Marriage On Demand. Susan Mallery

herself for Wayne and then he was gone. Her gift had no meaning, save a painful one. It reminded her of what she’d kept from him. She wanted it done away with.

      Who better to help her out than Austin? Heaven knew she’d had enough fantasies that being in bed with him would almost be familiar.

      “I’m serious,” she said, drawing in a deep breath and sliding her hands up his arms to his shoulders. She could feel the rock-hard strength of his muscles. “Maybe if we make love, I’ll get over my crush and leave you alone.”

      “That doesn’t say a whole lot about my skills in bed,” he muttered.

      She was afraid he would be repulsed by the idea and turn away, but he didn’t. His hands resumed their stroking of her back, but this time they moved lower, sliding over the curve of her derriere.

      “No regrets,” she said. “No dreams about white picket fences. No fantasies about a future together, I promise.”

      His gaze locked on hers. She couldn’t read his emotions. It was like staring into a bottomless pool or jumping off a cliff into a cloud. She didn’t know how far down she would go. Would he catch her, or let her fall and shatter?

      He brought his hands around to her face and cupped her cheeks, then lowered his head toward hers.

      She drew a breath in anticipation of their kiss. His mouth brushed hers, slowly, carefully, as if she were the most fragile of creatures. Back and forth, back and forth. Her fingers curled slightly as she gripped his shoulders. Her knees began to tremble.

      He pulled back. Their gazes met and for the first time she could read something in his eyes. Desire. It dilated his pupils so much the gray got lost in a sea of need. Until that moment, she’d wondered if she was setting herself up again. Had he toyed with her, making her confess her wants, knowing he shared none of them?

      Now she knew the truth. He shared the trembling, the heat. Her confidence returned and with it the sense of rightness about her decision. Austin Lucas might be the devil, but she trusted him not to hurt her. She smiled slightly. So much for being logical. For the first time in her life, she was going on instinct.

      “No regrets? You promise?” he asked.

      She knew this was completely insane, but it felt right. Wayne was gone. She needed to get on with her life. Austin was the perfect solution. Plus, she would finally find out if her fantasies had come close to the real thing. She smiled. “Yes.”

      It was as if her single word gave him the permission he’d been waiting for. Before she knew what was happening, he buried his hands in her hair, holding her head still. His fingers flexed against her scalp, sending tingling sensations down her spine.

      His mouth angled over hers, searing her with hot, fast kisses. He devoured her, sucking her bottom lip, nibbling on her top. He touched his tongue to the corners of her mouth, then swept across the closed seam, urging her to part for him.

      She opened to admit him, her breath already quickening with anticipation. In and around, over and under. Hot, wet, seeking. He plunged inside like a marauding warrior, ready to take that which he’d won. Then he retreated, playing with her, touching, stroking, tasting, discovering every inch of her tender mouth, making her pant with longing.

      His hands moved down from her head to her neck. His thumbs traced a line from her chin to the hollow of her throat. His fingers left small warm brands on her sensitized skin.

      She clung to him, her anchor in the storm, her source of strength. Mindless half phrases passed through her consciousness. It had never been like this. Not with those men she’d dated, not with Wayne. Before, the buildup had been slow, gentle kisses, a natural progression from kissing to petting. It had been quiet and lovely.

      Not frantic like this. Her body was too hot, quivering with need and heat. Her breasts ached. Her nipples pressed against the terry cloth, throbbing for his touch. Between her legs an answering echo pulsed in time with her thundering heartbeat.

      His mouth left hers and moved along her jaw to her ear where he whispered that she was beautiful. His tongue traced the shape of her ear. His teeth nibbled on her lobe. Ribbons of heat and desire rippled down her body, making her legs shake and threaten to buckle.

      She slipped her hands down his chest and across to the bare strip of skin exposed by his open shirt. He was warm to her touch, smooth except for the crinkling hair. Muscles bunched under her fingers. She moved to his waist and drew her palms up slowly, then across his broadness. He answered with a quick intake of air.

      She felt his hand at the tie of the robe. With one tug, it was free. He grabbed the collar, then drew it apart and down her arms. She was naked before him.

      The cool air of the room surprised her. Without thinking, she brought her hands up to cover her breasts. As always, their small size embarrassed her.

      Austin stared into her eyes. “Has there been anyone since Wayne?”

      The intensity of his gaze made it impossible to lie. Not that she would have, anyway. “Just a few dates.”

      “So you haven’t made love with anyone in the past couple of years?”

      She swallowed. “No.” She hadn’t made love with anyone, ever, but he hadn’t asked that.

      “Do you want to change your mind? We don’t have to do this.”

      “I want to.” She needed to. Not just because it would rid her of her pesky virginity, but because her body was on fire for this man. She had to feel him on her, in her. She had to know what it was like to be with him in the most intimate way possible.

      “Then why do you hide yourself from me?”

      She glanced down at her hands covering her breasts. “I’m not like her.”

      He frowned. “Who?”

      “I don’t know her name. She’s pretty, with red hair. She used to come out here a couple of times a week.” Rebecca bit down on her lower lip and wondered why she was trying to explain this. “I wasn’t spying on you or anything, but people in town talk and it’s hard not to listen when they just happen to mention it and—” She clamped her mouth shut.

      “You think you’re too small,” he said bluntly.

      She nodded.

      His slow grin surprised her.

      “What’s so funny?”

      “Your old boyfriend did a lousy job, Rebecca. You are a beautiful woman, perfect in every way. Long, lean, with just enough curves to drive a man wild.”

      Her spirits lifted slightly. “Really?”

      “Yes.”

      “Well, that makes me feel better. I’ve always been worried that, you know, I was too little on top. I— What are you doing?”

      He bent over and picked her up in his arms. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. With only the flickering candles to guide him, he walked to the bed and set her in the middle of the black satin comforter. The slick fabric was cool against her heated skin. Before she could slip away to one side, he placed his hands on either side of her waist.

      “You’re just right on top. Trust me, I know.” His smile faded. “I don’t have any protection with me, but I had a blood test for my life insurance a couple of months ago,” he said. “It came back clean. I haven’t been with anyone else since.”

      She stared at him. What on earth? Oh! That. He waited patiently. “Ah, yeah, me, too. I mean, I’m okay. You know.” How could there be a problem? She’d never been intimate before.

      “So you’re safe then?”

      Safe? Of course she was safe. She couldn’t possibly have any sexually transmitted disease because she’d never had the sex required to do the transmitting. “Yes.”

      “Good.” He shrugged out of his shirt.

      When