Nights in White Satin: A Loveswept Classic Romance by Linda Cajio Page B

body. His fingers drifted from her shoulders and upper back, spreading relief across her rib cage. Jill sighed with pleasure. Although she was aware of him, the relaxing of her muscles kept the awareness from turning to something more primitive.
    “You’ve got a very smooth back.”
    “Thanks,” she murmured, almost drowsy. The heat of the massage radiated through her, but it didn’t quite reach the pain in her thighs. That kept her from falling asleep under his ministrations. “How’re the cabbages?”
    “Dry, thanks to you.”
    The room went silent. His hands smoothed their way up and down her back in slow endless circles. The flat of his palms caressed her spine, his fingers pressing lightly into her flesh. They brushed close to the sides of her breasts, but never touched her. The heels of his hands never strayed into the forbidden territory beyond the first curve of her derriere. Jill knew she was almost purring, but she didn’t care. She felt safe because he was so careful to keep to the letter of his promise.
    “How are your legs?” His voice was low, as if coming from a great distance.
    “I know I have two of them,” she murmured.
    “You’ll be lucky if you can hobble tomorrow.”
    “I know. And I thought I was in great shape.” She sighed. “I cannot thank you enough for this.”
    He cleared his throat. “Turn over and stick your leg out. Maybe we can loosen those muscles too.”
    “Okay,” She said as she lowered her gown again.”
    She found rolling over easier. Not by much,though. She groaned as the pain shot through her legs.
    Rick stood up and lifted the sheet slightly. His cheeks looked flushed in the lamplight. “Here.”
    She hesitated as a vague warning stirred. It seemed silly. This couldn’t be any worse than his doing her back, and nothing had happened then. She slid her leg out from under the sheet, careful to keep her nightgown chastely at her upper thigh. She pulled the rest of the covers up and sideways across her body.
    Rick chuckled and sat down. “Charming. Shall I begin?”
    She nodded and closed her eyes. She couldn’t complain about his hospitality.
    This time she sensed a change. Whether it was in his touch or in her reaction, she didn’t know. She only knew it was different. She slowly opened her eyes.
    He was staring at her, watching her face, as his hands massaged her calf in a near caress. His hands stroked higher.
    The vague warning sharpened.
    “Rick.”
    “What?”
    “I …” Her voice was hoarse. She couldn’t seem to think straight.
    “Your skin is like satin.” He leaned forward, dangerously close. “Did anyone ever tell you that?”
    “Only you,” she whispered, feeling oddly captured.
    “It is. I think I’m about to break my promise. But just a little.”
    His mouth found hers, and she nearly lifted herself off the bed to get even closer to the headykiss. Their mouths opened, and whatever pain she felt was momentarily lost in a haze of heat. She grabbed onto his shirt front, and his arm curved around her shoulders in support. His other hand tightened on her thigh, his fingers digging into her skin.
    She tasted him, clung, testing her tongue against the swirl of his. Everything about him flooded her senses, and she moaned in pleasure when he eased her back onto the bed. His body pressed to hers, meeting in perfect unison. His hand slid across her thigh and around her hips, then pressed into the soft flesh of her backside, pulling her hips to his.
    She tugged at the buttons of his shirt, opening the front to her own questing fingers. She delighted in the feel of his hard muscles and the tickle of his chest hair against her palms.
    His mouth drifted lower, nuzzling her neck, then lower still. He whirled his tongue around her burgeoning nipple through the cotton nightgown. She twisted and arched her back—and instantly yelped as the pain caught her.
    “Easy,” Rick said, raising up on his elbow and helping her get more comfortable. “I was