Page 59 of Live a Little!

“First, a visualinspection.”

She fought frustration as he left her wet and throbbing and needy to slide the straps all the way off. He stood back as the dress slipped to the floor in a heap no larger than a silk handkerchief. He let out a low whistle. “I like that thing.” He turned her this way and that, insisting on a complete visualinspection.

Then he traced the top of her stockings, where the skin wasbare.

His fingertips were a little rough and very warm. He sank two fingers into her, slow and deliberate. Fortunately his left arm was wrapped around her waist or her trembling legs would have dropped her to the floor at the surprise assault. His fingers thrust in and out in a deliberate tempo while his thumb rubbed incounterpoint.

She wanted to strip his shirt off, but her hands had ceased to obey orders from her brain. She just clung to him, feeling the pressure build and build, hearing her own panting cries from a distance, until her head fell back and she cried out loud as a great wave swamped her. Her legs buckled, and he swung her up high against his chest and carried her to thebed.

He stripped, then snapped off the bedside lamp, leaving the curtains open to let in light from the nearly full moon. He took his time unhooking her from the merry widow, touching and caressing each inch of new flesh he revealed. Everything seemed to glow in the moonlight. Her breasts, his teeth, his biceps as he leaned over her; his beautiful eyes as he stared ather.

Somethinghappened.

Something magical and frightening, as enchanted and ephemeral as the moonlight itself. He stared into her eyes, and she stared back, feeling an acute sense of recognition.It’s you,she found herself thinking.It’s reallyyou.

She lifted a hand to his face, tracing his lips with her finger as he settled between her thighs. He entered her slowly, and her body welcomed him. It was as mundane and as magical as a ship pulling into port, a car pulling into the garage. He washome.

His body belonged inside hers just as they belonged together. Her breath shuddered in on a gasp of amazement as moisture pooled in hereyes.

She lovedhim.

She couldn’t tell him. The feeling was as fragile as it was new and unexpected, so she held the words inside her, but let her feelings out through every other method of expression. With each touch, each lift of her hips to meet his thrusts, with each kiss of her lips to his, each sigh and breath, she told him.I loveyou.

His eyes were dark and serious, their expression unreadable. But there was no teasing in them, none of the joking game-playing of earlier. Did he feel it, too? The knowledge that they were meant to be together? Was all the love in this room coming from her, or was some of ithis?

She didn’t know and feared breaking the spell by speaking, so she held her peace and loved him with every part of her. She heard the slick slap of sweat-dewed flesh, his husky sighs as her blood began to pound louder and louder in her ears. She clung to his straining arms to anchor her to theearth.

Then, nothing could hold her. She was flying free, glowing with the moon, singing with the planets. In the distance she heard him cry out, then he collapsed on top of her.I love you,she mouthedsilently.

It was four a.m. by the luminous dial of his clock when he wokeher.

“Whaa…?”

“I want you home before it getslight.”

“Worried Oceanic’s spying on me?” she mumbled when she finally got her eyes to stayopen.

“No. I’m worried the neighbors are spying onme.”

She chuckled tiredly. “Course they are. But don’t worry, you’re not as big an attraction as Meals onWheels.”

“Do me a favor. Canceldinner.”

“I don’t get Meals onWheels.”

“Your date with Percivald. Cancelit.”

“Don’t you want me to wear awire?”

“You failed thetest.”

Even though he was joking about the test, she knew he wouldn’t let her wear any kind of recording device on her date. She felt unreasonably hurt. He wouldn’t let her do the simplest thing to try and crack this case. “Why did you bother recruiting me in the first place?” shegrumbled.

“To get you intobed.”

“Oh.” She felt so pleased she decided to forget about the wire. She didn’t need fancy FBI equipment, she could use the record app on her smartphone.

“Are you going to cancel?” His voice soundedstern.

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