He rinsed her hair clean, squeezed out the worst of the water, and reached for one of the big fluffy towels. He draped it over her head, and began to rub her hair gently dry. The angle was difficult. He moved around in front of her, careful to keep his body hidden by the towel.
And was astounded to feel Fiona’s hands reach out toward his hips as though to steady herself.
He tried to move back, knowing he should jerk free. But she slid her hands further around him, and in truth he wanted to stay right where he was.
He dropped the towel far enough to expose her face. She gave a breathy sigh, leaned forward, and laid her cheek against him.
The thin shorts disguised nothing. He flinched with embarrassment and tried to pull away from her again.
“Let go,” he growled, fearful of hurting her if he pushed too roughly.
With her head bowed, he couldn’t even warn her off with his eyes. The burning-hot wave of wanting shimmered the entire length of his body.
Who was he kidding? He was fully aroused and she was the only female present. She had to have noticed and known he wanted her.
Fiona shook her head, and the movement of her skin against his made the burn even hotter and more intense.
“Is it just sex, or is it me?” she asked hesitantly.
He felt a ridiculous rush of relief.
“It’s you.”
“Oh thank God. It’s you, too.”
There was another small silence, then all the air exploded out of his lungs. With a supreme effort, he tried to make himself push her away but his hands were no longer his to command. His whole body had rocketed out of control. He tried one final time to discourage her. “You’re concussed. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
Long-suppressed feelings sparked loose like fiery Catherine-wheels as she pressed herself against him more firmly. Her arms wrapped tighter. Her lips hovered only a breath away from his barely-covered erection.
“Just holding you, Christian. That’s all. And I’m sure the concussion’s not what’s doing it. You’ve been confusing me and disturbing me for days.” She rubbed her cheek over his navel. “For years really.”
He stood frozen for several more long seconds, silently blessing her and cursing her by turns. Then he began to dry her hair again, imprisoning her head against him with one hand, slowly rubbing the towel over her with the other.
They held each other quietly until Fiona turned her face and feathered her soft lips against his belly. His resolve finally shattered. He hurled the towel away and dropped onto his knees, cupped her face in his hands and pulled her close.
Their mouths melded in a passionate slippery exploration. Years of denied attraction sprang unleashed into a long deep kiss that left them both breathless and way past any thought of restraint.
Fiona’s world imploded. She recognized only his lips, his tongue, his warm questing hands, his intoxicating animal scent. Incoherent husky groans ripped from both their throats as they writhed against each other, tongues stroking, lips sliding, teeth nipping. The urge to explore and enjoy was fierce and primal, and finally would not be denied.
He wrestled with the buttons down the back of the waterproof coat, and she rocked further forward so he could undo them. She wanted...she wanted...wanted this beautiful man who’d been out of reach for so long.
She struggled to her feet and Christian followed her up, peeling the stiff crackling fabric away.
“Skin to skin,” he said hoarsely, reaching for her nightdress as she stood there consumed by flames.
His long fingers slipped the mother-of-pearl buttons aside until her breasts were exposed. He cupped her up in his big hands before bending to each nipple in turn, licking and sucking until she groaned with pleasure.
Then he brushed the nightdress off her shoulders and it slid down the length of her body with his eyes following it. In seconds, it had puddled around her feet, soaking wet.
He bent and pushed it out of the way. Although she was bruised and grazed, the fire in his eyes told her she was beautiful. He kissed his way reverently up to her lips again.
“And you,” she insisted, sliding her thumbs into the waistband of his shorts to lower them.
Christian covered her pale hands with his own much darker ones. “Leave them.”
“Skin to skin you said. I want your skin against mine. All of it. Take them off.”
With a slight grimace, he eased the shorts down until he could kick them sideways.
And stood in front of her.
Immensely masculine.
Fiona’s senses soared into fevered overload. Her eyes roamed over his naked body. Everything she’d only imagined until then was finally displayed for her. She raised one hand to stroke his face, but her arm gave a sharp twinge and she settled for his chest instead. Her fingernails traced through the crisp hair covering his hot skin, dislodging the water-diamonds still sparkling there.