Grounded

felt hot, inside and outside, from the hair on her head to the soles
    of her feet. And he felt so strong and sure of himself, and her heart beat hard against his chest.
     
    His scent was unlike any she’d ever known before—spicy and wild—and she felt as if it was curling inside her, sliding into her senses, flowing along her bloodstream.
    Please don’t let this end-please don’t let this end ! If just once a wish would come true, it was this one Patty wanted more than any other. Just let the music keep playing, she thought, and let the dance go on forever.
     
    Her heart hammered against his chest, and Dion could not only feel it, he could hear it. At least he hoped it was hers, because his was hammering just as hard. Her hair felt like silk against his cheek as he danced her slowly across the balcony. Her scent was delicate, sweet, alluring, soft, and every fiber of his being came alive. The wanting of her was so intense, and only surpassed by his need for her. His senses had come alive. They were so keen, he felt stronger, bigger , mor e than he ever had before in his life. And that was saying something. His awareness of her was as sharp as the edge of a razor. He knew her on a level he couldn’t explain and it left him breathless.
    They were no longer moving, just swaying gently back and forth, their gazes locked. Her tongue flicked out and she licked her lips in a nervous gesture. Dion dipped his head and their lips touched, gently, slowly, and sparks flew. Electricity crackled on the air, lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder rolled loud and long. Dion suppressed a sigh. His family was so overly dramatic! Ignoring the show they were putting on, he scooped Patty into his arms and carried her inside.
     
    There were no words between them. Patty found she couldn’t speak even when she tried. Blood hummed through her veins, her skin burned, and she knew the only one who could soothe her body and soul was the man who was now stripping her out of her clothing. When she was bare before him, she felt no embarrassment, no shyness, only a freedom she’d never known in her life with any other man. Then she found herself pulling at his clothing, helping him out of them, and when he was naked, she gasped.
    His body was a work of art. Sculpted, was the word that came to her mind. Sculpted by a talented artist. Not even the David was so finely crafted, she thought, and then frowned when she imagined she heard a smug, self-satisfied chuckle echoing in the distance. Something was very different about Dion. It was something she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, yet it was something she badly wanted to ask. And she would.
    Later. Much, much later.
     
    His large hands were impossibly gentle when they touched her. Caressing her cheek, he cupped her face and bent to press his lips to hers. They sizzled again, and again, thunder boomed. Dion didn’t seem to notice the sounds as he urged her mouth open and swept his tongue inside. Oh, this was the kiss she’d dreamed of, this was the kiss she’d read about. This was the kiss that had her knees shaking and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to continue standing. As if he’d read her mind, Dion wrapped his arms around her, lifting her to him, holding her against his hard, yet velvety soft body.
    She shivered as the kiss continued. If she died now, she’d di e s o happy! Her kiss was heady and warm and sweet, like fine wine. And like fine wine, it went straight to his head. Both of them. Never had he been turned on like this, never had the want been so wrapped up in such need, and not just physically, either.
    There was something moving through him that went deeper and deeper, until it had wrapped itself around his soul. Desire rose up in him, but this time it wasn’t a beast seeking to be fed; it wasn’t driving him, it was leading him. It was moving him to give more of himself than just his body, and while somewhere his mind questioned such an outrageous thought, trying to analyze it, his heart had taken over. Never had his heart been involved in any of the activities his body had indulged in; never had his soul sat up and taken notice. Yet, here, now, with her, not only was his mind and body engaged in a single pursuit, his heart and soul were also fully involved.
    Laying her back on the bed, he switched on the reading light. Not enough to invade the intimacy they were sharing, but enough so that he could see her, so that he could look into her eyes. So she