Deep Waters

spoon in, and turned toward Charity.
    "Have a bite," he said in a deep, sexy voice. "It will clear the palate."
    Charity folded her arms and leaned warily back against the refrigerator door. "I'll just bet it will."
    Elias teased her lower lip with the tip of the spoon. "Open wide."
    The fragrance of lime was fresh and invigorating. Against her better judgment, Charity parted her lips.
    Elias smiled slowly. His eyes narrowed as he slipped the spoon into her mouth.
    The lime exploded on her tongue, icy fireworks that sent wildly conflicting signals to her senses. She breathed deeply and watched as he took a bite of sorbet for himself from the same spoon.
    "Mind telling me what this is all about?" she asked.
    "This is about not being sweet." Elias set the spoon down on the counter and turned back to her. He planted both hands on the refrigerator door on either side of her head.
    Charity's pulse went into high gear. A tiny shiver of excitement lanced through her. "What isn't sweet?"
    "Me. Us. What we have together. Whatever the hell else it is, it isn't sweet."
    He slid one bare foot between her legs, lowered his mouth to hers, and crushed her against the hard refrigerator door.

11

    The observer must be prepared for the fact that the ripples in a disturbed pool will always crash against the rocks. - "On the Way of Water," from the journal of Hayden Stone

    Her mouth was still cool and fragrant from the effects of the lime sorbet. Elias felt Charity's lips part beneath his. He heard her small, muffled cry of excitement as she responded to him. The thrill of it reached deep into his body.
    "We didn't finish dessert," she whispered.
    "This is dessert. Like I said, it won't be sweet." He took his hands off the refrigerator door and fitted them to her waist.
    He lifted her, pressed her back against the blank white surface, used the weight of his body to pin her. He moved his hands lower. She clutched at him, burying her fingers in his hair, and kissed him with delicate greed.
    Heat from a fire hotter than that of the most exotic chile peppers surged through him. Elias cupped the rounded tops of her thighs and squeezed gently. Then he reached down to find the hem of her skirt.
    He heard her draw in her breath as he shoved the folds of the fabric up to her hips. She was not wearing stockings. Her skin was supple and warm and incredibly soft beneath his hands.
    "Wrap your legs around me," he whispered.
    "This will never work."
    "Hold on tight."
    He felt her answering shiver of response and gloried in it. One firm, curved thigh slid slowly up along the length of his denim-clad leg. The exquisite caress was nearly his undoing. He fought for his self-control.
    "Now the other one," he said against her throat. "You won't fall. I've got you."
    "Oh, my God." She clung to him as she circled his waist with her bare legs.
    The long turquoise blue skirt was a tropical pool of color around her hips. The scent of her arousal was a drug that threatened to destroy the grip he had on his own response.
    "Elias." Charity clenched her thighs around him as he traced a random pattern between her legs. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. "Ohmygod."
    He eased two fingers beneath the edge of the panties and stroked deeply. She was slick and wet and tight. He could feel his erection pushing hard against the front of his jeans.
    Charity released his head and tore at his shirt. She got it open and immediately began sliding her warm palms across his chest. Her fingers tangled in the crisp hair. She tugged gently. He sucked in his breath.
    "You feel good." Urgency hummed in her voice. "Very hard. Very strong."
    "Not too big?"
    She gave a choked laugh. "Just right. Perfect."
    "You're the one who feels good." He cupped the plump, hot folds that shielded her secrets. "Soaking wet, in fact."
    "This isn't fair. You have all the advantage. Let's go to the bedroom."
    "No, right here. Unzip my jeans,"
    Her hand slipped to the fastening. She freed him, took him into her hand, and then hesitated.
    "Front pocket of my shirt. You do it."
    The feel of her palm curled around him almost sent him over the edge. He closed his eyes briefly and gathered himself.
    "You planned this?" She sounded half amused, half shocked as she removed the packet from his pocket-He opened his eyes and met hers. "Let's just say I wanted to be prepared."
    "You must have been a Boy Scout."
    "No." He teased her swollen clitoris. "One thing you can be sure of. I was never a Boy Scout."
    "Elias."