Angels Fall

fingers, his lips, brushed and stroked over newly exposed skin. The scent of his soap on her aroused a possessive-ness in him. His. To touch, to taste, to hold. Her fingers feathered over his face, into his hair as her body arched to give. And give.
    The strength of him, the muscles, the big hands, the tough build now so gentle thrilled her. That he could touch her with such care and patience, that his lips could meet hers, again and again, with such sweetness left her dazzled.
    Everything inside her went loose and liquid, and still he gave her more. The blood began to pulse under her skin; the first beats of urgency. As if he heard it, he took her up, let that coiled need spring loose. And as she drifted down again, she made a sound like a woman who'd just tasted something rich and honeyed.
    Her heavy eyes opened, dreamed into his.
    He fell into them, into the dark magic of them. His heart fell with him, tumbling, tumbling free. He couldn't stop it, couldn't catch it, or himself.

    He slipped into her. watched her start the rise again.
    "Don't close your eyes." He covered her mouth with his, still watching while thev moved together. Rhythm quickened: breath shortened. His body began its final rush while she raced with him. He gripped her hands and saw those eyes he couldn't resist blur as she fisted tight around him. As she said his name. His own vision dimmed as she pulled him with her.
    They lay together, wrapped together, as the night ticked away and the embers died. When he felt her begin to drift off, he simply reached up to pull the throw on the back of the couch over them. She cuddled in. murmured something. Then slept.
    Beside her he closed his eyes and smiled into the dark. She hadn't asked him to check the locks, he thought, but had slipped into sleep without fear.

    LO HAD HIS hand up Linda-gail's shirt and a condom in his pocket. The part of his brain that still remained above his belt buckle flashed back to when they'd been sixteen and the situation had been remarkably similar.
    Only this time they were in her little house instead of the old Ford pickup his mother had helped him buy. There was a bedroom close by. though the couch would do just fine.
    Her pretty breast—which he hadn't gotten a look at since that summer so long ago—was soft and warm in his hand. Her mouth, and heel never forgotten her mouth, was just as hot and sweet as spiced candy. And God. she smelled good
    She was so miraculously curvy. Fuller than she'd been at sixteen, but in all the right places. And it at first he'd been baffled, even a little annoyed that she'd gone off and dyed her hair, he was currently finding it damn sexy. Almost like having his hands on a stranger.
    But when that hand slid down to the button of her jeans, hers clamped over it. She said, as she'd said at sixteen. "Uh-uh."
    "Oh now, honey." He spread his fingers up over her belly, felt it tremble as he nibbled his way down her throat. "I just want—'
    "Can't always get what you want, Lo." Her voice wasn't steady, but she kept her hand firm over his.
    "And you're not getting it tonight."
    "You know I want you. God almighty, I always have. You want me. too." His lips made a lazy journey back to hers. "Why do you want to tease me this way, sweetheart?"
    "Don't call me sweetheart unless you mean it. And this isn't a tease." It took a lot of willpower to push away from him. but she did just that. When she did, she could see the surprise on his face, and the first hints of anger. "It's not going to be like that between you and me."
    "Like what?"
    "You won't be banging me. then moving on."
    "Well, for Christ's sake. Linda-gail." Sincere confusion rippled over his face. "You're the one who said I should come over."
    "To talk about Reece."
    "Now that's bull and you know it. You didn't scream for help when I kissed you."
    "I liked when you kissed me. I like it just fine. I always did, Lo."
    "Then what's the problem?"
    "We're not kids anymore, and I'm not looking for a couple of nights of wrestling. If you are, you might as well go find one of the women you know who're happy with just that." Fussily, she smoothed her half-buttoned shirt "I've got higher standards."
    "Higher standards?" The hints of anger coalesced. "That's a hell of a thing to say to me. You got me over here just to stir me up, then flick me off. Got names for women like that." Her chin lifted, very slowly, until their eyes met. Hers shot hot bullets. "You think that, you'd better get out. Right