Page 49 of Chasing Dreams
Her reactions were genuine. Marvelously eloquent. His touches affected her in a wholly gratifying manner. She was compassionate and gifted and beautiful, and she wanted him. Her silky hair, her wide eyes, her slender body filled him with a fierce sense of possessiveness that gave him pause.
With her hands on his shoulders, she pulled back and smiled, a sweet uncertain smile that he knew he didn’t deserve. He’d acted like a jerk since the moment she’d arrived. He’d behaved purely out of self-preservation, but she’d had no way of knowing that. And still she had that expectant look in her eyes whenever they were close. Each time he held her, comforted her, she responded to his touches the same way a stick of dynamite responds to a match.
The same way she did now as he flattened his palm against her back. If excitement vibrated through her at that, he would love to find out the rest of her responses. He was uncertain where this was going. He’d never been with a woman he actually knew anything about, a woman he knew had feelings and a history, and that he’d come to care for more than he should have. That gave him hesitation. He wanted to fulfill her emotional needs, and that was an entirely new concept. It was also a mistake.
He’d told her from the beginning where he stood. Now here they were; she’d understood the rules, so why was he having any doubt at all? Because he was wondering if any guy had known her compassionate nature and taken advantage of it, and he had no right to wonder. None.
But he kissed her then, to show her the enthusiasm was mutual.
She kissed him back, running her hands over his shoulders, his neck, his jaw. He touched his tongue to her lips, and she met it with her own. He groaned.
Shaine enjoyed his intoxicating attention. He made her feel so good. So good about herself. So good about them together.
She slid her fingers inside the neck of his sweater, and he didn’t need any more prompting. He leaned forward so that she had to grip the arm of the chair to keep from falling. Beneath the sweater he wore a form-fitting cotton undershirt. It disappeared as quickly as the sweater.
Oh, my, his skin was warm. Warm and supple, and a sensual delight beneath her greedy hands. She leaned down to kiss him again, indulging her craving to know more, taste more of this man who set her senses aflame. She traced his collarbone, the defined muscles of his shoulders and upper arms, seeking, discovering, acquainting. She couldn’t seem to know enough.
He kissed her harder, deep and determined, and pulled away momentarily, and they both caught their breath. “You could drive a man mad,” he breathed against her lips.
In the minimal light from the computer screen, his dark eyes were filled with glinting desire, his hair mussed. She used the opportunity to touch his lips and feel the heat and moisture.
“You know what you’re doing to me,” he said.
She gazed into his eyes. “I know I’ve never felt this way with anyone. I’m afraid to miss anything.”
“I won’t let you miss anything.” He kissed her, and breath abandoned her in a rapturous gasp. She curled her nails against his scalp. “Look at me.”
She did. She could barely make out his face in the near dark.
“This is getting serious,” he said. “Do you want to go on?”
She’d never wanted anything as much. He’d been clear about his feelings from the beginning. She could expect no more than this from him.
Knowing that, did she want to go on?
If this time was all she could expect, then she wouldn’t ask for more.
This impetuous, yet totally absorbing pleasure was more than she’d ever expected to experience. Having this much of him was better than having nothing or no one at all. She’d been lonely for so long. She’d never known anyone who’d made her feel so good about herself.
“Yes,” she said. “I want it very much.”
He brought his hand to her cheek. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
The words amazed her more than anything that had happened so far. Feeling beautiful, she smiled.
“Shall we go upstairs?” he asked.
Chapter 10
It was still dark when his phone rang. The covers tugged away as Austin reached for the cell on the floor. “Allen here.”
Shaine blinked, trying to orient herself. The shrill ring still echoed in the room, and she realized that it had been the first phone call she’d heard since she’d been here.
Austin ran a hand over his eyes, exposing his underarm. Shaine stroked the sleep-warm skin with one finger, drawing his gaze.
“Okay,” he said to the person on the line. “What’s this guy going to do now?... No... You’ll call? Thanks.” He touched the off button on the screen and laid the cell on the bunched-up comforter.
Holding the sheet to her chest, Shaine leaned up on an elbow. “Well?”
