THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

you.”
    “Happy to oblige.”
    His clothes came off with his usual efficiency, as though he were oblivious of his own masculine beauty. She’d seen his body before, but the quarters had clearly been too close to permit full appreciation of the total package. Now, she stepped back and actively appreciated.
    Broad shoulders tapered to lean hips, which flowed into powerful thighs. Even his feet were finely formed. For a man who never saw the sun, his skin was surprisingly dark. Still, the black hairs dusting his impressive pectorals and arrowing down to his groin stood out starkly. And oh, glory, the muscles!
    I please you?
    Her throat tightened. If you pleased me any more, I don’t think I could stand it.
    “Your turn,” he said softly.
    She shrugged the robe off, and stood for his appraisal. His dark gaze slid over her body like a physical caress, pausing here, lingering there, and his approval was patently evident.
    Blinking back tears, she smiled. I please you?
    You please me in every way imaginable.
    He opened her arms and she went into them. He crushed her against his chest, pressing her face into his neck, kissing her hair, running his hands roughly over her back. Moving backwards, she tugged him along until the backs of her legs collided with the bed. They went down onto the mattress in a tangle of limbs, and just the feel of him — his warm, solid, glorious weight and hair-roughened skin — was almost enough to make her come. Mouths caught and held, hands searched and found, minds touched.
    She broke their kiss, clutching his shoulders. “Del, we need a condom.”
    He levered himself off her and returned seconds later with the contents of her robe pocket. Taking one packet and dropping the others on the night table, he turned his attention to the condom.
    She took it from him with fingers that trembled. “I know you could use the practice, but next time, okay? Right now, we need this on you.”
    Seconds later, his weight was back, pressing her into the firm mattress. She shifted, parting her legs, and he pushed into her. And oh God she wanted it to last and last, but she just couldn’t hang on. A dozen thrusts and she exploded in a short, sharp orgasm. He stilled to let her wring every last drop of pleasure from it, then started moving again, his thrusts slower and more deliberate.
    “Delano?”
    “Hold onto me, Ainsley. I want to feel your arms around me. Don’t let go.”
    She twined her arms around his neck, and knew that he’d lied for her. He hadn’t played hooky because he wasn’t up to whatever delicate task awaited him in the lab. He was here right now because he feared they might never have another chance to love each other like this.
    Tears slid down her cheeks, and she gripped him harder, closing her legs around him, enveloping him.
    Their loving went on forever. Slowly, he built that sweet tension in her again and again, until one climax rolled into the next one and the next one. When she could literally stand no more, he let his own release claim him, shuddering and trembling in the tight clasp of her arms.
     
    Delano disposed of the condom and stepped into the shower, letting the hot spray hit his chest.
    He hadn’t wanted to leave the embrace of her body. He’d been busy cursing the condom and the consequent need to get up when it struck him that the other need to get up was mysteriously absent. His canines had not erupted following his orgasm. Before she could notice or comment on that development, or non-development, he’d rolled away, mumbling something about cleaning up.
    He turned to let the water sluice his back and flinched. Ah, Ainsley had marked him with her fingernails. He grinned, finding himself wishing the small hurt could stay with him beyond the next hours. Unfortunately, it would be erased in the day sleep, leaving no lingering evidence of their shared passion.
    The shower door opened, letting in a draft of cool air. “Is it safe for me to come in?”
    He took her hand and pulled her inside the enclosure. He gave her a second to close the door behind her, then tugged her into his arms for a kiss. She melted against him, into him. Lord, he loved her.
    He pulled away. “Let me wash you.”
    She acquiesced, letting him soap her body and shampoo her hair. When he’d finished finger-combing the crème rinse into her hair and rinsing it smooth, she picked up the soap and returned the favor. He had to bend to let her shampoo his hair. Gently, she worked around the