Full Bloom

torture for her. Her nails made small half circles in his shoulders, and her eyes closed in anticipation as her body adjusted to the slow, thorough invasion.
    "That's it, honey." Jacob's voice was husky with desire as he carefully completed the union, filling her completely. "That's perfect. Absolutely perfect. You feel so good."
    He moved one hand from her hip and reached down to stroke her intimately. Emily cried out and clung to him as she had so often during the night. Her whole body contracted with passion.
    "Jacob, oh, Jacob…"
    "I know." He stroked her again. "Open your eyes, sweetheart. Look at me. I want to see the way you look at me when you take what I can give you."
    She did and found herself gazing into the cloudy depths of his own gaze. She wanted to tell him she loved him but knew it was much too soon for such a declaration. She kissed him instead, wrapping her arms around him as he guided her into the slow, compelling pattern.
    For long moments Emily hovered on the brink. The slow, taut sensation created by Jacob's movements was driving her wild. And then he touched her one last time with unerring skill and she gasped. Her whole body went briefly rigid, and then the waves of release washed over her.
    She was aware of Jacob surging deeply into her as his own body tautened, and then she heard her name in a hoarse shout of satisfaction.
    The morning was golden.

    For the next few days Emily hugged her newfound happiness to herself. Diane told her she positively glowed with it. Emily's world had never seemed so right. She and Jacob were together constantly. He had not yet moved out of the hotel and into her apartment, but she knew it was only a matter of time before the subject arose. She worried a little about that because if Jacob moved in with her it would be very difficult to keep her family in the dark about the relationship.
    But she decided she would deal with that when the time came. For the moment she was contented to explore her own happiness.
    The golden days came to an end within a week. Jacob had just finished making slow, lazy love to Emily one morning when the phone beside the bed rang shrilly.
    Jacob sprawled back on the bed, carrying Emily with him. "Someone's timing is very bad," he muttered.
    "Could have been worse," Emily pointed out cheerfully as she reached for the phone.
    "True. But if it had been any worse I wouldn't have let you answer the phone." Jacob propped himself on one elbow, surveying her with naked possessiveness as she spoke into the receiver.
    "Oh, hello, Mom." Emily drew a deep breath, very conscious of Jacob's nearness. All her earlier determination to protect him and their new relationship welled up within her. She sat up and pulled the covers around herself, trying to think clearly. It was difficult, given her pleasantly relaxed frame of mind.
    "I just wanted to say hello," Catherine Ravenscroft said briskly. "And keep you posted on the plans for your father's birthday, of course. I've had some second thoughts about the caterer, but unfortunately it's too late to switch now. We'll just have to hope for the best. I had a serious talk with him yesterday and wanted him I do not want any foul-ups such as the one I witnessed at that reception last week."
    "I'm sure he won't foul up at Dad's birthday party," Emily said reassuringly. "He wouldn't dare after your 'serious talk.' Who did you get for the flowers?"
    As she spoke, Jacob drew a lazy finger down Emily's arm. Then he leaned forward and dropped a warm kiss into the hollow of her shoulder. Emily wanted to nestle against him, but instead she pulled away and shook her head in silent protest. She had her hands full at the moment. Jacob, of all people, should know that it took one's complete attention to deal with a Ravenscroft, even when the topic was something as innocuous as a birthday party.
    But he ignored her small warning and touched the tip of his tongue to her shoulder, tasting her as if she were a scoop if ice cream. Emily shivered in instinctive response and again tried to ease away from him. Jacob's eyes narrowed, but Emily didn't notice.
    "Emily? What's the matter? Are you listening to me?"
    "Yes, of course I'm listening, Mom. I was just… just juggling a cup of coffee. Who did you say is doing the flowers?"
    "I told you. That local florist you recommended. Weren't you listening? I trust we can count on her."
    "She'll do a great job. Sally won't let you down. I use her all the time when I send flowers to