Page 24 of Fool's Gold

She settled into the crook of his arm, and they strolled about the grounds.

When they neared the parking area, she gazed up at him and came to an instant decision. He was her Western Romeo, and she wanted him. She'd take whatever he had to offer. In time, he'd grow to return her love.

"Want to go back to the party, sweetheart?"

She knew what he wanted. She wanted it, too. "I want to be alone with you. Let's go home, cowboy."

His brilliant smile told her he got her meaning, and she'd made him an incredibly happy man.

Sarah slipped into the blue nightie and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were bright with excitement. Drawing a deep breath, she opened the bathroom door and went out to meet her destiny.

Rafe stood by his dresser, unbuttoning his blue cotton shirt. The color highlighted his tan skin and the fire in his eyes.

Her heart stopped in her throat when his gaze locked onto hers.

His shirt hung open, tempting her to reach out and touch his hot silky skin.

She froze. What if she didn't...please him?

Mesmerized, she watched the easy play of the muscles in his chest as he shrugged off his shirt. He reached down for his fly. The audible snap of the button undone made her flinch.

She looked deep into his scorching gaze. She wanted him with an unreasoning hunger she would no longer stifle. Her hands went to the hem of her slip, drawing it up and off her body. She carelessly tossed it onto the floor.

His sensual mouth arched in a grin, and he stepped toward her, rapidly closing the distance.

She breathed in his masculine scent, shaking with the hunger it stirred deep inside her.

He paused inches from her, his expression dazzled, his breathing ragged. "Want me?"

"Yes," she said with a breathy sigh. "More than you can know."

"Oh, I think I've got a pretty good idea." He glanced down at his too-tight jeans. "You've made an impression on me, too."

She followed his gaze to the ever-growing bulge. She sucked in a breath, shocked at how much he wanted her. "So I see."

Rafe scooped her up in his arms, turned, and carried her toward the bed. "You've had me tied up in knots, wife. Now we're going to do our best to unravel them." He leaned down to plant a passionate kiss on her lips.

She opened to him. Oh God, his taste was heavenly, and the rough texture of his tongue against hers was driving her wild. He slowly lowered himself onto her, pressing her heated body into the cool sheets.

She reached up, embracing his broad shoulders as she continued to kiss him. When his mouth lifted, she pulled him back down, scattering kisses across his face, trying to memorize every part of it. His strong hand cupped her breast, bringing the peak to aching tightness. She arched toward him, delighting in the sweet friction. He bent to tease the tight bud with his wet tongue, and she squirmed, gasping through her pleasure. Pressing herself tightly against him, she silently begged for more. Her legs thrashed restlessly against the cool sheets. With maddening slowness, Rafe's hand moved down, gently cupping her mound. His index finger insinuated itself between the folds.

"Open yourself, sweetheart," he husked. "Let me touch you."

She hesitated momentarily, looking into his heated gaze. He obviously wanted her with a fire that matched hers. She spread her legs, and his hand slid home while he bent to kiss her. Shemoaned into his mouth when his finger touched that exquisitely tender place. She felt his lips curve into a smile at her blatant reaction, but she didn't care. She cried out, burying her face in his muscular shoulder to stifle the sound. Her tongue flicked out, savoring the salty taste of him.

He laughed. "That's it, honey. Go wild for me."

She wrapped her fingers around his length, and he stopped laughing. He groaned and surged like hot, steely velvet into her hand. She reveled in his reaction.

He groaned again. "Oh, sweetheart, that feels like heaven, but if you don't stop, I will not be able to control myself." He pulled away and came down gently on top of her, making a place between her thighs.

She gripped his shoulders, her body humming with excitement. His shaft slid smoothly between her damp petals, and she cried out at the sudden aching discomfort.

He stilled, eyes widened with surprise. "This was your first time?"

Annoyed by his shocked tone, she glared at him, the wispy, sensual spell she was under evaporating. "Well, we never did consummate it last time."

He stared at her probingly. "But still, how old are you? Twenty-eight? And you mean to tell me, in all these years, you've never..."

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