Love Beyond Reason(37)
She fumbled with the manual which a few moments ago had so engrossed her and her trembling hand had dropped it on the floor before Katherine placed it beside the typewriter. She couldn't resume studying. Of that she was certain. Her eyes weren't able to focus properly. She kept seeing the image of Jace as he lay back in the bathtub.
She went into the kitchen. Something in there would distract her, calm her down, she hoped, so that she could start acting like a rational person again and not a quivering blob of jelly.
She raised the lid on the pan of simmering spaghetti sauce and sniffed the delicious aroma. She was replacing the lid when she heard soft footfalls and knew that Jace was standing behind her. She dropped the aluminum lid, and it clattered onto the range.
Before she could retrieve it, one of Jace's arms came from under her arm, picked up the lid, and replaced it securely on the pan. She felt his chest pressed against her back.
His other arm came from behind her to join the first. He slipped both under her blouse, and, with one swift motion, unclasped the front fastener of her bra. Pushing aside the wisp of lace and nylon, he cupped her breasts in his hands.
"It got you all hot and bothered, did- n't it?" He was nuzzling the back of her neck under her hair. The tip of his tongue explored the velvet smooth skin behind her ear.
"What?" she croaked. His hands were kneading her gently, then flattening her with pressing palms.
"The sight of my nakedness. It's been known to cause quite a disturbance. Why, when I was in Africa, the sight of me walking down the street was enough to make the parents of nubile daughters tremble in fear." His voice was barely above a whisper, entrancing. He moved closer, and his thighs rubbed against the backs of her legs and hips.
It was hard to articulate anything, but Katherine kept up the inane conversation. "Y-you walked naked down the street?"
His hands pushed her breasts together, forming a deep cleavage, and he raked his thumbs over the aroused nipples.
"Of course. In some African cultures that's a matter of form. No pun intended." He caught her earlobe between his teeth.
"Well, this isn't Africa." She sighed as his hands moved over the flat planes of her stomach. "And I'll thank you not to ... oh, Jace."
He turned her to face him. The cerulean eyes were full of resolve as he lifted her and carried her through the living room to the bedroom which, until now, had been used exclusively by him.
Gently and carefully he lowered her onto the king-size bed. He stood up and whipped the towel from around his waist, dropping it to the floor as he lay down beside Katherine.
He smoothed back the hair from her flushed cheeks and brushed light kisses on her temple. "Katherine, I'm going to make love to you." He wasn't asking permission. It was a statement of intention. He kissed her tenderly, drawing on her tongue with persuasive insistence.
He gloried in each part of her body as it was revealed to him. He removed her clothing with practiced skill and maddening leisure, frequently stopping to nibble and caress.
When he eased the bikini panties down her long slender legs, he whispered endearments in praise of her body that Katherine could never have imagined coming from anyone's lips.
He stretched out beside her and held her tightly against him. Slowly the tension in her body ebbed under the soothing strokes of his fingers. Their arousing exploration coaxed her to participate. Her head was thrown back against the pillow, her chin raised, allowing his seeking mouth access to her throat.
His lips settled on her mouth, kissing it with infinite passion and tenderness. His tongue searched its sweetness even as his hands traversed her body. His lips were still resting on hers as he whispered, "I don't know what you like. Tell me if—" She sealed his words inside by capturing his lips with her own. If this were an example of things to come, there was nothing she would- n't like.
His mouth trailed across her cheek to her ear and teased it with soft, warm breath and a darting tongue.
His hand caressed her from her shoulders, across her breasts, and around her waist. His fingers stroked the silkiness of her inner thighs, and a liquid fire ran through her from his fingertips to the very center of her being.
"Your skin is like velvet," he murmured. He eased his hand back and forth across her feminine cradle. "Remember the night I put you to bed?"
"Yes, Jace," she breathed. His hands were a vivid reminder.
"I wanted to touch you like this then." He rested his hand on the soft tuft at the top of her legs. "I'm glad there's nothing between us now."
Her ragged breath was trapped inside her mouth by his plundering kiss. She clasped his head on either side of his jaw just under his ears and moved his head downward.
"Jace," she pleaded. "kiss me here." She placed his head against her breasts.
He kissed the soft curves. His tongue outlined their undersides until she was writhing with longing. When she felt his mouth close around her nipple, she heard herself moan in ecstasy. He pulled on her gently, then raised his head slightly and used only his tongue to assuage the aching bud.
She clasped his shoulders and explored the hard muscles under her fingers. She became braver and slid her hands between their bodies, combing her fingertips through the hair on his chest and curiously examining the small brown nipples nestled in it. It delighted her to hear his quickening breath.
"Ah, Katherine, you're so sweet," he said as his fingers discovered the moist warmth between her thighs. Her sighs echoed his.