brows, followed the curve of her cheek.
And then he kissed her.
It was a slow, tender, exploratory kiss. She lifted her mouth to him and let him take the lead, drinking in the scent of him: clean sweat, insect repellent—and a hint of plumeria from her shampoo. And something else, something heady and manly and totally wonderful. Something that was every good smell in the world, all rolled into one. A one-of-a-kind scent that almost had her believing in those “special” pheromones of his that Lin was always going on about. He smelled of chocolate and sugar cookies fresh from the oven. Of toasted pecans. Oh, she definitely wanted to eat him right up.
He ran his tongue along the seam where her lips met and she let him in.
That was when he wrapped his big arms around her and pulled her close to his hard, strong chest. The fire bathed them in its red glow, sending up sparks to the velvety night. Off in the darkness, she heard the jungle sounds, the screams of predators, the calls of nightbirds, the endless rustling of creatures that crept close to the ground.
She smiled against his mouth, eased her hands around his tight waist, reveled in the feel of him, pressed so close with passionate intent. At last.
In time, he lifted his head and looked down at her through those glorious, lazy bedroom eyes.
She said, “When you were so sick, when you were shaking with fever, shivering with cold at the same time, I used to lie down with you.”
“I remember. I was so grateful. Comforted.”
“It was a comfort to me, too—and a tight fit on those seats.”
A smile tipped on a corner of his beautiful mouth. “But you made it work.”
“Hmm.” She lifted on tiptoe.
He took the hint and lowered his head to her again.
She claimed his lips eagerly, hungrily. When he held her and kissed her, it all made sense, somehow. That they were here, miles from home, constantly in danger but together.
In every way.
For a long while, they simply stood there by the fire, kissing, whispering to each other, kissing some more.
Yes, she felt an urgency to take the pleasure farther, faster. She sensed that he did, too.
But there was a certain joy, a delicious thrill, in denying the urgency, in taking their time.
His hardness pressed into her belly, making promises that they both knew would be kept, and kept that night. Her body thrummed with excitement, her breasts ached for his caress. And below, she was heavy. Liquid with yearning, with hot expectation.
And they went on kissing even longer.
In time, he released her. They didn’t need words. She banked the fire. They each made a final trip into the shadows. They washed their hands and faces, brushed their teeth. He got the condoms from a suitcase and she collected the blanket and pillow that remained in the plane.
And then, at last, they entered the tent.
He undressed her first. Each time she tried to get something of his off, he gently pushed her eager hands away.
And eventually, she surrendered. After days of always having to be in control and on guard, it was a revelation, a sweet and voluptuous relief, to lie back on the pillows. To let him bring pleasure to her.
Like the kissing by the fire, he took his time about it. Starting with her shoes and socks, he worked his way up her body, kissing and caressing as he peeled away her clothing, revealing all her secrets.
She was only too happy to be revealed. It was exactly what she wanted, and just the way she wanted it. His tongue was magic, his fingers knew the perfect way to touch her. To stroke her.
Halfway up her body, he lingered. She still had on her shirt and bra when he dipped his tongue into the well of her navel, when he kissed every inch of her belly.
And lower.
He touched the chestnut curls and she opened her legs for him. He whispered how beautiful she was, how much he wanted her, how the taste of her was so sweet, even better than he had dreamed in his constant fantasies of her.
“Constant?” That sounded really good.
“Yes. As in continuous. As in you’ve made me crazy …”
“Crazy. Good. That’s very good.”
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I knew you’d think so.” He lowered his head to her, his fingers gently parting her secret flesh. “So beautiful. So slick and hot and wet …” And then his mouth was there, doing things. Wonderful things.
She groaned and clutched his head and pleaded, “Yes, oh! Right there. Oh, Dax….”
He knew just what to do, to make the ecstasy last. He found the right spot and he played it. She would rise, eager, urgent, reaching for the finish.
And then he would ease off, go slower. The waterfall’s edge of her building climax would retreat.
She begged him. She was shameless. She grabbed for his big shoulders, she curved her fingers into his thick, silky hair, digging her heels into the blankets, pushing her hungry body up to him, needing the fulfillment that his skilled mouth was promising, careful only of the bandage on his forehead. “Please. Oh, Dax. Please …”
But he wouldn’t give in and give her what she begged for, not until stars danced behind her eyes and her body hummed and quivered and she felt the glow of her own arousal all through her, in each deep, hungry beat of her heart, across every inch of her heated, sweat-dewed flesh.
Finally, he let it happen. She spun toward the waterfall, her whole body alive, shimmering, supersensitized. She spun toward it—and miracle of miracles—she went over.
In a glorious free fall, she cried out his name as the pleasure rose up and consumed her, in a shimmer of falling jeweled brightness, of pure physical joy.
Of wondrous completion.
He slid up her body as she came. His mouth, wet with her excitement, hot from those endless kisses, pressed a burning, slick trail over her quivering belly, across the white fabric of her T-shirt, along the sweat-damp column of her exposed throat. He took her mouth with a groan.
And he entered her.
Just like that. She let out a sound of surprised fulfillment. She had no clue when he’d freed himself of his pants, of his boxer briefs.
But he was free. She reached down and took his hard, naked hips between her hands.
It was perfect, just what she needed, his mouth on hers in a never-ending kiss, the feel of him filling her, gliding in so hot and hard and slick as the last sweet pulses of her climax beat around him, easing his way.
“So good. Zoe …” He breathed her name into her mouth.
She took it, took all of him, all the way. And she sucked his tongue into her mouth as she lifted her hips to him, eager and ready for
