Full Bloom

fingers deep into his tousled hair. For the first time she wondered if he might be feeling insecure in their relationship. It was hard to imagine Jacob Stone feeling insecure about anything. "Jacob?"
    "Hmm?" He was kissing the valley between her breasts.
    "Were you really going to apologize first to me yesterday?"
    "Yeah. I was going to get on my hands and knees." He dipped his tongue into the small hollow of her stomach and smiled to himself when she trembled delicately. "But you beat me to it. I'm going to make it up to you, though. You deserve a proper apology and I'm going to see that you get it."
    "Interesting. How do you plan to do that?"
    He raised his head and looked down at her intently. "I'm going to take you away for a few days. We'll go to the coast. Rent a cabin. Just you and me."
    Emily's eyes widened in surprise. "What about my shop? Jacob, I haven't planned any vacations in the near future. I don't know if I can get away on a moment's notice. You know how it is when you run your own business."
    "Diane can handle things for a few days, can't she? We'll call her this morning and tell her she's going to be on her own for a while. She won't mind. You must have left her in charge before."
    "Well, yes, it's just that I hadn't planned—" Emily broke off, frowning slightly.
    Jacob brushed her mouth with his own. "I want you all to myself for a while, honey. We need some time alone together. Time to talk. Time to plan."
    Emily searched his eyes. "Time to plan?"
    "There are things we need to discuss," he said gently. "We can't continue much longer with me down in Portland and you up here. It'll drive me nuts not being able to live with you. I want you with me on a regular basis. Come with me to the coast where we can be alone to talk it all out."
    Emily caught her breath. "You're moving very quickly," she whispered.
    "I've waited a long time for you. I don't intend to waste any more time." His warm, hard palm slipped down over her stomach and into the soft hair that concealed her feminine secrets. He claimed the hidden territory, finding the moist warmth that was already gathering there. "Let me take you away for a few days, sweetheart."
    Emily stirred languidly beneath his touch, her body responding to him with an immediacy that still took her by surprise. He wanted to be alone with her to discuss their future. She was terrified of any such discussion. A few minutes ago she had been giving herself a stern lecture on the subject of living for the present and not even thinking about what lay ahead.
    But a trip to the coast with her lover sounded wonderful. And if he wanted to discuss their future, perhaps she would let him. After all, she was entitled to a few daydreams. Happiness blossomed within her. She tightened her arms around his neck.
    "All right. Yes. Yes, please, Jacob. I would like that very much."
    "We'll leave this morning as soon as you arrange things with Diane." He bent down to kiss away any protest she might still feel inclined to make.
    But Emily wasn't putting up any more resistance to the idea of going away with Jacob for a few days. In fact, she wasn't putting up any resistance at all. Instead she was gathering him to her, wrapping her legs around him as he moved to sheath himself deeply within her welcoming warmth. After that there was no more thought of resistance at all.

    An hour later Emily stepped into the shower, aware of a few sensual aches in regions of her body that were not yet accustomed to Jacob's passionate lovemaking. She turned her face up to the hot water and closed her eyes for a long, blissful moment.
    She was going away for a few days with Jacob. It seemed to Emily that the world was a very good place that morning. She tried to concentrate on what to pack for the short vacation at the beach and as her mind turned to more prosaic matters she remembered she needed a new blade in her razor. It wouldn't do to leave on a passionate vacation with her lover without first shaving her legs. She left the water running as she quickly stepped out of the shower and went to open a drawer near the sink.
    She was standing there, dripping, trying to find the new blades without benefit of her glasses when she caught the soft, muffled sound of a man's voice.
    Emily turned her head toward the door, wondering if Jacob was talking to someone on the phone. Perhaps Diane had called. It would ruin everything if Diane was phoning in sick.
    Emily opened the door and leaned out into the hall to call