Sanctuary

mildly frustrated with the barriers that prevented her from taking him inside her. The need for physical release was greater than she had imagined.
    He caught the lobe of her ear between his teeth and bit. “We’re not settling for ambivalent this time.”
    He eased back, straddling her. The last rays of the sun streaked through the west window and set the air on fire. Her hair haloed around her face, the deep, smoky red of autumn leaves. Her eyes were high-summer blue, her skin the delicate rose of spring.
    He lifted her hand, kissing the fingers one by one.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Savoring you. Your hand’s trembling, and your eyes are full of nerves. I like that.” He scraped his teeth over her knuckle. “It’s exciting.”
    “I’m not afraid.”
    “No, you’re confused.” He lowered her hand, unfastened the first button of her blouse. “That’s even better. You don’t know what I’m going to make you feel next.”
    When her blouse was undone, he parted it, then slowly let his gaze slip down. Underneath she wore a bra of electric blue, the sheen of satin dipping low over the milk-pale swell of her breasts.
    “Well, well.” Though his stomach tightened with the need to devour her, he lifted his gaze back to hers. “Who would have thought it?”
    “It’s not mine.” She cursed herself when he smiled. “I mean, I only bought it and wore it out of the store to stop Lexy from hounding me.”
    “God bless Lexy.” Gently, watching her face, he skimmed his thumbs just above the edge of the satin. Her lashes fluttered, lowered. “You’re holding back on me.” He skimmed his thumbs a fraction lower. “I won’t let you. I want to hear you sigh, Jo Ellen. I want to hear you moan. Then I want to hear you scream.”
    She opened her eyes, but her breath caught when he scraped his thumb over her nipple. “Oh, God.”
    “You hide too much, and not just this remarkable body. You hide too much of Jo Ellen. I’m going to see it all, and I’m going to have it all before we’re finished.”
    He flicked the front hook of the bra, watched her breasts spill free. Then lowering his head, devoured them.
    She did moan, then the sounds she made were quick, wild whimpers. The ache was unbearable, unreasonable. She moved restlessly beneath him to soothe it and only deepened the throb.
    She dragged at his shirt, yanking it over his head and tossing it violently aside so she could feel hot flesh. The storm crashed inside her, tossing her closer and closer to that high, sharp peak, then dragging her back, just inches back, before she could ride it.
    His mouth, his hands streaked over her now, daring her to keep pace, making it impossible for her to do anything but stumble blindly. She writhed, tried to roll free. Anywhere there was air, was an anchor to hold her.
    But he held her trapped, imprisoned in that terrifying pleasure. And gave her no choice but to endure the violent war of sensation battling sensation. He pulled her slacks over her hips, revealing the blue swatch of satin. His mouth was on her belly, riding low, his labored breathing thickening the air with hers.
    She didn’t hear herself begging, but he did.
    He had only to slide a finger under that satin, had only to touch her to have her explode.
    Her body convulsed under his, rocked by wave after molten wave of pleasure. He pressed his face to her belly as it quivered, as his own body shuddered in response.
    Thank God, thank God, was all she could think when the tension flooded out of her. Her muscles went lax, and she took one grateful gulp of air. Only to expel it again on a muffled scream as those clever, unmerciful fingers drove her up again.
    Did she think that was all? The blood throbbed painfully in his head, his heart, his loins as he tore away the thin barrier. Did she think he would let either of them settle for less than madness now? He yanked her hips high and used his tongue to destroy her.
    And she did scream.
    Her arms flew back, her fingers bouncing off the glossy painted iron posts of the headboard, then gripping desperately as if to keep her body from being swept away. Behind her closed lids lights pulsed violent red, beneath her skin her blood swam dangerously fast. She shattered again, a thousand pieces of her flying free.
    Then his hands gripped hers over the bedposts. He plunged into her, filled her, took her ruthlessly to peak again with long, slow, deliberate strokes. Even as her vision wavered, she could see his eyes,