to stop the needy sound from escaping.
“That’s right, Alison,” he whispered. “Let go. You can let go. I’ve got you.”
Her mind blanked, all thoughts of control, all of her worries, falling away. And she really could only feel. She felt as if she was reaching for something, something beautiful that shimmered before her, just out of reach. She moved against him, edging toward the nameless need that had taken over her whole being. And finally she touched it.
Her mouth opened on a soundless cry and she arched up as her orgasm washed over her. Her internal muscles pulsed around his finger in waves of endless pleasure that seemed to go on and on.
When it was over she was self-conscious again, where before she’d been so lost in her pleasure that she hadn’t really stopped to realize that she should be embarrassed about what he was doing to her.
“Don’t,” he said, deftly undoing the buttons on his shirt.
“Don’t?”
“Don’t be embarrassed.” He shrugged the shirt off then removed his pants and underwear in one fluid movement.
She could only stare, openmouthed at the vision of masculine perfection he’d unveiled. That muscular chest was bare for her again and she ached to touch him, to taste him. And then her gaze dropped to his erection, thick and fully aroused, and she forgot her embarrassment. How could she be embarrassed when she could see for herself how much he’d enjoyed doing that for her? When she could see how much he wanted her still? Men couldn’t fake a reaction like that, and she couldn’t help but feel an immense amount of feminine pride over his obvious desire for her.
He stood up from the bed and moved over to the dresser where there were several pillar candles set out. She took the opportunity to admire his tight male butt, her arousal almost unbearable despite the orgasm she’d just had. He grabbed a lighter from the top drawer and picked up one of the candles.
“What are you doing?” she asked, craving his skin against hers, craving his touch, his kiss.
“Setting the mood,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile.
“There’s no time for that,” she said, shimmying out of her dress. “I need you. Now.”
A feral growl rose up in his throat and he crossed to the bed in three quick strides. Then he was covering her, gently pressing her legs apart with his hair-roughened thigh. She kissed him, moved against him, rubbed her breasts against his chest. She loved being naked with him, skin to skin, their bodies twined together. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. She was completely out of control, and yet she was safe. With him she was safe. No matter what. She knew it instinctively, even if she didn’t know why.
He rubbed his shaft against her slick opening. She was so wet, so ready for him after her first mind-numbing orgasm that she didn’t feel any pain when he started to ease into her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. His face was tense, the tendons in his neck strained with the concentration it took for him to go slow.
She looped her calf over his and urged him on. In one quick motion he thrust inside of her to the hilt. She felt too full, the stretching sensation uncomfortable, but not painful. She shifted, trying to ease some of the pressure.
He pulled away and then pushed into her again and she felt her body adjusting, felt her muscles expanding to accommodate him. And when he thrust into her for a third time all of the discomfort was gone. She moaned with pleasure, the sweet feeling of impending orgasm beginning to coil in her pelvis again.
“Oh, Max,” she breathed, arching against him, meeting each of his thrusts.
He buried his face in her neck, his movements wild, hard. Wonderful. Neither of them were quiet, both of them whispering words of encouragement, letting the other one know how good everything was. And when she felt ready to go over the edge again she jumped willingly.
If her first orgasm was a release, this one was an explosion of feeling. She couldn’t stop the hoarse cry that escaped her lips as she lost herself in her own pleasure wholly and completely. He thrust hard into her one last time and pressed a hot kiss to her lips as he came.
He held her until their raging heartbeats calmed, their bodies still joined.
“I didn’t know,” she said, dazed. “I didn’t know that losing control could be so … empowering.”
His lips twitched against her neck. “Was it?”
“Yes. I didn’t know it could be like that.”
“Was it your first orgasm?” he asked, surprise lacing his voice.
She hadn’t planned on telling him, but after that she knew there was no place for lying or even sidestepping the truth. “Yes. My first everything.”
Max was stunned by that admission. She’d been tight, so tight it had been a battle not to come the moment he’d thrust into her, but he’d been too lost in his own pleasure to question it.
“And why is that, Alison? You’re a beautiful woman. A sensual woman. There wouldn’t have been anything wrong with you exploring that.”
“Control,” she said softly. “I never wanted to give anyone the power to hurt me. So I avoided relationships. Avoided sex.”
“What made you change your mind?”
She shifted in his arms and turned to face him, her copper eyes still cloudy with the aftereffects of her orgasm. Something that felt a lot like pride swelled in his chest. “You’re the first man that I wanted to be with. Before I … It scared me to think of being with someone like this. Being naked, not just physically, but in every way. But I trust you. I trust that you won’t hurt me,” she said simply.
He felt as if a steel band was clamping down hard on his heart. She’d been a virgin. She’d trusted him where she hadn’t trusted any man before. And what could he offer her but a cold, clinical relationship, void of any kind of sentimental emotion. She deserved more than that. But he just didn’t have it in him.
“I can’t give you love. I can’t give you the promises a woman should expect after her first time.”
“I don’t need any more promises. And we’re already engaged,” she said pointedly. “And what we have is better than love. We have honesty. We have a common bond.”
She was right. Love was no guarantee of anything, and they’d both seen that firsthand in life. He only hoped she wouldn’t have a change of heart. Virgins tended to take sex very seriously, which was why he’d always avoided them.
She slid her silky smooth thigh over his and her damp core brushed against his penis. He felt himself getting hard all over again. He wanted her. Already. Wanted her so badly his muscles were knotting with tension as he tried to hold himself back. But she’d been a virgin less than a half hour ago and he wasn’t going to hurt her by trying to find his own satisfaction again so soon.
She moaned and moved against him, her lips curved into a dreamy smile.
“Alison,” he bit out. “Be careful.”
“Why?” she asked, a full-blown smile spreading over her face. He found himself smiling back.
“Because
