Ran From Him by Jenny Schwartz

hands found and teased flat male nipples.
    He groaned and pulled her hard against him. His arousal pressed into her stomach.
    She lifted onto tiptoe to better fit him.
    “Caty.” He took her with him, falling onto the sofa with her on top, straddling him. His fierce kiss held none of her gentle building of anticipation. It was raw promise. His tongue thrust into her mouth, claiming and demanding more. His hands slid under her sweater, unclasped her bra and moulded her breasts.
    It felt wonderful, but in another second, she wanted more. She sat up and stripped off sweater and bra.
    Beneath her, Daniel’s hips bucked in involuntary response.
    She smiled, shy, daring and loving. Slowly, she stretched out again, brushing her breasts against his chest.
    His hand, clumsy with need, ran over her hair. “Are we celebrating, or are you killing me?”
    “Both?”
    Their shared laughter was absorbed by their kiss. He kissed and touched her with careful devotion to her pleasure.
    “Caty-love.”
    Cate, lost in the feelings aroused by his lips at her breast and the warmth of his hand at the juncture of her thighs, rubbing restlessly against the barrier of her stretch trousers, opened desire-drugged eyes.
    “I don’t have any condoms, unless…?” he ended hopefully.
    She breathed again. “Not me. I don’t…I’ve never done this before.” She slid her hands over his shoulders. It felt so good to rub her body against his, to come alive in her openness to him.
    “You’ve never…”. He looked at her with a stunned expression. “Cate, are you a virgin?”
    “Don’t make it sound a crime.”
    His arms tightened around her. “No crime. A surprise.” He lay tensely beneath her. “Why?”
    She shrugged. He wanted a discussion, now? She struggled to breathe, to think. “I never had a serious boyfriend while I was at school. Then working with AIDS orphans…Africa taught me the importance of safe sex.”
    “And in between you had the trauma of evading a forced marriage.”
    “That wasn’t your fault.” She stroked him, protectively. Her tongue flicked out and tasted the skin of his throat. It was salty with perspiration. “Mmm.”
    He inhaled sharply. “But there must have been other men. You must have wanted…”
    “Wanted maybe. Trusted? No.” The truth escaped her without thought.
    He shuddered once, as if absorbing a blow.
    “Daniel?” She drew back to look at him, and her hand skimmed his body, brushing against his nipples and lingering caressingly.
    “No, Cate, don’t touch me. The bit that needs kissing and making better would explode if you did.”
    She blushed.
    He smile was tight as he lifted her off him. “I need a cold shower.”
    She picked up her bra and sweater absently. She was feverish with desire, and Daniel’s body was obviously ready for her. His arousal bulged against his jeans and his mouth was a taut, passionate line.
    “I could buy condoms?” She saw his chest heave.
    “No.”
     

Chapter Five
     
    Bare-chested and all male in the well-worn jeans that contained his arousal, Daniel stood in front of Cate as she curled in the corner of the sofa, looking up at him and wanting.
    Her body pulsed and she touched her tongue to her full, kiss-dampened lips. His flavour lingered there and she savoured it.
    “Cate,” he protested. “You must see that I can’t…”. He couldn’t find the words, and thrust an agitated hand through his hair. “You’ve never…”.
    “Had sex? Yes, I know.” She smiled. Despite frustrated desire, she found him adorable as he lost his cool and controlled manner.
    Muscles rippled as he gestured in frustration. “So, why now?”
    “Why not?” She shrugged.
    He groaned. “Put your top on.”
    She glanced down at her bare breasts. Another time she would have felt embarrassed. They were swollen, the nipples pointed and sensitive to the cool air and his stare. She couldn’t be embarrassed, not with him looking agonised and hungry.
    “Where is my top?”