Wildest Hearts

gold cushions and then straightened to rake her with a gaze that burned straight through her clothing. Pale moonlight illuminated the stark hunger in his face.

    “You're sure?” he asked.

    “Yes.” She could hardly speak. “What about you?”

    He smiled faintly. “I've been sure since the beginning. But you must be absolutely certain, Annie. After tonight there will be no going back to being roommates.”

    “I know,” she whispered. Once Oliver had become her lover, she would never be able to pretend he was just a friend. For an instant a tremor of primitive female fear drove out some of the excitement she was feeling.

    She would never be the same after tonight. She knew that with a certainty that first chilled and then warmed her.

    “I'm glad you came to me tonight,” Oliver said. “It hasn't been easy waiting for you.”

    Annie went hot beneath Oliver's unrelenting gaze. She could feel her insides turning to liquid. A deep, heavy ache seized her lower body. She reached out to catch hold of his rough hand. “Have you really been waiting for me?”

    He sank slowly down onto the cushions beside her. His warm palm settled on her breast in a gesture that was both reverent and possessive. “For longer than you know.”

    She smiled tremulously. “I wanted you to want me since that first night at Daniel's engagement party.”

    “I wanted you then.” He leaned over her, caging her between his arms. “I want you even more now.” He bent his head and slowly kissed the soft, vulnerable curve of her throat.

    Annie arched convulsively in reaction, twisting to get closer to him. Oliver moved his hand to the curve of her hip. He squeezed gently.

    Annie sucked in her breath when she felt his long, sensitive fingers slide between her legs. They seemed to scorch through the fabric of her jeans.

    “Oliver?”

    “I'm right here.” He pushed the hem of her sweater up a few inches and lowered his head to drop random kisses across her midsection. “I'm not going anywhere.”

    Annie fumbled urgently with his shirt, needing to feel his bare skin beneath her palms. He did not resist but he did nothing to aid her, either. When his shirt finally parted, she saw the mat of crisp, black hair that covered his chest. Eagerly she splayed her fingers through it and found herself entranced by the hard, muscled contours of his body.

    He felt so good. Perfect. Everything she had ever dreamed a man could be.

    Annie was astounded by the whirlwind of desire that tore through her. She had never experienced anything resembling this in her life. She was literally on fire. It was an incredible sensation. This was what the poets called passion, she thought with glorious certainty. She wanted to shout her elation to the world.

    “Hurry, Oliver.” She clutched at him. “Please hurry.”

    His answering smile held satisfaction and masculine promise. His palm was warm between her legs. “You're already wet.”

    “Oh, God, Oliver.” She lifted her hips against his questing hand, aware that her jeans were rapidly turning damp. “I've never felt like this.”

    “I'm glad.” He leaned over her again, kissing her with a deep thoroughness that left her breathless. All the while his hand stayed pressed between her thighs, moving gently against her.

    Annie thought she would go mad. She closed her knees, trapping his fingers, begging him silently to touch her even more intimately.

    Oliver laughed softly in the shadows. Annie's eyes flew open in astonishment. She realized she had never heard Oliver laugh. The sound was unique, somewhere between a low growl and a gruff purr. It delighted her. She looked up at him and saw moonlight reflected in his eyes.

    “It's all right, Annie,” he said against her mouth. “I'll take care of everything.”

    She wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but she could not find the right words. Even as he captured her mouth in another kiss, she heard the rasp of metal on metal and knew he had unfastened her jeans.

    And then his hand was inside her panties, searching out the damp, hot, aching place between her legs. Annie fought for breath. When she felt his finger slide slowly inside her, she stopped breathing altogether for a few seconds. Then she inhaled sharply.

    “Oliver. Now. Please. I can't wait.I can't wait .”

    “You don't have to wait.” His voice was husky. He stroked his tongue into her mouth at the same instant that he gently pushed a second finger into her feminine