The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

hers and sent her already scattered thoughts spinning. “Let it be tonight. I can’t go on just dreaming of you.”
    “You still want me?” The stunned pleasure in her voice nearly dropped him to his knees. It humbled him, her complete lack of vanity.
    “I want all there is of you. Don’t ask me to go tonight.”
    She’d followed her heart to this place, and had found him. Now she would follow her heart again. “No.” She tangled her fingers in his hair, met his mouth with all the newly discovered love and passion in her. “No, don’t go.”
    He could have lowered her to the floor, taken her there and delighted them both in front of the fire. Neither of themwas a child, and both were eager. But he remembered a promise made and scooped her up in his arms. When he saw the dazed surprise on her face, he knew it was right.
    “I told you that the first time it would be slow and sweet. I’m a man of my word.”
    No one had ever carried her before. The romance of it was stunning, an erotic fantasy with gilt edges. Her heartbeat drummed in her ears like thunder as he carried her up the steps, down the little hall into the bedroom.
    She was grateful for the dark. It would be easier not to be shy in the dark. When he sat her on the edge of the bed, she closed her eyes. Then they sprang open again when he turned on the bedside light.
    “Pretty Jude,” he murmured, and smiled down at her. “Just sit a moment, and I’ll light the fire.”
    A fire, she thought. Of course, a fire would be good. She linked her hands together and tried to settle the nerves, smooth out the needs. It would add atmosphere as well as warmth. He’d want atmosphere. Oh, God, why couldn’t she think of something to say? Why didn’t she have some wonderful negligee or lingerie to change into and dazzle him?
    Speechless, she watched him straighten from the fire once it began to flame, then begin to light the candles scattered around the room.
    “I was going to call you tonight and ask you to dinner.”
    The idea was such a surprise, such an intriguing one, she stared. “You were?”
    “That’ll have to wait for another time now.” He kept his eyes on her, seeing her nerves, enjoying them a bit, as he switched off the lamp again. And the room was washed in shadows and shifting light.
    “I’m not very hungry.”
    He laughed. “I’m after changing that, right quickly then.” To her complete shock, he crouched down andbegan to untie her shoes. “I’ve had an appetite for you since you first walked into the pub.”
    She swallowed. Hard. It was the best she could do. Then he ran a finger lightly over the arch of her bare foot and the breath strangled in her throat.
    “You’ve pretty feet.” He said it casually, with a laugh in his eyes as he lifted her foot and nibbled on her toes. The breath that had caught exploded out again, and her fingers dug like spikes into the mattress.
    “But I have to admit, after seeing them this morning all damp and rosy I have a preference for your shoulders.”
    “My—oh . . .” He gave his attention to her other foot and wiped her brain clean. “What?”
    “Your shoulders. I fancy them.” Because it was true enough, he rose, and lifted Jude to her now tingling feet. “They’re graceful, but they’re strong.” As he spoke, he unbuttoned the shirt she’d borrowed. To torment them both a little longer, he didn’t remove it, but only nudged it off her shoulders so he could do as he’d imagined and trail his tongue along the curve.
    “Oh, God.” The sensation drizzled into her system like gold dust until everything inside her sparkled. When she gripped his hips for balance, he worked his way up the side of her neck to her jaw, like a man slowly sampling his way through a variety of dishes at a banquet.
    His mouth brushed over hers, a teasing taste that stirred the juices of her own hunger. He heard it in her quiet moan and came back for a second, longer taste.
    Her hands slid up his back, and she moved her body against his in a dreamy rhythm as her head fell back in surrender.
    Slow, he said, and sweet. It was exactly right. With the candlelight dancing and the rain softly pattering and her own sighs filling her head, soft kisses grew longer, anddeeper. It seemed her body was alive with the taste of him now, rich and male and perfect.
    When he tugged his shirt off she gave a low sound of pleasure and let her hands roam over his back, knead into the muscles.
    His heart leaped against