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Her breathing rate increased, her chest rising and falling. She kissed him with fervor, thrusting her tongue to parry with his. Her lips were so sweet. Her thighs were sleek and firm. And her breasts were soft beneath his hand, her nipples peaking against his touch.
She arched her back, and a soft moan came from her lips.
Desire flashed through him, and he scooped her into his arms, carrying her back into the bedroom, laying her on the four-poster bed, atop the crisp sheets, the moonlight filtering through sheer curtains to dance on the sheen of her skin.
He shucked his pants to lie down beside her, peeling the spaghetti strap from her shoulder, kissing his way to her breast, drawing her nipple into his mouth.
Her hands buried themselves in his short hair. She moaned again, gently flexing beneath him.
The silk bunched up at her waist. He drew back to stare at the sensual picture she made against the stark sheets, arms above her head, one knee bent.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered, brushing the back of his hand from her elbow to the side of her breast, then farther down to the nip of her waist and the curve of her hip. Her eyes were buffed jade, her hair a dark halo.
His touch followed her hip bone to her navel and below, dipping farther and farther.
She closed her eyes, and her thighs twitched open.
He dipped into her heat, his pulse pounding, his breathing labored.
When he couldn’t stand it anymore, he stripped off his boxers and covered her with his body.
She wrapped herself around him, kissing his mouth, her fingers kneading the muscles of his back. When her heat and softness engulfed him, he groaned her name, balling his fists, searching for strength.
He was determined to take it slow. She deserved romance. She deserved to be cherished. She deserved to be the only woman in his world. Just for tonight, he told himself. Just for tonight, he’d banish everything from his mind, everything but Sage.
He drew his head back, just far enough to focus on her. Her eyes were closed. Her lips were deep red. Her cheeks were flushed.
She moved with him, their rhythm easy, their bodies in sync. Pleasure ebbed through him, pulsing, growing, taking over his body and his mind. His pace increased, and her hold tightened. Before he knew it, he was out of control, moving faster, reaching higher, holding, holding, holding back every second that he could until a world of color, heat and light exploded behind his eyes and his muscles convulsed with release.
“Sage!” Her name was wrenched from his lips, then it thundered over and over inside his brain.
* * *
It was midmorning, and the house was completely quiet. Sage stood in the opening between the living room and the family room and drank in the stillness.
Eli and Heidi were at their first full day of school. Whiskey Bay Elementary was a fifteen-minute bus ride away, and they’d been thrilled to hop on the school bus at the end of the driveway. TJ had gone to the office, and Kristy was back at college. Verena wasn’t due for at least an hour.
Sage tried to remember how long it had been since she’d been completely alone.
There was course reading waiting for her in the office, and two reports from the college board. Plus, there were always the philanthropic requests for Tide Rush Investments. Although she had that part down to a system, it was always satisfying to find a new project that fit their criteria.
But for now, just for a few minutes, she wanted to savor the peace.
Maybe some tea—since she’d learned how to use the cappuccino machine, a latte was her beverage of choice in the morning. But today didn’t feel like a latte day. It felt like herbal tea, maybe something with lemon.
The family room wasn’t messy, but it was comfortably disheveled. She liked that.
On the way past the table, she closed Heidi’s coloring book and put the stray pencils into the case. Eli’s rubber snake was coiled up on one of the chairs. It had stopped startling Sage a few days ago. TJ’s plaid shirt was draped over the back of a chair.
She reached out and touched the shirt. He’d been wearing it yesterday playing catch in the backyard with Eli. He’d stripped down to his T-shirt before dinner, because the sun was hitting the deck, and it was hot in front of the barbecue.
They’d grilled burgers and eaten ice cream. Yesterday had come close to being perfect.
Sage lifted the shirt and pressed the soft fabric to her face. She inhaled the subtle scent of TJ, emotions rushing through her. TJ himself was close to perfect.
Maybe he was perfect.
He was perfect for her.
“Hello?” Melissa’s voice called out from the front foyer.
Sage lowered the shirt from her face to call back. “I’m in the family room.”
She was getting used to the casual drop-in culture of the four oceanfront houses. She couldn’t quite bring herself to walk into anyone else’s house yet. But she was getting there.
