Double Dealing (2013) by Linda Cajio Page A

waist, and his hands devoured the silken skin of her ribcage as he pushed the robe higher. Finally, he exposed her full, upthrust breasts and the coral-tipped nipples that were beckoning to him. The glory of her pulsed within his already rock-hard body, and his last remnant of control broke. Heat scalding his cheekbones, he fumbled as he tried to get the robe off her. Gentle hands helped him finish the task. He skinned offthe panties, then yanked his own robe over his head. His briefs swiftly followed.
    He lowered himself between her parted legs, the shock of his hot flesh meeting hers shuddering through him. He nuzzled first one breast, then the other, swirling his tongue around the velvet pebbles. She twisted feverishly under him, and he gently draped her leg over the top of the sofa to make a place for himself in the cradle of her thighs. He groaned as he sank into her moist depths, as he felt a pleasure so intense he was engulfed by it.
    Rae cried out at the twin sensations of fire and ice rampaging through her. She knew only Jed could create this, and only he could quench it. Unconsciously, she clawed at his back, and he began to move inside her. She met each thrust with a fervent one of her own. She was aware of nothing but his hungry mouth on hers, his chest hard against her breasts, their hips stroking deeper and deeper in an ageless rhythm. Her body burned, and her flesh shivered, as raging red and icy blue sensations spiraled outward, mindlessly tossing her in their maelstrom. Jed’s strong fingers gripped her thighs, and he chanted her name as he thrust into her one last time. Under her hands, his body shuddered almost violently. The fire and ice suddenly rushed together, breaking over her in wave after wave of ecstasy. It flooded her mind, coursed through her heart, and found the eddies of her soul. Then it pulled her under, tenderly enfolding her in its loving currents.
    Rae became aware of her surroundings at thesame moment she became aware of a chuckle rumbling in Jed’s chest.
    “What’s so funny?” she asked, feeling as if her body were floating.
    “I was just thinking,” he said, “that it was a good thing I knew you before only as a little girl. If you had been a few years older, you would have wreaked havoc with my adolescence. Lord, you’re a dangerous woman.”
    She smiled into the warm skin of his shoulder. They lay together for a long moment in contented silence. Finally, she asked, “Jed?”
    Her voice sounded unsure, and he knew that he had to dispel the doubts that were beginning to resurface. He raised his head and gazed down at her. She was so beautiful, he thought, and so vulnerable. Smiling, he smoothed her hair back and said, “I would never hurt you, sweetheart. Never. I promise.”
    She buried her face in his shoulder and nodded.
    He would keep that promise, he vowed, as he held her in a tight embrace. She may not realize how much trust she had placed in him tonight, but he was well aware of it. He sensed that she had never allowed another man inside her barriers as she had him. To hurt her would be to hurt himself. It was awfully soon to make love, but they had both surrendered to a need that had been too strong to fight. He admitted that it was the best damn thing that had ever happened to him. He had no regrets.
    Cool air wafted across his back, and he realized that the room was rapidly growing colder—or rather he was just beginning to notice it now.
    “It’s late, Rae, and you should be in a nice warm bed.” He grimaced in disgust, knowing he wouldn’t be joining her. The boys’ presence had brought them together. Now, it would keep them apart.
    Her arms tightened around his neck. “Not yet.”
    Jed decided he’d be a fool to protest. Concerned that his weight might be too much for her, he shifted to his side, keeping her between himself and the back of the sofa. Lazily stroking the slope of her hip, he said, “Now don’t fall asleep, or else your nephews will get