Perfect Partners

died.
    But at least there had been time to say good-bye to his mother, Joel thought. At least he had been able to tell her that he loved her, and she had told him how much she loved him.
    There had been no chance to make his peace with his father. “This is all your fault, you goddamn stupid son of a bitch,” he had said. “You couldn’t pick some girl from your own crowd. Hell no, you had to screw the Copeland girl. Christ, didn’t you even think for one minute about what you were doing? Were you so goddamn stupid you couldn’t tell she was just playing with you? Did you think for one minute about what would happen to me when Copeland found out you’d dared to go after his daughter? This is all your fault.”
    All your fault
.
    Joel was aware of Letty’s warmth and softness closing gently around him. The effect was like water on stone for a while. He could feel her, but her warmth just washed off him.
    But she continued to hold him as if she would never let him go, and gradually the tension in Joel started to lessen. After a few minutes he found the strength to raise his hand and sink his fingers into the softness of her hair. She stirred against him, hugging him tighter as if determined to let some part of herself meld with a part of him.
    Joel had no real idea how long they stood like that. The rain drummed on the barn roof in a steady, soothing pattern. He was thinking about that curious, mesmerizing rhythm when he realized Letty was finally lifting her head from his shoulder.
    He looked down into her face and saw the sweet, serious warmth in her eyes. He realized her lips were slightly parted and she still had her arms wrapped around his waist.
    Joel did not even stop to think about it. He lowered his head and covered Letty’s mouth with his own.
    Her lips softened instantly under his, parting for him, inviting him into her heat. A sharp, urgent need shook Joel. It was followed by a desire that was beyond anything he had ever known. The feeling was not so much physical as emotional.
    He had to have her. He would be cold and empty for the rest of his life if he did not make love to her in that moment. She was the only one who could save him from the pain that was washing through him in a torrent.
    He gripped her waist and dragged his mouth across hers, desperate for the hope and the promise of her. She wrapped her arms more tightly around him, silently offering him whatever he wanted, whatever he needed.
    “
Letty
. Oh, God, Letty, I want you.”
    “It’s all right, Joel. It’s all right.” She was responding feverishly now, clinging to him, kissing his throat.
    Joel knew he had lost his self-control. This was not like the other night when he had been determined to find out just how hot Letty would burn for him. The sensations that surged through him now were raw and wild. He needed her right this minute. And she was offering herself.
    Joel slid his palms down over her firm, lushly rounded hips, yanked her skirt up to her waist and cupped her buttocks. He lifted her up against his painfully engorged shaft. She whimpered softly and speared her fingers through his hair.
    Then Letty wrapped her legs around his waist. Joel staggered slightly and found his balance. He thought he would burst into flames.
    He realized his jeans and Letty’s panty hose were in the way. Desperate to get rid of the barriers, he lowered her to the floor and eased her down onto the old blankets. A small cloud of dust wafted upward. Joel paid no attention. He was too busy struggling with Letty’s panty hose.
    Nylon ripped. Letty gasped, but she did not pull away. Instead she reached for the zipper on his jeans.
    “I’ll get it,” Joel muttered, aware that the denim was stretched tautly over that portion of his anatomy. He reached down and lowered the zipper cautiously. An instant later he felt that part of himself thrust free of confinement.
    Letty’s beautiful, gentle hands were waiting for him. Joel groaned as she stroked the length of him.
    “Damn,” he muttered thickly as the fierce desire swirled in his veins. “Letty honey, that feels so good. So damn good. I need you.”
    “Yes.” She looked up at him through her lashes. The warmth in her eyes was all-consuming. He could drown in that warmth, and he would be safe in it.
    Joel did not take his eyes from hers as he ran his hand up along the inside of her thigh. He found the place where he had torn her panty hose, inserted his fingers inside, and ripped hard to