The Fairest of Them All by Leanne Banks

velvety lips against his skin. His heart pounded hard against his chest.
    Unable to wait a second longer, he pulled her against him. “Are you sure?” he asked, praying she wouldn’t change her mind.
    “Completely, but I don’t have any— I mean, I didn’t bring anything—”
    Russ hugged her and kissed her hair. “I’ll take care of it.” He pulled back and looked at her. “I’ll take care of you.”
    “I haven’t, you know, done—” She broke off and swallowed.
    “I know. It’ll be okay.” He brushed her tousled hair back. “I promise.” Then he hooked an arm beneath her legs and picked her up.
    Caught off guard by the chivalrous gesture, she groped for her voice. “Is this part of the program?”
    Russ shook his head slowly. “Everything’s new tonight.”
    He lowered his head and kissed her. The room swam like a kaleidoscope and before Carly knew it they were in his bedroom and she was falling down on his big bed. She bounced against the plush quilt. A playful smile started inside her and spread to her lips.
    Russ stood over her, unbuttoning his shirt and grinning back at her. He imprisoned one of her ankles firmly in his hand. Using only his index finger, he removed one high-heeled pump. He dangled it from his finger for a moment before he allowed it to drop to the floor.
    Carly’s heart was racing a mile a minute; still she couldn’t prevent the giddy laugh that formed in her throat. “I thought you’d want me to keep them on.”
    Russ chuckled in return. It was a deep, naughty sound. “I figured you might get wild with passion and I’d be left with spike wounds in my back.” He ran a finger down the naked sole of her foot.
    She curled her toes. “Good thinking. I’d—” She sucked in a deep breath when he brought her foot to his lips and gently nibbled on her toe. All rational thought flew from her mind.
    “Yes?” he prompted, as he discarded the other shoe and began to give the other foot equal attention.
    Carly squirmed beneath his amused, wicked gaze. “Yes?” she repeated.
    “You were saying?” His knee dug into the quilt as he leaned forward and skimmed his hard palms up her calves, past her knee to her lower thigh.
    “I was?” Carly shook her head to clear it but the sensual fog hovered stubbornly.
    Russ chuckled again, then bent to kiss her. All his kisses and touches over the last weeks, every teasing remark, and the times he’d said he wanted her, had kept her simmering for weeks. Simmering and unsatisfied. Hungry and eager, she welcomed his exploring mouth and tongue. Following his gentle sucking motion, she drew him deep into her mouth.
    When he tried to gentle his caress, she ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer. He groaned and slanted his mouth against hers voraciously, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. The playfulness that had tempered the passion vanished. Now there was only hot, aggressive need.
    He pulled his mouth from hers and rested it against her shoulder, his breath coming unevenly. “Gotta slow down,” he muttered. “Slow and easy.” He seemed to be coaching himself.
    Carly shook her head. “No,” she whispered breathlessly. She couldn’t joke anymore. The commotion inside her was riding the edge of pleasure and uncontrollable excitement. “I don’t want slow and easy. I want you.”
    “Oh, Lord.” He raised his head and looked into her eyes. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
    With unerring feminine instinct, Carly knew halfmeasures wouldn’t do. It was suddenly essential that she give herself to Russ as she’d never given herself before. Shameless and a little desperate, she reached up and slowly slid her tongue around his damp lips. “Then I guess you’re gonna have to teach me.”
    Russ closed his eyes and tightened his grip on her shoulders. His big body shuddered.
    Shifting slightly, Carly raised one knee so that she cradled him between her thighs. She felt his arousal and moved, once,