ENCORE PERFORMANCE (THE MATCHMAKER TRILOGY) by Bernadette Marie Page A

“I’ll get you some water.” He grabbed
her arm and pulled her back.
“No, please don’t go.”
His hand, damp and hot, trembled against her skin. She
covered it with hers. “Are you all right? I heard you
screaming from my room.”
“What time is it?”
“Three o’clock.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, catching his breath and moving
back from her. “I have nightmares sometimes. I didn’t
mean to scare you.”
“You were hurt. Someone was hurting you.” She
reached for his face and he jerked back before he let her
hand settle on his cheek.
“Not me. Someone else.”
“Oh, Thomas.” She pulled him into her arms and held
him there. All the anger she’d had for him when she’d
thrown herself into her bed was gone. She just wanted to
hold him and be there for him.
    His breath began to settle as Carissa’s hand stroked the
back of his neck. Her cheek pressed up against his and it
was soft. Her scent was filling his senses and he lifted his
hands to her arms and ran them softly from her shoulder to
her hands until she pulled back slowly.
    Their eyes locked. He raised his hand and cupped the
back of her neck. Her chest rose in anticipation as he
lowered his mouth to hers. He tried to be gentle, tried to
take it slow, but he couldn’t resist. He parted her lips with
his tongue and took. He pulled her closer and felt her
respond as he felt his own rise.
    He pulled her down on top of him. Her body molded to
his. His hands slid up her back, gathering her tank top and
pulling it over her head. She shook back her head. Her hair
fell over her shoulders, over him like satin on his skin.
Thomas looked down between them. Her ripe breasts
pressed against his chest. Her heart beat against his.
    In a fluid movement, her rolled her onto her back and
drank in the beauty that was beneath him. His hand
skimmed over her satin skin, cupping her breasts in his
hands. Carissa arched her back and closed her eyes. Her
body welcomed him.
    He lowered his mouth to her neck as she ran her hands
over his back.
“Thomas.” Her voice was breathless. He pulled back
and let himself sink into her eyes. “I want you to make love
to me.”
There was now nothing more on his mind. He rose and
shoved his pants from his legs. He ravaged her shoulders,
her neck, and her mouth as he pulled the boxers she’d worn
to bed from her body.
It seemed like there wasn’t time to explore. Her legs
spread under his weight and he plunged. She arched and
rode with him as he rocked into her.
    She nipped at his mouth as he whispered her name
against her lips. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She’d
been touched, kissed, and taken over the edge enough to
know no one had ever made her feel like he was making
her feel. Every muscle in her body quivered as he moved
his body over hers. In hers. The racing of her heart, which
beat in perfect time with his, only fueled the moment.
Never in her life has she wanted a man more than she
wanted Thomas.
    His eyes met hers as she climbed with him. Their
bodies tensed. Every note she’d ever played drummed in
her ears as they spilled over together in a crescendo.
    He buried his face in her neck. His breath was heavy in
her ear as she pulled his shuddering body against her.
When he became still she held him tighter. She didn’t
want the moment to end, ever. Greed had taken over. She
wanted more of those moments.
Thomas lifted his face to look into hers. He touched
her hair and shifted just enough to lessen his weight on her.
Carissa watched him as his breath returned to normal. She
reached for his hand and laced their fingers together.
“ I never want to let go of you.” Her eyes were fixed
on his and hazy. The words were breathless and sincere.
She’d never wanted to hold someone so close to her,
always afraid she’d be disappointed in the end. But
suddenly it didn’t matter, except that his eyes changed and
he rolled onto his back.
She turned on her elbow and looked down at him.
“And