A Promise of Thunder

compare to the fierce, wild pleasure he found in Storm Kennedy’s arms.
    Storm soared, lifted on the wings of Grady’s passion. The dazzling promise of climax dangled before her eyes like a ripe plum and she reached for it, giving herself up to the heat of Grady’s loving. The second climax of her life, when it came moments later, exploded inside her in wave after wave of lush, sensual rapture, and she cried out in unrestrained awe. Through a gathering mist she felt his body’s forces straining, focusing on release. His muscles tensed, his body surged and withdrew, his thrusts grew furious and uncontrolled.
    The white-hot splendor that washed over Grady was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. His body was racked by spasms, his face a mask of agony and ecstasy as his seed spurted into the receptive heat of her womb.
    When at last his breathing slowed to dull thunder, Grady slid from Storm’s tight sheath and lay beside her. Fitting her into the curve of his body, he continued to stroke and caress her. He felt strong and invincible, stronger than he ever felt in his life, strong enough to want her again … now.
    “Storm.” His voice was soft. “Are you all right?”
    Her muffled reply was a bit shaky. “Yes.”
    “Is it true, what you said earlier? About never having reached a climax with your husband, I mean.”
    Storm buried her face in the pillow, too embarrassed to allow him to see her confusion. She never even knew women
could
feelpleasure in the marriage bed. Or wanted to.
    “I—why must we speak of such things?”
    “Because I want to know. Tell me, sweetheart.”
    “Dammit, why must you know what transpired in my marriage bed?” Her anger was brilliant. “Will it make you feel any more manly to know that I never felt anything remotely like that with Buddy? Must you destroy every aspect of a marriage I thought perfect until you showed up in my life?”
    Grady felt ten feet tall. Storm’s reluctant disclosure brought Grandfather’s words instantly to mind. Did Storm Kennedy really hold the key to his peace of mind and happiness? Only time would tell, he thought as his arms tightened possessively around her. As tired as he was, he knew he wouldn’t sleep this night. There was too much to think about. And he wanted to be fully alert in the unlikely event that the two men who had attacked Storm in the dead of night returned.
    “Go to sleep, Storm. It’s late and you’ve been through a great deal tonight.”
    Storm preferred not to think right now. She was tired, so tired. Yet she knew when her good sense returned there would be issues to be resolved, recriminations to be confronted—and a conscience that must be placated. But it was difficult to think, let alone make decisions with her body still tingling from Grady’s hands and mouth and her insides churning with lingering pleasure. Tomorrow, shethought sleepily, tomorrow I’ll confront the shame and embarrassment of the terrible sin I have committed.
    Storm came awake slowly. She could hear the wind howling through the shattered window, but she felt cozy and comfortable, wrapped in a warm nest of blankets. Blankets? She knew of no blanket with the feel of silky strength like that which surrounded her. Shattered window? Suddenly the events of last night came to her with devastating clarity.
    She must have been out of her mind to allow a half-breed savage into her bed! And if she remembered correctly, she had responded to his loving with a dazzling display of shameful abandon. Because her response was completely at odds with what she had experienced with her husband, Storm knew that it was evil and sinful.
    Dragging in a shuddering sigh, Storm slowly turned her head and found Grady awake and regarding her with an indecipherable look on his face. “You’re awake,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”
    Memories of the pleasure they had shared during the night softened the harsh lines of his face. Though there were purple smudges of exhaustion around his eyes, he gave no indication that he had spent the night watching Storm sleep, marveling at the pure lines of her face and form and curling long strands of her lustrous blonde hair around his fingers. Whenshe stirred and opened her eyes, Grady hardened in instant arousal. Just thinking about making love to her again gave him strength.
    Storm couldn’t bring herself to look Grady in the eye so she stared at his chest. It was smooth, well-developed, and bronze, with a very light