Death is Forever

then the middle line of his body to his breastbone. With great care she closed her teeth over a sleek swell of muscle. His breath broke again and she smiled.
    “I like that,” she said. “I like knowing I can affect you.”
    “Then run your hands a little farther down and watch the fireworks,” he offered, smiling despite the need that made his whole body clench.
    Her laughter was like soft flames licking against his stomach. For a few moments there was only the sound of skin sliding over skin and his quickening breaths as she stroked his chest.
    “Cole,” she whispered against his neck, “would you touch me too?”
    He unlocked fingers that ached from the pressure he’d used to keep from reaching for the soft temptation of her body.
    “Where?” he asked huskily.
    She made a puzzled sound against his skin.
    “Where do you want to be touched?” Cole felt the heat of Erin’s blush where her cheek lay against his chest. He smiled. “Good. That’s one of the places I’m dying to touch.”
    But he teased her first, caressing the hollows beneath her slanting cheekbones, fitting the warmth of her neck into the hard curve of his palm, massaging her arms from shoulders to fingertips until her eyes closed and his name came from her lips in a sigh of pleasure. He kept stroking her until she began to twist in slow motion against his hand, wanting him to touch the breasts whose nipples were growing hard with her own arousal.
    “Cole, please,” she said, her voice husky.
    “Please, what?”
    Instead of answering, she took his hand and drew it over one breast. The first instant of contact made her shiver. Instinctively she moved against him, trying to ease the sensual ache as her nipple hardened in a rush.
    Cole felt the change in her, saw it, and the force of his own response made his hand shake. Slender fingers closed over his, but not to push him away. Slowly she pressed him closer and yet closer, moving against his hard palm.
    “Do you like that?” he asked, trying to make his voice gentle, and failing. His tone was like his body, too hard, too hot, too obviously aroused.
    “Yes, but…”
    He set his jaw and lifted his hand, freeing her. Immediately her arms moved as though to shield her breasts if he changed his mind.
    “It’s all right,” he said.
    Then he realized that Erin wasn’t withdrawing. She was trying to unbutton her blouse, but her hands were trembling too much. A wave of desire clenched his body, shaking him with its intensity. He took her hands, brushed his lips over them, and smoothed her fingers against his chest.
    “Let me,” he said.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered, “I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m shaking, but I’m not scared. Really I’m not.”
    “Look at my hands.”
    She looked, saw the fine tremor in his fingers, and made a sound of surprise.
    “Yeah, it shocked me too,” he said. “I’ve never wanted a woman until my hands shook.”
    Her eyes widened. She glanced back to his face and saw that he was watching her, half expecting her to panic.
    “Should that make me nervous?” she asked.
    “Why not?” he muttered. “It scares the hell out of me.”
    Deliberately Erin glanced down the length of his torso.
    “Um, I don’t know how to put this, but that doesn’t look like fright.”
    Cole laughed and the claws of hunger loosened in his groin. His fingers eased between the warm folds of her blouse, pushing aside the dark cloth until he could see the smooth rise of her breasts beneath a rose-colored bra.
    “Should I stop now?” he asked, sliding a fingertip beneath the edge of the bra, skimming the rising and falling of her breasts. “Or do you want me to touch you the way you touched me?”
    Before courage deserted her, Erin reached up and undid the front fastening of her bra.
    For the space of two breaths Cole simply looked at her and counted the pulse hammering in his body. Her breasts were more beautiful than he had expected, full and high, and her nipples were flushed deep rose with desire. Her skin was flushed as well, bringing into stark relief the fine white lines of old scars.
    Understanding hit, bringing him under control in a freezing rush. “He used a knife on you.”
    It took her a moment to figure out what Cole meant.
    “I forgot about the scars,” she said. “They’re much less ugly than they used to be, but I understand if you don’t want to—”
    Erin’s voice broke as the tip of Cole’s tongue traced first one scar, then