A Most Shocking Revelation by Kristi Gold Page A

lifted them, one at a time, to remove the straps completely. With his gaze firmly locked with hers, he lowered the top to her waist, baring her to his eyes and then to his hands.
    He kept his strokes light, playing her pale pink nipples gently between his thumb and forefingers. Val still hadn’t said a word, but the broken quality of her breathing, the pleasure in her eyes, told Gavin all he needed to know. She was enjoying this, and so was he. But when her hips began to move in an erotic rhythm against his groin, that was just about more than he could stand.
    He braced his hands on her bottom to halt her and, on afterthought, worked her off his lap and laid her back on the rug. After whipping his own shirt over his head and hurling it away, he stretched out partially atop of her. He kissed her again as he rubbed his chest against her breasts, savoring the feel of her against him. A long time had passed since he’d been this close to a woman, feeling her heart beat rapidly against his. But then, a long time had come and gone since he’d wanted to be this close to a woman, other than Val.
    Gavin left her mouth to look at her, seeing what he wanted to see—needed to see—in her expression. Her eyes remained closed but her bottom lip trembled as she shifted beneath him again. He found the pulse at her throat with his mouth and then kissed his way down her throat to the cleft between her breasts. Without hesitation, he drew a nipple into his mouth, using his tongue to caress her, to taste her, even knowing that in a matter of minutes he’d want more than just the foreplay. He’d want it all.
    Before that could happen, he had to know if she wanted it, too. Without any misgivings or possible regrets. He raised his head and looked at her straight on. “Tell me to stop now, Val, before I can’t.”
    Her eyes drifted open and she shook her head. “I don’t want you to stop.”
    He experienced a rush of relief, but he still needed more confirmation. “If we keep going, you’re not going to hate yourself in the morning, are you? You’re not going to hate me?”
    She slid her finger down his jaw. “I’ll never hate you, Gavin. I’m ready for this to happen. I promise.”
    That was all he needed to know. But as he lowered his mouth back to hers, the grating sound of his portable radio echoed in the room.
    â€œSheriff O’Neal, highway patrol needs assistance working an MVA on Route 16.”
    Â 
    Before Valerie could respond with her own aggravated oath, Gavin leaned his forehead against her shoulder and muttered, “Dammit.”
    â€œDo you copy, Sheriff?”
    He sat up, retrieved the handheld radio from the coffee table and depressed the button. “Yeah, I copy. I’ll be there in ten.”
    After setting the radio down hard, Gavin stared at her, looking more than a little displeased and a whole lot frustrated. But then, so was Valerie. “Obviously I have to go.”
    Valerie grabbed her top and held it against her breasts, thinking fate was having a fine time keeping them apart—and probably with good reason. “Will it take long?”
    He grabbed his shirt and tugged it over his head while she did the same. “I don’t have any idea. Depends on how many cars are involved and the extent of the injuries. Traffic control in these conditions is important, otherwise we could have a major pileup.”
    Valerie couldn’t deny her own disappointment even though she understood why he had to go. Maybe this was some sort of sign, a warning that she should reconsider what she had almost done. What she still wanted to do—make love with him. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
    â€œAnd I’ll be back as fast as I can.” Gavin came to his feet. “IfI know you’re waiting for me in my bed, that will make doing my job a whole lot easier.”
    â€œI’ll think about it.” And she