She let out a sigh and let her head rest on his shoulder. He brushed his lips over her exposed neckline and then nibbled a path to her earlobe. Again she found herself lifted. She wrapped her legs around his waist to anchor herself more firmly. Holding her with one arm, Caleb stuck his free hand into the spray to test the temperature.
Evidently satisfied with the result, Caleb stepped into the shower and lowered Ramie to her feet. Even so, he still kept one arm firmly wrapped around her while reaching for the shampoo with his other hand.
He soaped her from head to toe, petting and caressing until she was nearly mindless with need. She was aroused to fever pitch, craving, wanting so badly. Steam rose, coating their skin with dewy moisture, and then he ducked her back under the spray to rinse her off.
Not five minutes later, Caleb tugged hard at the faucet to turn off the shower and then he was out of the stall in seconds, lifting her to the counter and fitting his erection between her thighs all in one smooth motion.
He plunged deep and hard. Ripple after ripple of raw pleasure consumed her. She threw back her head, bumping the mirror behind her. Her hair clung wetly to her body as she arched her breasts forward for his mouth to find.
Her hands slapped the counter and her fingers curled around the edge to give her leverage as he continued to drive into her. And then with a muffled curse he swiftly withdrew, his face a wreath of strain. The veins at his temples were distended and he tugged in shaky breaths, his chest heaving with the effort.
“Don’t stop!” she gasped. “God, Caleb, you can’t stop now!”
“I forgot the goddamn condom again,” he growled. “Give me just a minute.”
It seemed an eternity before he yanked one of the drawers open and then ripped at one of the packets. He fumbled between her legs a moment and then spread her wide once more.
He pushed into her and they both moaned. She curled both arms around his neck, pulling him down to kiss her. Had there ever been a man like Caleb in her life? Never had she felt the tumultuous rush of raw, hedonistic desire.
“God, what you do to me, Ramie,” he said through clenched teeth. “You make me forget everything until all I want is to be inside you and never leave.”
She slid her mouth down his jaw and then nipped lightly at his throat, causing him to shudder violently against her. She inhaled deeply, the combination of powerful male and his soap swirling through her senses.
He slid his hands underneath her behind and lifted her upward, his fingers digging into her flesh, branding her irrevocably. Her body clamped down around his erection, holding it, sucking it deeper inside her.
“You make me forget too,” she whispered.
Her nails scoured his back and he let out a growl of pleasure. He swelled within her, surging hard and fast until the only sound that could be heard was the slap of flesh against flesh.
The mirror was completely fogged from the hot shower and their rapid heavy breathing. She tilted back, allowing her head to rest against the glass once more. She gripped his forearms as her orgasm roared over her, tightening, clenching every muscle in her body.
Her release was so explosive that her vision went blurry and she seemed to float outside of her body. His name was a litany on her lips, whispered over and over as he claimed his own release.
He convulsed against her, his hold on her almost bruising, and yet it gave her comfort to know she was completely sheltered in his arms.
His breath stuttered over his lips, his entire body heaving as they both tried to catch up.
He smoothed wet hair from her forehead and then kissed the spot he exposed.
“I know you probably aren’t ready to hear this, Ramie, but I’m not just falling in love with you. I am in love with you.”
She froze, holding her breath as he pulled back just enough that he could look into her eyes. Panic struck and she couldn’t get her tongue to cooperate. Would he be angry that she couldn’t find the same words? That the idea of being loved and in love was terrifying to her?
She was marked for death. She couldn’t afford emotional entanglements because it would only end in grief. She didn’t want Caleb to love her because then it would hurt him if something happened to her.
“Caleb . . .”
His name was all she could muster. Tenderly, he pressed a finger to her lips.
“Don’t,” he said. “It’s all right, Ramie. I can wait until you’re ready. Just know that you are loved and you aren’t alone. For now, it’s enough.”
TWENTY-TWO
FINALLY, his quarry was in his sights. He smiled a slow, satisfied smile as he watched Caleb Devereaux walk into the building that housed all of his businesses. He was especially amused by the newly formed security company. Did Devereaux honestly think his security experts were any match for his genius?