Page 22 of Shadow Touched

He nipped her lobe. His warm breath tickledher hair. “Why not?”

“S-stop it, I can’t think when you dothat.”

“That’s the idea.” He rained little kissesover her jaw to land on her mouth. She opened for him, deepeningthe kiss. Their tongues met. Entwined. She moaned in pleasure,wanting more. “Can I touch you, Leia?”

“Aren’t you touching me now?” she asked, abit breathless.

“More. With you, I want more.”

“Don’t seduce me.”

He grinned against her mouth. “All right. Noseduction. At least let me return the pleasure you gave me.”

She cocked her head. “How did I dothat?”

“By being you.”

She didn’t know if he was being truthful orsimply telling her things she wanted to hear. “Yes.”

At her acquiescence, his ran his fingersdown her body, reaching the apex of her thighs. He pressed hisfinger against her, and she parted her legs. He rubbed her denimcovered pussy, kissing her breathless. She moaned and rubbedagainst him.

“Can I touch you some more?”

This time she couldn’t talk, only nod.Slowly, he unbuttoned her jeans and reached inside. Sliding downfarther, under the elastic of her panties to brush over her clit.She undulated against him, wanting more. He sank a finger into her.Time stopped just a little as she froze with how good it felt.Pinned against the tree, she wrapped her arms around his neck,giving herself over to the pleasure he had promised. His thumbteased her clit driving her even higher into the stratosphere. Hethrust his fingers deeper, increasing tempo. He blew against herear, and she cried out as she gave into the bliss. She hadn’t beentouched in a long time, but even with her one boyfriend she’d neverfelt the intensity that Brim created. He caressed her until shetrembled then removed his hand to hug her close.

She buried her face in his chest, not surehow to feel about what just happened.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” he murmured.

“I’ve never done anything like this.”

“What, enjoy yourself?” He eased her back tolook down at her. “You did enjoy yourself, right?”

Leia was glad the cover of darkness hid herwarm cheeks. “Yes,” she said.

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Good.”

“But … but you…”

“Shh,” he said. “Plenty of time for melater. For the record, I understand why you said it’s too soon, andyou’re right. I have been angry. At myself. At the world.Why my son? Why couldn’t it have been some other person’s son? Orme? I’d take his place in a heartbeat if I could.”

“I know,” she whispered, hugging himtightly.

They stayed like that for a long time underthe pale glow of the moon. Brim had just gone and confronted threestages of the grieving process in the matter of minutes, and Leiaknew he needed time to come to terms with it all. Finally, hepulled back and wiped his eyes before smiling down at her.

“Come on, let’s go enjoy some music, beer,and company.”

Brim let go of her, but reached down to takehold of her hand.

“By the way,” she said. “You’re sleeping inMartha’s house.”

“What?”

“And I’m in the grandstand.”

He sighed. “Of course.”

They walked back through the woods towardthe bonfire. Leia kept steeling glances at him, knowing that in theblink of an eye, everything had changed between them.

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