loyalty to her brother, if you should screw this up."

Sean pulled his shirt on, b.u.t.toning it up halfway. Walking up the steps, he paused to lean against the post. "What makes you think there is something for me to 'screw up,' as you put it?"

Bob grinned at his brother-in-law. "Hmm, from what Colleen has told me, and since I've known you, you have never had a long-term relationship with a woman. Granted, you may be suffering from temporary impairment of your senses, but Rayne is the kind of woman a man commits to. Don't get me wrong here, Sean. I love Colleen with every fiber of my being, and I love her more every day we're together. Still, I'm not dead. I can understand the attraction."

Sean couldn't explain his reluctance to discuss Rayne, or his relationship with her, with anyone. He knew Bob only had his best interest at heart, but that didn't change the strange feelings he'd been experiencing since he'd first seen her. It was more than just being physically drawn to her. There were things beneath the surface beyond his last job for the Agency to check her out. Last night he'd felt more than arousal and satiation. In fact, his feelings were deeper than any he'd ever experienced before, and he was angry that he was feeling anything at all.

h.e.l.l! All he'd wanted was to leave the Agency and enjoy his life in quiet, without danger and intrigue waiting around every corner. From their advance check, everything had indicated that even if Rayne had some psychic power, it wasn't a great deal. Most psychics used their powers to further their financial gain whenever possible. Seeing the modest house, and the miniscule farming concern, it was obvious she wasn't bettering herself in any way other than the old-fashioned way-hard work. So his involvement, if that is what it was, couldn't be construed as anything else.

Sean stopped as he realized he wasn't making any sense. Was it possible that she had robbed him of logical thought? Maybe she was a modern Delilah and she could steal his "strength" by having s.e.x with him.

"Aren't you two the early birds? What in the world are you both doing up at this hour?"

Both men rushed to answer her at the same time, but then Sean gestured for Bob to answer first.

"You were so restless, honey, that I just surrendered and got up."

"Just restless, I guess."

Colleen looked at him for another second before she nodded once and crossed the porch to take the chair beside her husband. She folded her hands atop her belly. "We had planned that conference call for tonight at nine. I a.s.sume you'll be around for it."

Sean absent-mindedly nodded his head in agreement. The word "night" had him imagining another night in Rayne's bed. How he'd get through the day without seeing her was beginning to loom as a major problem. He knew he was acting as randy as a virgin bridegroom on his honeymoon. It didn't matter what else was going on, where they were or how much money they'd spent-all he really wanted was to be in bed, with his new wife.

"I'm going to shower. We've got a lot to get done today."

"And the call?" Colleen asked again with determination, evident by the tone in her voice.

"I will do my best to be around for the big call with the rest of the family." Sean held his hand up in the traditional Boy Scout honor signal before turning toward the door. As he ran upstairs, he heard Colleen expressing her doubts to her husband.

"I'd better work on a good excuse for why Sean couldn't be home for the call."

"Don't fret, love. Sean will do his best..."

Later that day, when Sean was so distracted he almost caught his hand in the blades of the machine he and Bob had been working on, he excused himself and went into his office to do the never-ending paperwork. He didn't get anything accomplished because his attention kept wandering. All he had to do was close his eyes to recall every second of last night with Rayne. Each touch, caress and kiss was reexamined throughout the afternoon as he sat alone, staring at the computer screen.

Somehow he made it through dinner and excused himself to go back to his office again. He sat there until Colleen and Bob joined him for the call with the rest of the family. It surprised him that during the entire call his thoughts were focused more on a woman he hardly knew instead of on the lively family discussion. Once the call ended, Colleen and Bob informed him that they were going to bed early.

A few minutes later he wandered out to the front porch and sat down. As he propped his booted feet on the porch railing, he thought that the night was still warm and he couldn't help but wonder if Rayne was watering now. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was still a few minutes until ten, which was the time she told him that she usually started.

If he drove to her place, he would be there in about seven minutes. His boots. .h.i.t the wood a second later and he was jogging to the truck. The keys were in it and he was driving almost too d.a.m.ned fast toward Rayne's about a minute after he'd finished the thought.

Rayne looked up as the truck lights started up the short gravel road to her place. Even though she wasn't expecting anyone, there was no doubt in her mind whose truck it was. She turned her attention back to the old-fashioned water pump, continuing to fill her a.s.sortment of buckets. A minute later, a pair of boots came into her peripheral vision. Without looking up she spoke softly.

"h.e.l.lo, Sean."

"I came to help you water. With the two of us, it won't take as long."

"That is true, but you don't have to help me. I a.s.sume you came over for s.e.x." As the words left her lips, they didn't sound as uncaring and casual as they had when she'd practiced being nonchalant and light-hearted. She didn't want to reveal how deeply her emotions were running already for this man. Caring for him would be to break all of the rules. It would be risky and she was not a risk taker. Maybe her sisters could do it, but she wasn't strong enough to cope with the circ.u.mstances. That's why she kept separate from others, to keep her heart safe and whole.

Years earlier, when it came time for her to leave home, she had asked her grandmother if she could have an old trunk in the attic. As expected, Maile had nodded her head, never asking which trunk or if it held anything. Nestled deep inside were some very old keepsakes. The most valuable, in her opinion, was the diary she'd found buried at the bottom of the trunk. The diary had belonged to her great-grandmother and contained facts that Rayne doubted had been recorded anywhere else.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted as Sean grabbed her forearms and pulled her up as he stood. Facing him, she could see the anger on his face. "I'm sorry if my honesty offends you, but I thought if that's what you came for..." she paused and shrugged her shoulders, "...then we could go on in and do it before I water. After you leave, I'll come back out and finish."

For a minute, Sean didn't reply. Rayne could see that he was struggling to control his anger. Knowing that keeping her mouth shut probably would have been the wisest choice she went on talking.