Magnificent Folly by Iris Johansen

at her nipples. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out as the muscles in her stomach clenched. Fire. Need.
    Then he was pulling her toward the cliff. “This way,” he muttered. “Shelter.”
    Shelter in this deluge? She didn’t care about shelter. She only wanted him to touch her, come into her. She wanted to run her hands over the hard muscles of his back as he—
    “Here.” It
was
shelter—of a sort. A beach blanket was spread beneath the jutting overhang of the cliff. Andrew was stripping quickly. “Lie down, please,” he said. “It will have to be quick the first time. I’m burning up.”
    So was Lily. She was experiencing a desire so intense and mindless, all she could do was stand there, wanting him.
    He was almost nude now, his back to her, a pale, powerful shadow in the darkness.
    She took a step toward him, then another. Her arms encircled his waist, her aroused nipples pressing into the flesh of his back. He felt so good. Hard, warm, sleek. “Andrew …”
    He froze, his muscles locking. “Lord, Lily.” A long shudder rippled through him, and the muscles of her stomach contracted in a silent gasp asshe felt him hardening, readying. “Please. I can’t—” He broke free and whirled to face her. “Quick, love.” His hands urgently tugged the gown over her hips. “I have to have—” He pulled her down on the blanket, and was between her thighs. “Take me into you,” he cried, then plunged deep.
    Lily wasn’t conscious of the primeval sound issuing from her. Hardness, heat, thickness, ruthlessly seeking into the heart of her. “Yes, oh, yes.” She spoke through clenched teeth. “Please … more.”
    He was giving her more. Plunging, withdrawing, thrusting, his breath coming in harsh gasps. His hands slid around her to cup her buttocks in his warm, hard palms. “Hold me.” He drew her up and forward to meet each wild, forceful stroke.
    She clenched around him.
    Andrew’s throat arched as he threw his head back, his body tightening like a bowstring. “Lily!”
    Wild, she couldn’t
stand
for it to go on. Thetears ran down her cheeks as she dug her nails into his tight buttocks. Dear heaven, so good … She couldn’t
stand
for it to end.
    There was no choice. The fury between them climaxed with the same explosive urgency with which it had begun.
    Andrew collapsed on top of her, his elbows braced on the blanket to spare her his weight. She could feel his heartbeat thundering against her naked breasts as he fought for breath.
    What had happened? she wondered dazedly. How had they come to this point, when she had never intended to give in to him?
    Several minutes passed before her own breath steadied enough for her to speak. “Andrew, we have to talk.”
    His lips feathered her temple as he lifted off her and moved to her side. “Presently. For the moment let’s just lie here and listen to the storm.” He cuddled her close, his arm drawing her spoon fashion against his warm body.
    “I have to get back to Cassie.”
    “You’ve only been gone a short time.” Hiscalloused hand cupped her breast and squeezed gently. “Probably less than thirty minutes.” His warm tongue plunged into her ear. “We were both pretty impatient, weren’t we?”
    Frantic, she thought. Starved for each other. She had never dreamed she could want anyone so desperately as she had wanted Andrew this night.
    His thumb flicked teasingly over her left nipple. “It will be better next time. I’ll be able to take more time in pleasing you.”
    Her nipple was hardening, a tingle starting in the center of her womanhood. Lord, she was wanting him again already. “Don’t do that. I don’t want to be touched anymore.”
    His hand halted its teasing caress but remained cupping her breast. “Yes, you do,” he said quietly. “You want me to touch you as much as I want to do it. You were caught off guard, and now you’re panicking because you think I’m going to take advantage of your need and try to use