Bastien felt some of the numbness that had claimed him for the last three weeks slip away, and compassion took its place. That was how he'd felt; cold and scared, alone inside. It was like all happiness had gone out of his life along with her. Bastien let his arms slide around her waist, and he dipped his head to kiss her.
She was warm in his arms, and sweet on his lips, but it wasn't until she sighed into his mouth that Bastien felt passion begin to creep warily into him. He'd missed her. He'd missed touching her, talking to her, just being with her. And he'd missed her sighs, her moans, and the way her body moved against his.
Bastien let a hand slide from her waist up to her breast, and he squeezed gently, a small sigh sliding out as she arched her body and moaned in response. He could almost feel the protective ice that had formed around his heart three weeks ago cracking and crumbling away. It left his chest aching. He now understood the phrase "I love you so much it hurts."His heart did hurt, and only Terri could soothe it.
"Terri,"he murmured, breaking their kiss and trailing his lips over her cheek. "I need you.»
"I need you, too."There was a catch in her voice as she admitted it, an excited breathless sound. Then she caught her fingers in his hair and forced his mouth to hers, kissing him with the passion he remembered and yearned for. The ache in his heart eased, but now the rest of his body ached in its place.
Bastien wanted her badly, and didn't think he could be gentle and caring and considerate about it. His instincts urged him to rip at her clothes and bury himself deep inside her. The hand at her breast shifted to the buttons down the front of her blouse, working them carelessly and popping several in his impatience to feel her skin. It was a relief to get the top open. Then he found himself frustrated by the black satin bra she wore underneath. Terri immediately reached between them and unsnapped the front hook, allowing the material to gape open. Bastien was on those breasts at once, his hands covering and then squeezing the warm soft skin. He broke away and closed his mouth over one erect nipple.
"We should move to the couch,"he muttered against her skin.
"No,"Terri murmured-and he felt disappointment shift through him as she suddenly slid away and out of his reach. But it seemed Terri wasn't in the mood for much foreplay, either. Before he could suffer disappointment for long, or even move, she settled back onto his lap, this time straddling him.
"You wore a skirt again,"he breathed against her breast, then licked at the erect nipple in his face. He ran one hand lightly up her stockinged thigh. "But these will get in the way.»
"No, they won't,"she assured him. Terri took his hand and guided it up under her skirt to her hip.
Bastien's eyes widened. Those weren't panty hose, but true stockings. And she wasn't wearing any panties. He groaned against her breast, then caught her nipple in his mouth and slid his hands over her bare bottom, wondering how soon would be too soon to enter her.
Terri answered that question by shifting and reaching between them to undo his pants. "I need you now, Bastien.»
"Thank God,"he muttered, sliding one hand between her legs to caress her. He found that she was indeed warm and wet and ready for him.
The moment Terri freed him from his trousers, she brushed his hand away from between her legs and moved, repositioning herself so that she could guide herself onto him.
"Terri…"Bastien groaned as she sank slowly down to take him into her. Her wet heat closed around him.
"Yes,"she breathed, lifting herself off and sliding back down.
"Damn."His mouth fastened on her neck and he sucked urgently; then he felt his teeth try to slip out to bite her. He forced them back and turned his mouth to her lips instead. Terri kissed back just as hungrily, her body sliding against his as she raised and lowered herself. Her languid rhythm was driving him crazy. He needed fast and hard after so long without her.
Pushing her skirt farther upward and out of the way, he fastened his hands on her hips and urged her on.
Astride him, Terri broke the kiss on a gasp and caught her hand at the back of Bastien's head, urging his mouth against her skin. The tension inside her was building to unbearable levels.
"Bastien, please!"she gasped, begging for release. He almost had her there. Then she felt his teeth sink into her, and she stiffened in surprise.
Terri stopped moving, her body gone taut as she trembled on the knife edge of excitement, but he continued to pump into her as he sucked at her neck. Suddenly, pleasure exploded through her. Wondrous, ecstatic pleasure. Terri cried out, her arms clenching around his neck and shoulders, and her whole body jerking in his arms. Wave after wave of release rode her until Terri didn't think she could stand it anymore, then darkness crowded in.
"You fainted.»
Terri blinked her eyes open at those words and stared up at Bastien, then glanced around. He'd moved her to the couch. She was lying on it, her clothing in disarray, while he sat on the edge brushing the hair back from her face with his gentle fingers.
"You bit me,"she said with disbelief.
He grimaced. "I'm sorry, I tried not to, but you forced my head back to your neck and I-"
"It's okay,"she said quickly to stop his apology. Then she sighed. "Jeez. Kate said it was something, but that was an understatement.»
"Are you all right?"he asked with concern.
Terri nodded slowly. She felt all right. She felt better than all right. She felt excellent. Her eyes sought his. "I love you, Bastien. I'm sorry for the last three weeks, but I needed time to accept. It was all so easy, so natural from the start. Like some sort of fairy-tale romance.»
"Then it turned into a horror,"he said.
"No. Not a horror,"Terri said, then admitted, "Well, okay, maybe a little horrorish, but that was only because your explanation-"
"I'm sorry,"he interrupted. He gave a slight laugh and ran one hand through his hair. "Can you believe I had to explain it to Rachel for Etienne, because he was flubbing it? Then I turned around and flubbed it with you. I guess it's harder to be smart when it really matters. And it did-does-matter to me.»
"I know. I understand,"Terri assured him. She eased up into a sitting position. She was surprisingly light-headed.
"In my excitement, I got a little carried away,"Bastien told her apologetically. "It won't happen again.»
"Are you kidding?"she cried. "I sincerely hope it does. That was…"Terri shook her head. It was mind-blowing.
Bastien smiled slightly, but said, "Terri, I do love you. But I'm not perfect, and I've made mistakes, and will make lots more over the years. I'm sorry I-"
"Shh."She hushed him and took his face between her hands. "No one's perfect, I'm not perfect, and you're not perfect, Bastien. But you're perfect for me.»
They kissed gently, and Bastien pulled back and eyed her. "So, what are you doing for the next forty to fifty years?»
"Hmm."Terri smiled. "Actually, I don't have any plans at the moment. I just quit my job and sold my cottage, so I'm rather at loose ends.»
"Yeah?"He grinned. "Would you care to spend them with me?»
"I thought you'd never ask,"Terri said with a smile.
"Hmm."His expression turned solemn, telling her what was coming was important to him. Bastien brushed one finger down her cheek, then asked, "Would you care to make it four to five hundred years or more? There's a lot to do in this world, and it would be nice to do it all together.»
Terri raised a hand to caress his cheek in return, and nodded. "I think I'd like that.»