Sweet Fortune

edge.”
    “Hah. I don't believe that for a minute.”
    “I didn't either. Until I found myself taking you right there on Mrs. Valentine's office sofa.” He kissed one tight, firm nipple. “That kind of power is a dangerous thing, Jessie. Be careful how you use it. Who knows where we'll be the next time you push me too far?”
    She shivered again as he forced his knee gently between her legs, opening her to his touch. He sucked in his breath, clamping down what was left of his self-control when he realized she was already wet. “Jessie, honey. Jessie, touch me.”
    She kissed his chest as her fingers floated lightly down to curve around his throbbing shaft. Hatch thought he would explode then and there.
    “So much for taking it slow this time,” he muttered. He rolled onto his back and pulled her down on top of him. She knelt astride his hips, her lips parted in sensual wonder. She cradled him in both hands, openly marveling.
    “What's so funny?” she demanded in a husky voice as she glanced up suddenly.
    Hatch realized he was grinning widely. “Something about the way you're looking at me.” It occurred to him that he had never seen such a look of discovery and delight on a woman's face. He had never been wanted in quite this way. It was wildly exhilarating. Pleasure and a very primitive satisfaction rushed through him like a shot of adrenaline.
    “Hatch,” she whispered, “I truly do not understand any of this.”
    “Don't worry. You're doing just fine.” He tested himself against her, letting her feel the extent of his arousal.
    “I don't mean this.” She stroked him lightly and smiled in delight when Hatch caught his breath in an undeniable, starkly passionate response. “I mean, why is it you who can do this to me? I know this sounds trite, but the truth is, you really aren't my type at all.”
    “Why don't you stop trying to analyze it and just put me inside you where we both can feel it?” He reached down between her legs and drew his finger through the slick, wet moisture there. Then he guided himself inside her. He heard her take a deep breath as he pushed himself carefully into the snug passage.
    When he was partway inside he clamped his hands around her waist and lowered her slowly down over the full length of him.
    “ Hatch .”
    “You fit me so perfectly. So damn good.” He could feel her clinging to him, sucking him deeper, holding him prisoner there inside her. Again he had to will himself not to give into the temptation of an early release. It was all he could do to wait while he used his fingers to bring her to her own peak.
    She began to move on him, cautiously at first. He watched her expression through narrowed eyes, enthralled by her responsiveness. He was right. No woman had ever responded to him with such complete and such sensual abandon. She made him feel powerful; the most powerful man on the face of the earth.
    He had never reacted to a woman's touch with such violent need.
    He let her set the pace as long as possible. But when he felt her start to tighten around him, he lost what was left of his willpower. He had to end this sweet torture or go out of his mind.
    Deliberately he tried to insert his finger into her alongside his engorged manhood. There was no room. He had known there would not be, of course. She was already stretched too far, filled too completely with him. But when he added the extra bit of pressure there at the sensitive entrance, she gasped. Her eyes widened briefly and then she shuddered and went over the edge.
    “Hatch. Oh, my God, Hatch .”
    He locked his arms around her, swallowing her soft, keening little scream of ecstasy as he thrust himself once more straight to the core of her. “Yes, Jessie. Hold me. Hold me .”
    In that moment he could not have said exactly what it was he wanted from her, but he knew he needed it more than he had ever needed anything in his life. When she collapsed in a soft little heap on top of him he thought he had it.
    For a while, at least.

    Hatch did not know how long he had been asleep. But he awakened because some sixth sense alerted him to the fact that Jessie had left the bed. He turned over and opened his eyes.
    “Jessie?”
    She was standing at the window, still nude. He could just barely make out the shape of her gently curving breasts in the pale, watery moonlight. As he watched, she put her face closer to the glass, and he realized she was staring down into the parking lot of the inn.
    “Hatch,