Only 04 - Only Love

“We’ve done this before.”
    “And then you raged at me and wouldn’t touch me again.”
    “Not this time. This time I know you’re a virgin. This time I’m going to touch you every way I can, but one.”
    Whip’s hand moved swiftly, hungrily. A ripple of tension went through Shannon’s whole body, making it impossible for her to speak.
    “I—” she said raggedly. “I—”
    His thumb circled the knot of swollen flesh he had drawn from her softness. Shannon’s arms tightened around his neck as another fierce shiver took her. She tried to speak but could make only a choked sound.
    Concerned, Whip reluctantly withdrew fromShannon’s body. His fingertips caressed the full, soft folds with great gentleness.
    “What?” Whip murmured. “What is it?”
    “I feel so strange,” she said raggedly.
    “But do you like it?”
    A long finger eased into Shannon as Whip spoke.
    “Yes,” she whispered. “ Yes. ”
    Even more than Shannon’s words, her body told Whip that she enjoyed the intimate caress. Hotter than the pool, her response spilled over him. Slowly he withdrew from her, his own body taut with the certainty that she could take him with only brief pain when her maidenhead was breached. She was sleek and sultry, made to hold him within her loving heat.
    No , Whip told himself savagely. I can’t risk it.
    What risk? came his own instant retort. There will never be a safer time of month for her. It will never be easier for me to control my own release than it is right now, when she has just given me such a sweet easing.
    There were more arguments in Whip’s mind against taking Shannon, but he wasn’t listening to them. He was listening to the swift breaking of Shannon’s breath as he caressed her softness once more, slowly, deeply.
    “Did you mean it?” Whip asked when he could go no farther into her.
    “What?” she asked, dazed.
    “That you wanted to see me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Because I sure as hell want to see you. I’ve been dreaming of watching you again, all honey and cream and fire. I’ve dreamed some other things, too.”
    “What?”
    “When I show you, you’ll blush all over.” He laughed softly. “But you’ll love it.”
    Whip stood up and walked out of the pool with Shannon in his arms. He got only as far as the heavy bearskin blanket before he stopped and looked down at the girl who was lying so trustingly in his arms, watching his eyes.
    Steam lifted in silver wisps from Shannon’s skin. Water gleamed on her shoulders and slid in golden rivulets between her breasts. Taut nipples glistened with liquid diamonds. The desire to lick up each shining drop nearly brought Whip to his knees.
    “The cabin will be cold,” he said huskily. “And it’s too far.”
    “It’s just a few steps.”
    “Like I said. Too far.”
    Shannon smiled and watched steam lift from Whip’s body, first revealing and then concealing the power of his shoulders. Silver lines of water tangled in the thatch of dark gold hair on his chest. Captive drops glistened and winked at her as though they knew how much she wanted to sip them from his skin.
    “Shannon?”
    “Whatever you want,” she said huskily. “However you want it.”
    Whip looked from Shannon’s mouth to her breasts and then to the sleek, dark pelt concealing her softness.
    “Don’t tempt me, honey girl. I want you in ways that would make you blush to the soles of your pretty feet.”
    Shannon’s glance lifted lazily from Whip’s chest to his burning quicksilver eyes.
    “Do you?” she asked. “What are they?”
    Whip opened his mouth. No words came out. Helowered Shannon to the thick, furry blanket. Then he sat on his heels and looked at her, simply looked at her, until she trembled.
    For she was looking at him, too. The blunt, heavy flesh she had so recently measured with her hand looked very intimidating.
    Whip put his fingers beneath Shannon’s chin, lifting her face, forcing her to look away from the stark evidence of his renewed arousal.
    “Don’t be afraid,” Whip said simply. “I won’t take you that way.”
    “I—but—” Shannon swallowed and tried again. “It’s all right. It just—”
    Whip waited.
    “Well, damn,” she muttered. “It didn’t feel as—as unsettling—as it looks.”
    “Then close your eyes.”
    With a small sound Shannon did as Whip asked.
    “Give me your hand,” he said.
    She held out shaking fingers to Whip. He took them, kissed them gently, and put them around flesh that