Page 53 of About Last Night

She'd never known such intense indulgence, such sensual pampering. His tongue moved up and down, evoking spasms each time he stroked the little knob tucked in the midst of her slick petals. A low hum of energy swirled in her body, comingfrom all directions, but leading to a place deep within her womb. The loose sensations suddenly bundled together, then grew in force, as if they were trying to escape her body. Lulled into the rhythm set by his skillful mouth, she began to move with and against him. The ball of desire rolled faster and faster until she heard herself screaming for release. Then suddenly, a flash of pleasure-pain gripped her body, lifting her to a plateau of shattering ecstasy, then lowering her with numbing slowness back to earth… back to the bed… back to Derek.

Her body had barely stopped convulsing when he drew himself even with her and claimed another kiss. The musky smell of her own desire shocked her, the sharing of it so intimate. She thanked him with her kiss, pressing her sated body next to his, thrilling at the feel of his hard erection stabbing her thigh. Emboldened by his method of pleasing her, she reached down to gently grasp his arousal. His eyes fluttered closed as he groaned his approval, and she was gratified by the moisture that oozed from the tip. Stroking him with long, gentle caresses, she murmured against his neck, "Make love to me, Derek."

He lifted his head, his desire for her clear in his eyes. "Janine, I don't have protection with me."

"In my coat pocket," she said, thankful for Marie's forethought.

After a few seconds' hesitation, he lumbered to his feet, and was back in record time, ripping open a plastic packet with unrestrained vigor. She watched, riveted, as he squeezed the tip of the rubber, then quickly rolled it over his huge erection.

Weak with anticipation, Janine welcomed him back into her arms. They kissed, with fingers entwined, then he rolled her beneath him. Propped on his elbows, he held her hands on either side of her head, pressing them into the soft mattress with his strong fingers. Locking his gaze with hers, he settled between the cradle of her thighs, easily probing her still-wet entrance.

"Janine," he breathed.

A statement? A question? Heavy-lidded, his eyes glittered dark and luxurious. "Now," she whispered.

He entered her with a long, easy thrust, accompanied by their mingled moan of temporary satisfaction. The unbelievable sensation of him filling her overrode the fleeting stab of pain. He moved within her, slowly at first, and from the look of the muscle straining in his neck, with much restraint. But soon she was ready for his rhythm, urging him to a faster tempo with her hips, and clenching little-used internal muscles.

His guttural noises of pleasure banished any doubts she might have had about satisfying him. Content in the knowledge that what felt good to her also felt good to him, she rose to meet his powerful thrusts, sensing his impending release as their bodies met faster and faster. Suddenly he tensed and drove deep, burying his head in her neck, heralding his climax with a throaty growl of completion.

Holding him and holding on, she rocking with him until he quieted, until his manhood stopped pulsing.

She hadn't known, she marveled. Marie had told her.Cosmohad told her. Oprah had told her. But she hadn't known how wonderful intimacy could be with a man she truly cared about.

Janine stiffened at the bombshell revelation, her eyes flying open.

Derek lifted himself on one elbow. "Am I hurting you?"

"No," she murmured. But her chest was starting to tighten, and she recognized the warning signs of a panic attack. "But I need to get up."

He carefully withdrew from her body, but instead of rolling over as she'd expected, he sat up and gently pulled her into a sitting position. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, but the tug on her heart when she looked into his concerned eyes spurred her to change the subject, and fast. "I'm hungry now."

A grin climbed his face and he ran his hand through his hair. "Me too. I'll be right with you."

As he strode toward the bathroom, Janine reached for the T-shirt, then backtracked to the balcony for the sweatpants, her mind reeling.

The night air had taken on a sweeter pungency. Her senses seemed honed as she zeroed in on night birds crooning and insects chirping. Everything was louder, fresher, more vibrant. The world hadn't changed in the last hour, she acknowledged, but she certainly had.

She'd never experienced such physical and emotional intimacy with another person, and the intensity of their union frightened her. She felt vulnerable and exposed because she knew the encounter couldn't have meant as much to Derek as it had meant to her. Her heart squeezed when she thought of his face, his smile, his touch, but she quickly pushed aside her inappropriate response.

She didn't reallycarefor Derek, she reasoned. She was only fond of him because, after all, she'd given him her virginity. Of course she would feel attached to him in the immediate aftermath of something so momentous in her life.

But try as she might to calm herself, to distract herself, to convince herself otherwise, the tide of emotions continued to churn in her chest. She wasn't in love with Derek, she admonished herself. That would be irrational. Illogical. And highly irregular.

Stunned, Janine forced herself to dress hastily but could find only one flip-flop. She leaned over the railing and peered into the dark. Although she didn't see any flashes of yellow, she caught a glimpse of bright white—Derek's napkin-turned-bandage. Her flip-flop was probably down there somewhere, along with her water bottle. Glancing at her left hand wrapped around the railing, Janine stifled a cry of alarm. Along with something else?

* * *

DEREK CAREFULLYremoved the condom, dutifully checking for tears, especially since his orgasm had been so explosive. He frowned at the slight traces of blood, hoping their sex hadn't been uncomfortable for Janine. She certainly hadn'tsoundeduncomfortable. Frankly, her eagerness had surprised him, and just remembering her spirited responses made his body twitch. He could get used to her—

He stopped midmotion and gave himself a hard look in the mirror. He could get used to her... kind of enthusiasm. Ignoring the questions niggling at the back of his mind, he returned to the bedroom and pulled on his underwear. Janine had stepped onto the balcony, probably to fetch her clothes. He stuck his head out to check on her, and his heart lurched when her sobs reached his ears.

Remorse stabbed him. Had he hurt her? "Janine, what's wrong?" Panicked, he touched her arm, prepared to repair whatever damage he'd caused.

"I lost it," she said tearfully.

"Lost what?" he said, then spotted the sole sandal she held. "Your flip-flop? Don't cry, it's just a—"

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