Rekindled by Barbara Delinsky Page B

arms that held her gently, legs that supported her. Out of that void came her response, slowly, surely, and Ross had won. Her lips moved against his, tasting, savoring. The corners of his mouth, his firm lips, his tongue, one small nibble led to another until she returned his kiss with matching passion.
    “Oh, Ross,” she breathed raggedly when his lips left hers to trail fire along the sensitive cord of her neck.
    “That’s it, princess.”
    “No.” That word. That past.
    His breath warmed her ear. “You’ll always be my princess, Chloe.” He nibbled at her lobe. “It has nothing to do with the past. Right now you’re my princess.” With a groan, he pressed her to him. She felt his desire as she tried to deny her own, but that same coil of need gnawed within her. She was on the verge of losing control.
    “No!” Her scream echoed back through her with such force that only Ross’s arms kept her standing. As she sagged against him, he eased down onto the sand, turning her to sit with her back to his chest, her knees bent and bounded by his. He said nothing, just held her, his arms wrapped around her middle.
    Chloe couldn’t have moved if she’d tried. Drained by emotional strain, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply of the slow-cooling air.
    When Ross spoke long moments later, she was surprised to hear humor in his voice. “Not bad for a novice.”
    “What?”
    “That scream. For someone who says she doesn’t do that kind of thing, you sure let loose!”
    She let out a breath and grinned, feeling oddly calm. “I guess I did. You have a way of doing the weirdest things to me.”
    “I certainly hope so,” he drawled.
    ” Ross-“
    “Shh. I’ve heard enough from you for a while. I want you to listen.”
    “But-“
    “Shh! I have something to say.”
    “You-umph!” The breath was forced from her by a squeeze to her middle. She didn’t try to speak again.
    “Better,” he said. “Now, listen. I realize that you need time, and I’ll give you that. But I’m not leaving. Not this time. I want to get to know you, and I want you to get to know me. We blew it on that score last time. But yesterday was one thing, today’s another, and they’re different, Chloe, they’re different.”
    She liked the sound of that. Didn’t know if she believed it. But it was fine for the moment. Same thing with sitting against one another this way, looking out over the last of the sunset’s flaming rays. Ross provided support. And heat. She was acutely aware of his long legs, his strong arms, his broad chest, his warm breath. She might not have a right to do it, but she savored the peace of the moment.
    So maybe today was different. Certainly they were eleven years older, maybe even worlds wiser. But Crystal had been an intrinsic part of her life. To forget her would be wrong. It was more a matter of acceptance. Could she accept the past and learn to live with it?
    “Well?” Ross’s baritone hummed by her ear.
    “Well, what?” She had reached her saturation point and couldn’t agonize anymore. He nudged her ribs. “Don’t you have anything to say for yourself.?”
    Her long pause was nearly as effective as the sigh that followed it. “I can speak now?”
    “Speak.”
    “That’s a beautiful sunset,” she mused aloud. “It’s a treat at this time of year, all warm and golden. Do you have any idea what would happen if the ozone layer were to be destroyed by the haphazard release of freon gas?”
    “Chlo … eee.”
    Before Ross could respond, a call of concern came from far down the beach.
    “It’s Lee,” Chloe explained as her partner loped toward where she and Ross sat. Ross made no move to hold her back when she slid from his grip and jumped to her feet.
    The timing couldn’t have been better. With those legs framing hers and the strength of that body a serious temptation, her diversion into envitonmental quandaries would have been temporary at best. Lee’s appearance was a godsend.
    Aware