The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

his tongue surging intimately between her lips. He knew he was seeking advance knowledge of what it would be like when he claimed her completely. The sample he got was enough to make his head whirl.

    His fingers found the hot, flowing warmth of her and he almost came unraveled.

    "I love the feel of you," Sarah said, her eyes narrowing with desire. "Your hands. Yes, please, touch me, Gideon. Such wonderful hands." She sucked in her breath. "That feels incredible."

    Gideon watched her hair spill over his arm, the soft, thick strands turning to honeyed gold in the splintered light. He was enthralled with her response, mesmerized by it. He'd never had a woman come alive like this under his touch. She was literally melting for him. He could see the heat in her cheeks and feel her racing pulse.

    A glittering host of emotions rocked him as she twisted and lifted herself against his probing hand. He was at once filled with a sense of raw, masculine power and great tenderness. He wanted to bury himself in her and find his own release before the gathering pressure drove him out of his mind. But at the same time he longed to bring her such pleasure that she would never even want to look at another man.

    "My jeans," he muttered abruptly. "Give me a second, honey." He released her to fumble with his own clothing. All his actions seemed unbelievably awkward suddenly. She was so sleek and sinuous and delicate. He felt like a great, rutting male animal next to her.

    But Sarah didn't seem to mind. In fact, she seemed to find him endlessly fascinating. Her eyes were glowing with a shimmering heat as she helped him tug off his pants. When she saw him reach into one pocket for a little plastic packet she grinned teasingly.

    "Obviously I'm not the only one who's been running around prepared for this," she said.

    He felt himself redden as he busied himself for a few seconds but he merely shook his head. "No, you're not. But I wasn't relying on intuition, just hope." He took a deep breath and tugged off the red panties. For a long moment he could only stare at the tangled triangle of hair that was revealed. He was held in thrall by the promise of what awaited him.

    Sarah seemed equally enchanted. She touched him, wonderingly at first and then more boldly, stroking him as if he were a big cat. Under her fingers Gideon began to feel like one. A sense of his own fluid grace and power filled him, washing out the awkwardness.

    She did this to him, he thought. She made him feel this way, made him glory in his own manhood.

    "I don't know if I can wait very long for you," he warned her. "I'm going up in flames. You have a hell of an effect on me."

    "That's only fair. Because you have the same effect on me."

    She kissed his throat and shoulder. He felt first her tongue and then her small teeth on his skin and he shuddered.

    She seemed to sense when he was at the end of his tether. When he grasped the ripe curve of her thigh and pushed tentatively, she went easily onto her back, reaching up to draw him down to her.

    Gideon fought for control as he watched her part her legs for him. Her silent invitation was the most compelling action he'd ever witnessed. It said without words that she was giving herself to him—that she was his.

    He could no more have resisted the siren call of her in that moment than he could have flown into the sun.

    With a short, muttered exclamation of need he slid between her thighs, astounded at the silky feel of them. He hesitated an instant, afraid once more that he was going too fast, that he might hurt her.

    But she was beckoning him into her with that ancient summons in her hazel eyes.

    He pushed slowly against her hot, damp opening, seeking an easy, gentle entry. But she was small and tight, in spite of her obvious willingness.

    "Sarah?"

    "It's all right." She stroked him gently when she felt his hesitation. "You're just right for me."

    She lifted her hips, urging him to complete the union. Gideon groaned as the last of his control left him. He surged into her, pushing through the brief resistance of small, tight muscles and on into the clinging warmth that awaited him.

    He went still for a few seconds, savoring the sensation of being inside Sarah. It was like nothing else he'd ever experienced.

    "Buried treasure." He kissed her breast.

    "What?" She was breathing quickly through her parted lips, her eyes glittering as she adjusted to him.

    "Nothing. Never mind."

    He began to move in her,