Silent Fall

and lower back. She loved the feel of his body, the power of his muscles just under his skin. He had a great tan, too, a warm honey brown, paling just below the waistband of his jeans. She ran her finger along the edge of that band, feeling a sudden tightness in her own body, a reckless urge to take this massage a little lower.
    Dylan’s body stiffened as she ran her hands over his very nice ass, kneading his buttocks through his pants. She wanted to ask him to get rid of his jeans, but she didn’t think she could be quite that bold. Or maybe she could. She slid her hands under his body, touching the hot, hard length of him. He was as aroused as she was.
    And suddenly the massage was over.
    Dylan flipped over onto his back. He grabbed her hand and pressed it back to the bulge in his pants. "Don’t be shy," he said, his eyes sparkling, encouraging.
    She opened the snap and slid down the zipper. She slipped her hand inside, touching him intimately, wrapping her fingers around his flesh. It wasn’t enough. She wanted to see him. She wanted to taste him.
    She grabbed the waistband of his jeans and jerked his pants down over his hips, his thighs, his calves, and then Dylan kicked them off. For a moment she just stared at him in pleasure and a bit of amazement. He was a powerfully built man, and for the moment he was all hers. Then she leaned over and took him in her mouth, loving him the way she wanted to. He groaned, threading his hands through her hair.
    Finally he pulled her head up and grabbed the hem of her shirt, dragging it over her head in one swift motion. He sat up, his hands colliding with hers as they both reached for the clasp on her bra.
    She slid the straps off her shoulders as he put his hands on her breasts. Her nipples tingled against his stroking fingers. She was going up in flames, and she was still wearing half her clothes. She pulled at her jeans, struggling to keep his hands on her while she got rid of her pants.
    He smiled at her impatience, his mouth seeking hers as they came together on the bed. Then he lay back down, cupping his hands over her hips as he urged her to straddle him. She leaned over and pressed her lips against his mouth as she moved to take him deep within her.
    Over and over he thrust into her, sending ripples of pleasure through her body. She felt his heat everywhere, and it warmed her from the inside out. The orgasm hit her in long, rolling waves that left her gasping for breath. When she finally fell back against the pillows she was amazed at how wonderful she felt, how completely and utterly satisfied.
    Dylan rolled over onto his side and threw his arm around her waist, pinning her to the mattress. His lips pressed against the side of her neck, and then he whispered in her ear, "I hope you’re not thinking about getting out of this bed anytime soon."
    "Not for a minute. What about you?"
    "I’m very, very... comfortable." His hand crept up from her waist, his palm caressing her breast. "Hmm, this is nice."
    "I hope you’re not thinking about round three, because you wore me out."
    "I can wait -- a few minutes, anyway." He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes.
    Her heart stopped at the look of not only passion but also tenderness. A tiny part of her wanted to call it love, but she would never say the word out loud. She’d already scared him once today.
    "Go to sleep, Catherine. I’m not going anywhere."
    She smiled at him and closed her eyes, her mind blessedly blank, and for the first time in a long while she felt safe.

Chapter Sixteen

    The sand castle had been built to last, with its turrets and towers and the big moat that would protect the prince and the princess inside, and all of their little children. But it was just an illusion. A large wave hit the shore, rolling along the beach until the white waters swirled over the moat, rushing through the doors and windows, drowning everyone inside.
    She couldn’t get them out. She couldn’t save anyone. A surge of overwhelming grief filled her as she stared at the picture on the wall. The sand castle hadn’t lasted past that photograph, nor had the happy family that had built it together. They’d drowned in a sea of lies.
    The pain in her heart was palpable; the loss of love, of life, rocketed through her, always ending with the stinging sense of betrayal. So many lies had been told, over and over again. She’d deserved the truth. She’d suffered for the truth. But