Page 77 of Megan's Mate
His heart was pounding. She could feel it rocket against her palm. In the lamplight, his eyes were dark as smoke. The robe pooled around her knees when she straddled him. She massaged his shoulders, his arms, his hands, kissing the scraped knuckles, laving them with her tongue.
The air was like syrup, thick and sweet. It caught in his lungs with each labored breath. No other woman had ever made him feel helpless, drained and sated, all at once.
“Megan, I need to touch you.”
Watching him, she reached for the belt of the robe, loosened it. In one fluid movement, the silk slid from her shoulders. Beneath she wore a short slip of the same color and texture. As he reached up, one thin strap spilled off her shoulder.
She closed her eyes, let her head fall back, as his hands stroked over the silk then beneath. The colors were back, all those flashing, dazzling lights that had erupted in the sky. Stars wheeled inside her head, beautifully hot. Craving more, she rose over him, took him into her with a delicious slowness that had them both gasping.
She shuddered when he arched up, gripping her hips in his hands. Now the colors seemed to shoot into her blood, white-hot, and her skin grew damp and slick. Suddenly greedy, she swooped down, devouring his lips, fingers clutching the bruised flesh she’d sought to soothe.
“Let me.” She moaned and pressed his hands against her breasts. “Let me.”
With a wildness that staggered him, she drove him hard, riding him like lightning. He called out her name as his vision dimmed, as the frantic need convulsed like pain inside him. Release was like a whiplash that stung with velvet.
She tightened around him like a fist and shattered him.
Weak as water, she flowed down, rested her head on his chest. “Did I hurt you?”
He couldn’t find the strength to wrap his arms around her and let them lie limp on the bed. “I can’t feel anything but you.”
“Nathaniel.” She lifted her head to press a kiss to his thundering heart. “There’s something I forgot to tell you yesterday.”
“Hmm... What’s that?”
“I love you, too.” She watched his eyes open, saw the swirl of emotion darken them.
“That’s good.” His arms, no longer weak, circled her, cradled her.
“I don’t know if it’s enough, but—”
He turned his lips to hers to quiet her. “Don’t mess it up. ‘For love’s sake only,’ Megan. That’s enough for tonight.” He kissed her again. “Stay with me.”
“Yes.”
Chapter 12
Fireworks were one thing, but when the Calhouns put their heads together planning Coco’s engagement party, there promised to be plenty of skyrockets.
Everything from a masked ball to a moonlight cruise had been considered, with the final vote going to dinner and dancing under the stars. With only a week to complete arrangements, assignments were handed out.
Megan squeezed time out of each day to polish silver, wash crystal and inventory linens.
“All this fuss.” Colleen thumped her way to the closet where Megan was counting napkins. “When a woman her age straps herself down to a man, she should have the sense to do it quietly.”
Megan lost count and patiently began again. “Don’t you like parties, Aunt Colleen?”
“When there’s a reason for them. Never considered putting yourself under a man’s thumb reason to celebrate.”
“Coco’s not doing that. Dutch adores her.”
“Humph. Time will tell. Once a man’s got a ring on your finger, he doesn’t have to be so sweet and obliging.” Her crafty eyes studied Megan’s face. “Isn’t that why you’re putting off that big-shouldered sailor? Afraid of what happens after the ‘I-dos’?”
“Of course not.” Megan laid a stack of linens aside before she lost count again. “And we’re talking about Coco and Dutch, not me. She deserves to be happy.”
“Not everybody gets what they deserve,” Colleen shot back. “You’d know that well, wouldn’t you?”
Exasperated, Megan whirled around. “I don’t know why you’re trying to spoil this. Coco’s happy, I’m happy. I’m doing my best to make Nathaniel happy.”
