But at last he traced the aureole of one nipple, causing it to tighten even more. Then he cupped her so tenderly, so carefully, that she felt like precious china. She loved being cherished, but she wanted more. Perhaps she needed to show him. Arching her back, she pressed forward, filling his cupped palm.
“Ah, Tess.” Taking a shaky breath, he dipped his head and brought her tight, aching nipple into his mouth.
Yes. She cupped the back of his head and lifted into his caress. Oh, yes. His was the touch she’d been waiting for—the swirl of his tongue, the nip of his teeth, the sweet pressure as he sucked, nursing the flames that licked at the tender spot between her thighs. Shamelessly she offered her other breast, and he lavished the same loving attention there while continuing to give a sweet massage to the damp nipple he’d just left.
As she twisted on the soft blanket, her skirt rode up. Or maybe he pushed it up, in that subtle way he had of making her clothes disappear. He slipped his hand between her thighs, pressing against the damp silk of her panties. The heel of his hand found the spot that ached, and pushed down. She trembled.
He kissed his way back to her mouth, then lifted a fraction away from her lips. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No,” she said, panting. “But I don’t… I’ve never…”
He paused, breathing heavily, too. “No man has ever had his hand there?”
“They didn’t dare.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “But you must have done this…yourself.”
“No, I—read about it.”
“Not the same.”
“I know but—promise not to laugh—I didn’t want to be alone when it happened.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He didn’t laugh. Instead, he tenderly kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and finally her lips. “You’re not alone now,” he whispered between kisses.
And sometime in the midst of those bewitching kisses, he eased his hand beneath the waistband of her panties. When she felt his fingers slip through her damp curls, she gasped.
His hand stilled and he lifted his mouth away from hers. “Is that a no?”
She began to quiver and fought the urge to press her thighs together. His hand resting there felt wonderful, but frightening, too. “Just a…reaction.”
“Should I stop?”
“No. But Mac, this is so personal.”
“Yes, ma’am.” There was a definite smile in his voice. “About as personal as you can get.” He eased his hand down and began a slow massage.
Breathing became more difficult as her body responded to that easy stroke. “At least…it’s almost completely dark.”
“That can help. The first time.”
She felt as if he was transforming her into a liquid, flowing state. “What if I make a fool of myself?”
“I hope you do.”
“I hope I don’t. You’ll never let me forget it.” She gasped again as one of his very talented fingers sought out the sensitive nub that sent shivers zinging through her.
“No, I probably won’t,” he murmured as he kept up the maddening, electrifying rhythm.
She felt like a watch being wound too tight, but she wanted him to keep on winding. “Oh, Mac.” She clutched his shoulder as the tension grew.
“Won’t be long now.” He leaned down and feathered a kiss against her lips. “Let go, Tess.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Your body knows. Get out of your head and live right…” He pressed down a little harder. “Right there.”
She moaned as the pressure became unbearable and her body arched and quivered beneath him.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear as he deepened the caress. “Remember my dream? You rode naked to the river, becoming so aroused that you climaxed, and then I pulled you down, spread your legs and—”
She cried out as the convulsions swept through her, wave upon wave of glorious release. And all through it, she held on to Mac, the man who had offered to lead her into this land of magic, and then had made a miracle happen. And he held on to her equally as tight, covering her face with kisses and laughing softly in triumph.
* * *
MAC HELD TESS and listened with pride to her sighs of satisfaction as she nestled in his arms. He was tense with unfulfilled need, but he could stand the pressure. “So you liked it.”
“I adored it.” Her voice was lazy and sweet, an after-the-loving voice that didn’t sound like the Tess he knew, but like a Tess he’d like to know. “Mac, you used fantasy on me, after all.”
“Had to get you past that wall.”
“See?” Her voice was whisper-soft. “Fantasy can work.”
“You made a believer of me.”
She sighed again. “I’m so glad you were the one, Mac.”
“Me, too.” Even when Tess had announced she was still a virgin, Mac had never dreamed that she’d never experienced what he’d just given her. Knowing that he’d introduced her to her first orgasm made him feel like a king. Of all the accomplishments in his life, this might be the one he was the most proud of.
On the downside, he was in real agony. Tess had been right that he was used to finishing something that started this way, and his body was demanding that he take care of things. Even without birth control, there were ways to gain mutual satisfaction. But she couldn’t be expected to do that for him, considering her lack of experience. He wouldn’t even ask.
Then he felt her fingers working at his belt buckle.
“Tess? What are you doing?”
“If you’d move back a little I could do it better.” She fumbled her way through the fastenings of his buttonfly jeans. It was obvious she’d never undressed a man in her life.
Suddenly he felt protective of her innocence. “Look, you’re new at this, so please don’t think that I expect you to—”
“Want me to stop?” She paused. “It’s just that, in the dark, I feel…braver. And I want to, Mac. I really want to.”
She’d nearly released him from the confines of the denim, which left only the cotton of his boxers between him and paradise. Consideration warred with urgent need. “Uh…”
“I’ll confess I’m a complete novice when it comes to giving a man pleasure, but I’ve read extensively.” Her words might be scholarly, but her tone was sexy as hell.
The combination of sex and innocence was dynamite. His erection stiffened even more, thinking of her untutored hands on him, practicing.
She rubbed him through the cotton. “Well?”
With a sigh, he kissed her deeply. “Considering it’s dark and all, I’d love it,” he murmured against her lips.
“Then lift your hips so I can push your clothes away. I’m too much of a beginner to deal with impediments.”
His skin flushed with anticipation. He’d never in his life been approached this way, and he found it damn exciting. “Okay.” He lifted up and she shoved his boxers and jeans down in one efficient movement.
“Goodness gracious.” She sounded intimidated.
Well, at least he wasn’t a disappointment to her. He took some satisfaction in that. “Change your mind?”
“No. I’m just…impressed. Lie back and let me get used to the idea.”
He