Opposites Attract

sharp, then sweet. He thought he heard her cry out as she had that first night when he had taken her innocence. Then she was wrapped around him—legs, arms. Her mouth fastened on his. The storm crashed directly overhead. They rose with it.
    ***
    His hand lay lightly on her breast. Asher sighed. Had she ever known such pure contentment? she wondered. No, not even when they had been together before. Then she hadn’t known what it would be like to do without him. She shuddered then moved closer.
    “Cold?” Ty drew her to him until her head rested on the curve of his shoulder.
    “A little. Where’s my chemise?”
    “Devoured.”
    She laughed, flinging her arms around him as though she would never let go. Free, she thought. How wonderful to be free—to love, to laugh. Supporting herself on his chest, she stared down into his face. For once his eyes were calm. A faint smile curved his lips. Beneath her his breathing was even and slow, to match hers. To match, her mind repeated. They had always been like two halves of the same whole.
    “Oh, God, I missed you, Ty.” On those words she buried her face against his throat. Empty, empty, she thought. It seemed like a lifetime of emptiness had been wiped away with an hour of fulfillment.
    “Asher—”
    “No, no questions. No questions.” Wildly she rained kisses over his face. “Just feel, just be with me. I need to laugh tonight, the way we used to.”
    He stopped her hurried movements by taking her head in his hands. There was a plea in her eyes and a light trace of desperation. No, he didn’t want to see that now. Pushing away the questions that drummed in his head, he smiled at her.
    “I thought you were going to buy me dinner.”
    Relief washed over her before she grinned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “You asked me for a date.”
    Tossing her head back, she arched an elegant brow. “
I
asked you? You’ve been out in the heat too long, Starbuck.”
    “Dinner,” he repeated, rolling her over until he loomed above her.
    “As far as I can tell, you’ve already eaten a sixty-dollar silk chemise. Are you still hungry?”
    For an answer, he lowered his mouth to her neck and bit, none too gently. Laughing, she tried to twist away. “Food,” he muttered. “I have to eat.”
    Remembering a weakness, she found the spot on his ribs and squeezed. His body jerked, giving her the opportunity to slither away. She was giggling like a girl when he grabbed her and pulled her back. “How many people know the indomitable Starbuck is ticklish?” she demanded when he pinned her arms over her head. “What would the press pay to find out?”
    “About the same as they’d pay to find out elegant Asher Wolfe has a heart-shaped birthmark on her very attractive bottom.”
    Asher considered this a moment. “Even,” she decided. Her smile slanted seductively. “Do you really want to go out to eat?”
    Desire fluttered lightly in the pit of his stomach as he looked down at her. The light angled across her face, accenting the smooth, glowing skin and darkened eyes. The thunder was a distant rumble now, but he felt it vibrate in his head.
    “There’s always room service,” he murmured, tasting her lips. He kept her arms pinned as he dropped light, teasing kisses over her face. Nestling in the vulnerable curve of her neck, he used his tongue to stir and arouse.
    “Ty,” she moaned, unable to struggle against the captivity. “Make love to me.”
    His chuckle was low and he was pleased. “Oh, I am. This time,” he whispered into her ear, “we won’t hurry. Hours, love.” His tongue darted to her ear, making her squirm in agonized delight. “Hours and hours.” Then he shifted, bringing her close to his side. Cradling her, he felt her heart pounding against him. When he reached for the phone, Asher glanced up, puzzled. “Food,” he reminded her.
    She gave a weak laugh. “I should have remembered your stomach comes first.”
    His hand grazed over her breast. “Not necessarily.” Her nipple was already taut. He flicked his thumb over it lazily.
    “Ty—” With a kiss he silenced her.
    “Champagne,” he said into the phone while driving Asher mad with careless strokes and fondling. “Dom Pérignon. Caviar,” he went on, sending her a questioning look that she was powerless to answer. “Beluga.” He gave her a light kiss, running his hand down to the flat of her stomach. She quivered, turning into him. Legs tangled as he brushed his