Sanctuary(68)

"If she doesn't know what's going on, it's time someone showed her."

With a shake of his head, he leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. "You're too hard on your sister."

"I'm too hard on her? " Lexy snorted. "Let's try that the other way around. It fits much better."

"Well, maybe you're too hard on each other. Looks to me like Jo's had a rough time with something lately."

"Her life's perfect for her," Lexy disagreed, pouting and twirling a lock of Gaff's hair around her fingers. "she's got her work, all that traveling. People ooh and aah over her photographs like they were newborn babies. Or they study them like stupid textbooks. And she makes piles of money, enough so that she doesn't have to worry about stingy trust funds."

Love tugged at him as he skimmed his knuckles over her chin. "Honey, it's a pure foolish waste of time for you to be jealous of Jo."

"Jealous?" At the shock of the insult her eyes went dark and wide. "Why in holy hell would I be jealous of Jo Elien?"

"Exactly." He kissed her, just a little nibbling peck. "The two of you are after the same thing. The way you are and the way you go after it are as different as night and day, but the goal's the same."

"Really?" Her voice was cool and smooth as fresh milk. "And what goal would that be?"

"To be happy. That's what most people want down under the rest of it. And to make their mark. just because she's made hers before you doesn't make yours less important. And, after all, she had three years head start."

It didn't placate Lexy in the least. Her voice went from cool to icy. "I don't know why you brought me out here if all you wanted to do was talk about my sister."

"Honey, you brought me." He grinned and kept her pinned under him despite her bad-tempered wiggles. "As I recall, you moseyed on down to Sand Castle Cottage, where I was minding my own business, replacing screens. You whispered a little something in my car, and as you already had this here blanket in your tote, what was a man to do?"

she lifted her chin, raised a brow. "Why, I don't know, Giff. What is a man to do?"

"I guess I'll han e to show you."

He took his time and that left her a little weak and trembling. The night before, everything had poured over her in a hot rush. Need on top of pleasure, pleasure clawing at need. But today, in the cool air and dim light, his hands were slow, calluses scraping gently over her skin, fingers pressing, then skimming. Aild though his mouth was hot, it didn't hurry. It came back to hers again and again, as if hers was the only flavor he riceded.

When she sighed, it came from deep within.

she could be seduced as well as taken. He'd waited a lifetime to do both, to watch her let him do both. There was nothing about her that wasn't precious to him. Now he could show her, inch by inch. One day soon he would tell her, word by word.

When he slipped inside her, her moan of welcome was sweet and silky. He braced himself over her to give more, to take more, and his pace was as lazy as the river that flowed nearby.

she whimpered when he lowered his head to suck gently on her breasts.

"You come first," he murmured. "So I can see you."

she couldn't have stopped herself she was being carried along like a weightless leaf on the river's current. The orgasm flowed through her, long and lovely and deep. she could barely sigh out his name as it slid through her system.

His mouth came back to hers as it curved, and he emptied himself into her.

"Mmmm." It was all she could manage as he rolled her over and snuggled her head on his chest. she'd never had a climax like that one that crept up from the toes like silk-dipped fingers.

And he'd seemed so in control, so completely aware of her. Only the thunder of his heart under her cheek proved that he'd been as undone as she.

she smiled again, and turned her lips to his chest. "You must have done a lot of practicing."

He kept his eyes closed, enjoying the air on his face and her hair under his hand. "I'm a strong believer that you keep working on a skill until you get it right."

"I'd say you got it right."

"I've wanted you all my life, Lexy."

It made something inside her shiver to hear him say it, so simple, so easy. Caught in the afterglow, she lifted her head, and when she looked at him, that something shivered again. "I guess, deep down, I've always wanted you too."

When his eyes opened, and the look in them made her mouth go dry, she put on a sassy grin. "But you used to be so skinny."

"You used to be flat-chested." she chuckled when he reached down to cup her breasts. "Things do change."

Scooting up, she straddled him. "And you used to pull my hair."