Perfect Partners

create a wider opening.
    He cupped the softness between her legs, awed at the depth of her response. She was hot and ready. He slid one finger into her, and she shivered.
    “
Joel
.”
    He wanted to savor her reaction, but there was no time. His body was surging toward release.
    “I need to be inside you,” he rasped, willing her to understand. “I can’t wait this time.
I can’t wait
.”
    “Yes. It’s all right.” She cradled his head between her palms, kissing his jaw and then his throat. “Come inside.”
    He could not even take the time to get out of his jeans. He sprawled on top of Letty, crushing her into the filthy blankets. She widened her legs for him. He reached down to part the plump folds that guarded her softness. She was slick and incredibly warm. He positioned himself and then, with a deep groan, drove into her in a single long stroke.
    He was startled by the initial resistance of her body. Then she closed around him like a small, clinging glove. Joel nearly went out of his mind with the sensation.
    “You’re so tight,” he muttered. “So hot and tight. Christ it feels good.”
    He pounded into her, unable to slow down or exert an ounce of finesse. He had to fill her with himself. He needed to lose himself in her forever.
    And then he was over the edge, arching himself above her, gritting his teeth against the exquisite pain, exploding inside Letty’s softness.
    He was lost.
    He was free.
    He was complete and whole for one single instant in time. He was at last the man he was supposed to be.
    Joel shuddered heavily and collapsed on top of Letty. He gulped air into his lungs and luxuriated in the pure satisfaction that engulfed him. He was vaguely aware that Letty’s fingers were moving gently through his hair in a soothing motion.
    The rain was still pounding on the roof. Perhaps that was why he had little or no warning. Or perhaps he was simply too far gone in the safe, warm world he had discovered.
    Joel was jerked back to reality when the stall door creaked on its hinges.
    It was the same small noise that had saved his life the last time
. Disoriented from the aftereffects of the shattering release, he rolled off Letty and scrambled to his feet. One searing thought burned in his brain:
he had to protect Letty
. Whatever was happening, he had to take care of her.
    But it was not an enraged Victor Copeland who stood staring into the stall with angry eyes. It was Diana.
    “Couldn’t you have taken her somewhere else, Joel?” Diana raised her tear-filled gaze from Letty’s sprawled form to Joel. “Did you have to bring her here? This was our place.”
    “Damn it, Diana.” Fury washed through Joel as he jerked his zipper closed. “Get out of here.” He took a step forward.
    She whirled and ran from the gloomy barn.
    Joel stood staring after her until he heard the distant sound of a car engine. A soft noise behind him made him turn finally to look down at Letty.
    She was sitting up, trying vainly to straighten her sadly rumpled clothing. “You brought her here that night, didn’t you?”
    “I’m sorry, Letty. She must have followed us when we left the motel. She’s acting crazy.” He reached down to help Letty to her feet. He righted her easily and could not resist an amused, affectionate smile at the sight of her. He felt so much better now, he realized. Even the shock of having Diana appear like a specter from the past could not shake his new mood.
    Letty was delicious in a state of disarray. Her glasses were askew on her nose, her hair looked as if it had come in contact with an electrical circuit, and she had discarded her shoes and her torn panty hose.
    Joel wanted to pull her back down on the floor and make love to her all over again. He reached for her.
    “This time I’ll do it right,” he promised.
    “No, wait,
don’t
.” Letty stepped back quickly. Too quickly. Her feet got tangled in her panty hose, which were lying on the floor. “Oh, my God.” She tried to grab hold of the side of the stall and missed.
    “Take it easy, Letty. It’s okay, honey.” Joel caught her and held her steady. He pulled her close against him. “Easy, honey. I didn’t mean to scare you. I know I rushed things a few minutes ago. I lost control. It won’t happen again. I swear it.”
    “It’s not that,” Letty whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. “Tell me the truth, Joel. You were here with her that night when Copeland found you, weren’t you?”
    He grimaced as