Dark Refuge by Kate Douglas Page A

opening, curling the tip against her soft inner walls. The slick tissues actually fluttered against his tongue, so responsive to his touch, rewarding him with more of the taste of her, an undeniable symbol of her arousal.
    So far, he was keeping her with him. She’d not gone away this time. Her arousal had become a living, breathing entity, so powerful he felt it looping back at him. He wanted to link, to tie himself into her thoughts, her sensations, but not yet. Not until she was totally lost in the pure carnality of the two of them together. He wondered if she’d let him in, if she’d block his attempt to share what the two of them did together. If she’d not had sex with many guys, he could assume that was something she’d never done before. He didn’t want to frighten her. He didn’t want to assume too much, either.
    Lying prone the full length of the bed, he slipped his hands beneath her buttocks and lifted her to his mouth. Licking and nipping, he lost himself in her exquisite flavors, in the scent and taste of her, the slickness against his tongue, and the clench and release of muscles on the edge of orgasm.
    She bucked against his face, and the whimpers and soft little moans had become the background music to every move he made, to every response he wrenched from Emeline. She was so close and it was time. Opening his mind, he sought her out, but there was nothing but a swirling maelstrom of wordless need, as if he’d reached that primitive part of her brain that responded to sensation alone, without conscious thought, without any need to understand, but only to experience. The sense of her was addictive, this level of arousal so far beyond anything he’d expected, and he found himself falling into it.
    Falling into Emeline. Her body undulated in his grasp and he flowed with her, holding her in his palms, controlling her with his mouth until he knew he had her, knew she’d reached that pinnacle and there was no going back. He wrapped his lips around her clit and used the tip of his tongue to chase her over the top. Screaming, she arched against him, her body shuddering, her thighs clasping the sides of his head as he continued to lick and taste until she finally relaxed enough to draw a great, shuddering breath.
    Gabe didn’t give her time to think. He moved forward over her body, sliding his erect cock between her thighs, up against the wet heat between her legs. She was warm and so slick, and he expected his entry to be a simple thing, but she was much smaller than he’d expected. Much tighter. And instead of a single, slow thrust, he pressed against her gently, with just enough pressure to slowly part her engorged folds, and even more slowly to work his way inside.
    She arched her hips, pressing close to help, but he didn’t want to hurt her, didn’t want what had been a totally pleasurable connection to go south for either of them. “Are you okay, Em? I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “More, Gabe. I want more.”
    “Put your arms around my neck.” She did, and he rolled with her to his back. “Now you’re in charge.”
    She tossed her long hair back and clasped his shoulders, positioning herself over the smooth crown of his cock. Bracing her hands on him, she slowly worked her way down his erection. Very slowly. So damned slow he was afraid he’d lose it before he was all the way in because he’d never felt anything so perfect in his entire life. He was gasping each breath and struggling for control by the time he bottomed out against her cervix and her warm little bottom rested on his thighs.
    “Are you okay?” He palmed both her breasts. They were absolutely perfect. Not overly large, but nothing about Emeline was all that big. Except her heart. Damn, but she seemed to have such a strong sense of honor. She honestly cared about people. She was beautiful, she was so not what he’d expected when he’d boarded the plane last night.
    “I am.” She smiled and ran her fingers through his