“Beautiful,” he whispered, gaze darkening with a passion that matched her own.
She wanted to feel his skin beneath her hands, touch him the way he was touching her, and she didn’t want to wait another minute.
Tugging at the hem of his shirt, she muttered, “Take this off.”
He did, yanking it over his head and tossing it to the deck in one quick move. She sighed as she slid her palms across a chest that was so tanned and well-defined, he could have been a statue created by some master sculptor. But he was real and warm and when she touched him, he hissed in a breath through clenched teeth. She smiled to know that he was as affected as she.
But her smile only lasted a moment before he was pulling her in close again, molding their bodies together until Melinda could feel the pounding of his heart against her chest. His mouth took hers, claiming her completely, and she gave herself up to the wonder of it.
Again and again, his tongue caressed hers, as he shifted his grip on her. One hand cupped her breast, fingers tugging at her nipple, while the other slid down to the snap and zipper of her shorts. He undid them, then moved his hand lower, across her abdomen to the juncture of her thighs.
A hot, aching need centered at her core and the moment he touched her, Melinda tore her mouth from his and gasped at the jolt of pleasure that shot through her. She had wanted so long, needed so long, that her nerve endings were electrified. The slightest touch would have her exploding in a release she knew would be shattering.
But he seemed to know that, too. Instead of caressing her most sensitive spot, sending her into the cl**ax that hovered just out of reach, he dipped his hand lower until he could explore her depths. First one finger, then two, reached inside her, stroking, caressing the inner walls of her body until Melinda was parting her legs wider for him, rocking into his hand, helpless against the onslaught of sensations pulsing inside her.
“Come on, Melinda,” he said, watching her through slitted eyes glazed with desire, “let go. Let me watch you go.?…”
“Sean—” She gasped his name, breathing hard, her vision blurred at the edges as she saw only him. Felt only what he was doing to her. The sunlight was too bright, the shade too dark and all around her, the world seemed to take a breath and hold it.
“Do it, Melinda.” He dipped his head and kissed the line of her throat, nibbling at her pulse point, dragging his tongue along her skin.
She shivered in response and reached again for the release she felt coiled and clawing inside her. Her hands clutched at his shoulders as her h*ps moved in a rhythm that was fast and desperate. She locked her gaze with his, fired her emotions with the power of his. He rubbed his thumb across her core, and her body clenched around his hand. She felt her cl**ax building, spiraling tighter and tighter inside her until at last, she cried out his name and lost herself in his pale blue eyes as her body splintered with a crashing release.
Breath heaved in and out of her lungs. Her legs buckled and threads of pleasure were still sliding through her when Sean picked her up and then laid her down on one of the cushioned benches on either side of the boat. The blue leather was warm against her back and she stretched languidly as she watched him peel the rest of his clothing off in a flash.
Her breath caught at the glorious sight of him. He was bigger, harder than she’d expected and that liquid heat at her core exploded in renewed anticipation. Lost to anything but the promise of more intense pleasure, she tugged at her shorts and panties, desperate to be free of them.
“You’re killin’ me,” he muttered, that half smile firmly in place. He paused to grab his wallet and pull a condom from it before turning back to her. Locking his gaze with hers, he sheathed himself then reached for her.
“I want you inside me, Sean,” she whispered, and she saw a flash of hunger dazzle his eyes briefly. “I need you.”
“I know.”
Melinda lifted her h*ps so he could tug her shorts and panties down the rest of the way, then she parted her thighs for him in silent invitation.
“Gotta have you,” Sean whispered, his voice low and scratchy with the need driving him.
“Yes, Sean. Please, yes.”
He covered her with his body, and she lifted her legs to draw him in. The tip of him brushed against her core, and Melinda groaned, arching and writhing, trying to get him inside where she wanted him.
But he held back, made her want. Made her crave.
His fingers moved over her center in slow circles, rubbing, caressing, until she was trembling from reawakened passion and a more consuming need.
She gulped at air, stared up at the wide sky above them and demanded, “Sean, inside me. Now.”
“Almost,” he ground out, and she knew that even as he pushed her higher and higher, the wait for completion was just as hard on him.
“You’re making us both crazy, here,” she told him, sparing a second to give him a heated glare.
“I know. But it’s gonna be great.”
Her hands rubbed over his chest, pausing to flick at his flat ni**les with her thumbs. She heard his breath coming fast and furious, and she knew it wouldn’t be much longer before he gave her what she wanted. Before he pushed himself inside her and took them both where they needed to be.
“Damn it, Melinda, I’ve been thinking about this moment nonstop for weeks now. I want to make it last.”
“I’ve been thinking about it too,” she admitted, “and I just want it.”
He shook his head and gave her a hard look as she reached down between them to run her fingers over the sensitive tip of him.
He hissed in another breath and closed his eyes as if fighting for control. But she didn’t want him controlled. Not now. Not when her decision had been made and they were finally where they wanted to be. She wanted him as frenzied as she felt. She wanted him to experience everything she was.
Looking up into his eyes, Melinda could hardly believe what she was feeling. She’d never known anything like this. Not with Steven. Not with anyone. Sean took her places she hadn’t known existed. Made her soar higher and faster than she had ever been before. Only moments ago, she’d had the most shattering orgasm of her life and already she wanted another one.
And then another.
His touch. His kiss. His body against hers.
The water slapped against the hull of the boat. Birds sang in the trees, and the wind was a constant caress against her skin. It was a beautiful day.
And it was about to get even better.
Nine
Her fingers closed around him and he groaned, knowing he couldn’t wait another second.