Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

each erotic image and enhancing it with his own. She was stunned by the heat rushing through her, the flames dancing over her skin and in her belly, the tingling in her thighs and the naked longing in her feminine core.
    His hand slid under her shirt, cupping the underside of her breast, sending a wave of liquid fire rushing between her legs. The silken wall of small muscles tightened in anticipation, and her song harmonized completely with his until she couldn't tell one from the other.
    It was Ilya who pulled away, not putting space between their bodies, but lifting his head inches from hers and running his hands down her arms until he found her hands. His fingers tangled with hers, and he rested his forehead against hers, struggling to get his breathing under control.
    'You aren't helping me at all.'
    'I know.' Her voice came out a husky whisper, maybe even an invitation, but she couldn't help it. 'I'm sorry' But she doubted if that was true.
    'You aren't ready and I'm trying to be noble. Nobility isn't my strong suit, Joley, so you've got to help me out.
    Otherwise, we'll spend hours in bed and you'll roll over hating me and hating yourself. You have to know I'm the one.
    You have to accept me as your other half.'
    'You've been seducing me for months,' she reminded him, trying to absolve herself of the guilt. 'With your voice.
    You know I'm susceptible to sound and you use that against me.' It was a pathetic accusation and she knew it. She wasn't helpless, she hadn't even tried to stop him. He'd mesmerized her so completely she hadn't even turned to her sisters for help, not seriously. She wanted him - lusted after him - was consumed by her obsession with him. She grasped at that. 'Obsession is not love.'
    His blue eyes were dark with arousal. T don't give a damn what it is, Joley. I don't care what you call it. Love, lust, obsession, need, whatever. We belong. That's all that matters. We fit. You're mine and I'm yours, and there doesn't need to be an endless discussion on the subject. We are. Once you accept that, we'll be fine.'
    'I don't tease men, Ilya, that's not what I'm trying to do.'
    'I know that.'
    'Why is it like this between us? We're so obviously wrong for each other.'
    He pressed a kiss to her forehead. 'We're so obviously right, even our songs merge.'
    That startled her. 'You do see melodies.'
    'And colors. Yours are all over mine.'
    She shook her head. 'No, if that were true, I wouldn't be so afraid. Your colors cover mine until I don't know where one of us starts and the other leaves off.'
    He kissed her again, long and hard and heart-stoppingly slow. 'We have to get somewhere safe, Joley. If we stay here alone, this isn't going to turn out the way either of us wants. I'll race you down the mountain.'
    'No way. I don't like losing, and it doesn't take a genius to see that you're in good shape. We'll go, but casually, no hurry, no competing.' She circled his neck with her arms and pulled his head back to hers, kissing him one last time, savoring the taste of him.
    Ilya didn't take over. He let her direct the kiss, explore his mouth, caress the nape of his neck with her fingertips.
    When she pulled away, they looked at each other.
    Joley smiled. 'You taste good.'
    'We have to get out of here,' he reiterated, tugging at her hand to urge her back onto the trail.
    Her smile widened. He definitely was as affected by her kiss as she was his. She didn't say anything else as they took off running, side by side. Ilya allowed her to set the pace, keeping up easily. She was very aware of him beside her, the smooth way his muscles rippled beneath his shirt, the way the wind ruffled his thick hair, the swing of his arms and his steady breath. Their melodies merged, just as their auras always seemed to when they were close. Joley actually slowed her pace in order to prolong her time with him.
    Ilya seemed content to jog beside her quietly. He made no attempt to talk and she was grateful. He was right. She wasn't ready to commit herself to a relationship with him, she had too many doubts about what and who he was, yet she was the one always flinging herself at him, and that was as humiliating as it was disturbing.
    They were nearly walking as they rounded the last bend, which opened to a long straight stretch to the beginning of the trail below them. People milled around, and yellow tape surrounded the rocks about halfway down near the bottom and off to the left side.
    Joley slowed her pace and caught at Ilya's