the cold glass there, rolling it against her nape for nothing more than the sheer pleasure of her response.
Her nipples were already puckered but as soon as the bottle touched their tips they drew into the tightest buds he’d ever seen. Reaching down, he touched the center with the tip of his tongue, enjoying the feel of her icy skin against his hot mouth.
He couldn’t resist the urge to suck her inside, to take the full swell of her breast into his mouth. She arched against him, jostling the chilled bottle into contact with his own skin and drawing a gasp at the sensation.
Pulling back, he tipped the neck above her body and let a stream of the bubbling wine pour onto her skin. The golden liquid rolled down a path between her breasts, a single drop pooling at the dip of her navel.
Letting more rain down, he bent toward it, lapping the drops as they collected. Only soon there was a rush, more than he could handle, a river of champagne that overflowed to trickle down into the curls at the juncture of her thighs.
Sabrina jerked as the first cool drops hit. With glittering eyes, she waited and watched as he trailed his tongue after them. Her thighs parted for him, opening wide so he could lap at the mingling tastes of champagne and her desire.
She reached for him, burying her hands in the strands of his hair. Her hips jerked as he licked at her sex, teasing her clit, playing at the opening of her body.
She pulsed beneath him. He could practically feel the hum of her blood pumping just beneath the surface of her skin. She writhed against him, her grip holding tighter.
Slipping a finger inside her sex, he relished the single whimper of need she let out as her body clenched hard against him.
“Let go.”
The simple words sent her into oblivion, the force of her orgasm sucking him in even deeper. She finally collapsed into a heap on the bed with a groaning sigh that made him smile.
Placing featherlight kisses to her sweat-glazed skin, he worked his way slowly back up her body. Taking his time, allowing her a moment to recover and collect herself, Chase contented himself with soft, exploring touches.
And he was rewarded a few minutes later when she reached for his shoulders and pushed him flat to the bed.
Sabrina was nothing like he’d expected…and yet, somehow, he wasn’t surprised at the sexy, passionate woman he’d discovered beneath her smooth surface. He’d known there were depths to her—even six years ago—that she simply didn’t show the world. And the fact that she was sharing them with him now…it was unbelievably arousing.
“I think we need some cake to go with the champagne.”
His erection was hard and throbbing. The last thing he wanted was a piece of cake. What he wanted was Sabrina, hot, wet and wrapped so tightly around him that he couldn’t tell where her body ended and his began.
He opened his mouth to tell her just that, but the words caught in his throat as she swiped her finger through the icing and smeared a large dollop down the length of his cock. It was cool and grainy, slightly rough. The sweet smell of butter cream reached him, mixed with the heady scent of Sabrina’s arousal.
She tortured him, using a light touch to cover him completely with the sticky stuff.
The tip of her tongue flicked across her lower lip. He watched and wanted. Staring down at him with gleaming eyes, she brought her finger to her mouth and painstakingly licked it clean.
“Sabrina.” He wasn’t sure whether the word was a warning or a plea, not that it mattered as long as she touched him.
With an impish half smile, she bent down over his body. Her hair fell across him, shielding her motions from his view. With a single hand he moved it away, locking his fingers into the silky cloud at the nape of her neck so he could watch her.
Her tongue laved him, lapping at his erection as if it were the best lollipop she’d ever tasted. Testing flicks, deep strokes—by the time the last speck of sugar was gone his control was about to snap with it.
With a rushed, “I’m sorry,” he flipped their positions and slammed home inside her. He couldn’t wait, hadn’t the strength to hold back for her this time. But as his body raced toward orgasm his mind registered the signs of her impending release.
He thrust into her, one, two, three more times before throwing his head back with abandon. His body emptied into hers with a force and completeness he’d never experienced before. It was mind-boggling how utterly consuming his need to possess this woman was.
Collapsing to the bed beside her, Chase rolled them both on their sides, tucked her into the curve of his body and wrapped his arms tight around her. His last thought before sleep stole over him was that he wished he didn’t have to leave her. Not now when he’d finally found her again.
LAST NIGHT she had not been herself. And it had felt utterly fantastic.
Rina had spent her entire life being the good girl, the “never do anything wrong” girl, the “never step out on a limb or take a chance or do something fun and spontaneous” girl. Her life was mapped out, every decision carefully made. At least every one before tonight.
She’d worked hard to fast-track her career. To be the best of the best in her field. To eventually achieve her goal of being in the Pentagon public affairs bureau. She’d worked hard to live down deficiencies—hers and her mother’s.
But last night…she’d felt amazing and…free.
Now she needed to go.
Chase was leaving in three—no two—days for Iraq anyway. It wasn’t like this was going anywhere. It had been fun. And amazing. And the best sexual experience she’d ever had.
But she couldn’t stay and watch him pack up and leave.
It was over. And she needed to get out of here.
Quietly gathering her clothes, Rina fought the fierce edge of a blush as her eyes landed on the dresser and the half-demolished wedding cake sitting on top of it.
What had possessed her?
She had no idea but Chase hadn’t seemed to mind. In fact, he’d seemed to like every last moment. A thrill shot through her body, a mix of remembered pleasure and awakened knowledge.
Rina ignored it, but she couldn’t ignore the urge to take one more look at him, sound asleep and sated in the bed they’d shared. The white sheet draped across his body, revealing the strong curve of his back and the tight indent at his hip. One long, muscled leg stuck out from the covers tangled into a knot around him. One arm was tucked beneath the pillow, bunching it to his cheek. The other was flung over the space she’d occupied just minutes before.
Six years ago she’d have killed for a single night with Chase Carden. It had lived up to every last fantasy she’d created in her mind. Surpassed them all, actually.
But now it was over.
Picking up her purse, she spied the pictures lying beneath. Reaching inside, she drew out the last one, the one of their kiss, and left it there.
In two days Chase would leave for Iraq. And as soon as she walked out that door she would go back to the perfect, ordered life she’d built for herself.
Last night had been a dream. But now it was over.
At least that’s what Rina thought. Until one week later when their marriage certificate arrived in the mail.
3
Present
DAMN. He was here. And she was not ready for him.
Not that she ever would have been. If eleven months wasn’t long enough, a couple more weeks probably wouldn’t have helped.
Rina had no idea what to say to him. Her husband. The word rolled around inside her brain, pinching at the corners. How was she going