Sweet Anger(63)

His stomach was taut and corrugated with muscle. Over it, his body hair grew inward to form a sleek line that arrowed down past his navel before it furled around his sex. Her eyes scuttled in that direction now. She was almost relieved to see that the sheet reached his navel.

Recalling the pleasure he had given her, she closed her eyes and drew in a deep shuddering breath. But the pleasure hadn’t been all hers. She couldn’t help but feel proud of herself for the many times he had climaxed while holding her tight, whispering his adoration in her ear.

He was a fierce but tender lover, passionate but considerate, selfish but unselfish. Each time had been different, all of them exciting. If she made love to him every day for the rest of her life, it wouldn’t become routine or boring.

Her eyes made one last sweeping inspection moving up his torso to find him watching her. She blushed at being caught. “How long have you been awake?”

“Long enough to get this.” He kicked the sheet aside. She looked at him. Her blush deepened. He lifted her hand, kissed the palm, and laid it on his chest. He stroked the back of it. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I’m sorry.”

“After last night, I didn’t think I could ever be embarrassed again.”

His smile was wolfish, but his eyes were gentle. “So, why the maidenly blushes? Because it’s daylight? Or because of my unabashed arousal?”

She ducked her head. “A little of both, I guess. It’s ridiculous, I know, but I’m still shy with you.”

He took a deep breath and laid his hand along her cheek. His thumb massaged her lower lip. “Don’t be, Kari. I want you to know me as intimately as I know you.” Then he quietly added, “You’re allowed to touch, too, you know.” He saw the panic flash in her eyes and laughed softly. “But for right now, I’ll settle for a good-morning kiss.”

He curled his fingers behind her neck and drew her down for a long kiss. Their mouths were as intimate as their bodies had been the night before. His tongue probed deeply and her lips moved warmly over his. When at last they pulled apart, he looked into her face and sighed. “Why don’t you look like hell in the morning? Other women do.”

She raised herself to a sitting position and put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know whether to take that as a compliment or not. Just how many other women have you seen this early in the morning?”

Hunter was thinking how cute and pert her breasts looked and took a while before asking a question of his own. “Jealous?”

“No.” She flung her legs over the side of the bed and shrugged into a robe.

“Where are you going?” he demanded.

“To make myself presentable,” she said over her shoulder as she headed toward the bathroom. “I want to make sure I’m at least competitive with all those women you’ve awakened with.”

Shortly she came out of the bathroom dressed in a long lightweight robe that zipped up the front. Her hair was wet from a shampooing. The scent of wildflowers followed her into the room.

Hunter, who had just come from the bed, caught her against him and kissed her breathless. With his hands kneading her derriere, he asked, “Do I at least get breakfast for my trouble?”

She bit his lip. “You are a chauvinist.”

“Ouch!”

“Serves you right. That beard is scratchy.”

“I’ll forgive you if you’ll lend me a razor.”

“In the shower stall.”

Nursing his lip, he went into the bathroom trailing the sheet he’d wrapped around him toga-style. Kari laughed, feeling happier than she ever remembered.

The bacon had been fried and she was on her way into the bedroom to ask how he liked his eggs, when she met him coming out.

His hair had been towel-dried, but the wet strands lay helter-skelter around his head. He smelled of hot water and soap and clean damp skin. He had pulled on only the jeans he had worn the evening before. His feet were bare. The towel he’d used on his hair was draped around his neck. The dark hair on his chest was still slightly wet and curlier than before.

She was immobilized by a wave of desire and came to a standstill in the middle of the living room. Her mouth fell open slightly and her vision blurred.

His broad grin became an expression of puzzlement. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she said on a soft puff of air. “I … you … I like the way you look right now, that’s all.”

“Get over here.”

She flew into his embrace eagerly and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. Any remnant of shyness fell away as she molded her body to his. Her lips met his hungrily. He tasted delicious and she couldn’t get her fill.