Debbie Macomber Navy Series Box Set. Debbie Macomber

about to be consumed by the heat Rush had generated.

      If he didn’t take her soon, she was convinced she’d melt with her need. Everything in her seemed to be pulsating. Her breasts throbbed and the apex of her womanhood beat its own pagan rhythm until Lindy tossed her head back and forth, trapped in a delirium of sexual tension.

      Rush kissed and caressed her endlessly, his mouth exploring her breasts, her soft belly, her long legs until Lindy thought she’d go mad. Every nerve in her body was shouting with need. Once he had reduced her to quivering helplessness, Rush changed positions so that he was poised directly above her.

      His knee parted her thighs and she willingly opened to him. Rush guided himself into position so that the tip of his engorged manhood was pressed against her moist opening.

      “Lindy,” he whispered hoarsely, “I…love…you.” With each word his pulsating warmth plunged deeper and deeper into her, until he was so far inside her, so firmly locked within her, she was sure he had reached her soul.

      Slowly, gradually he began to move, and his swollen heat created the most delicious, most pleasing friction against the most intimate of her surfaces.

      Lindy’s hands clutched at his broad back, wanting him closer, needing him. She was filled with a tautness, and indescribable demand that became more intolerable with every heart-stopping stroke until she was sure she would scream.

      As she struggled to catch her breath, Rush’s hands caressed her once more, finding her tingling breasts and then the flat of her stomach.

      “Rush…oh Rush….” She tossed her head from side to side, completely lost in the pleasure.

      “Kiss me,” he pleaded. “Give me your tongue.” He put a hand under her head, lifting her mouth to his. Gingerly she explored the hollow of his mouth, running her tongue over his smooth, even teeth. His lower lip was full and when she nipped at it the effect on him was electric. He drove into her again and again, gaining momentum with each thrust until there was only the insistent friction and the sweet, sweet pangs of an all-consuming pleasure. When he climaxed, Lindy felt him throbbing in the innermost recesses of her body and smiled, depleted and utterly content.

      Panting, Rush rolled over and pulled her on top of him. He was as breathless as if he’d run for miles, and Lindy’s own breathing was as labored as his. Exhausted, she closed her eyes and pressed her flushed face to his heaving chest, allowed herself to be transported, floating in the warm aftermath of his love.

      * * *

      Lindy slept in his arms and Rush watched her, astonished at the woman who was now his wife. Even though he would do nothing to change the deed, he knew deep in his heart that they should have waited before marrying. But he’d wanted her so desperately, and the thought of losing her had been more than he could bear. So he had sealed their future. It was what Lindy wanted—it was what he wanted.

      These past weeks with Lindy had begun to fill the emptiness in his soul. His heart had found a home with her. She had wiped away years of cynicism with her smile, erased the bitterness from his memory with her tenderness, healed him and given him a reason to live.

      A thin ribbon of sunlight peeked through the crack in the drapes but Rush dared not raise his wrist to check the time for fear of disturbing Lindy’s sleep. Lord, what a woman he’d found. Twice more during the night they had made love, and each time she had opened herself to him, holding back nothing. As their bodies had come together, their souls had merged as well. Their lovemaking was as Rush had always known it would be. He could hardly bear the thought of waiting six months to love her again. And they only had one night more.

      * * *

      “Rush.” She tossed his name over her shoulder. “I’ve got to push your things aside if I’m going to get all my stuff into your closet.”

      “Then do it,” he said, delivering another armful of dresses and blouses to her.

      They’d decided to transport her personal things into Rush’s bedroom; she could sleep in his room when he was away, which only made sense.

      “I can’t believe you hauled all this to Seattle in that dinky Rabbit you drive.”

      “I did.”

      She was so intent on her task that she didn’t notice that Rush had moved behind her. He slipped his arms around her waist and hugged her, resting his chin on her shoulder, kissing her neck. Lindy finished pushing the hangers to one side before twisting around and shyly kissing him back.

      “Is that everything?” she questioned, looping her arms around his neck.

      “Just about. You know, there are better ways to spend a honeymoon.”

      Her lashes fluttered down. “Yes, I know, but…but I thought you’d be exhausted by now. I mean…well, you know.”

      Rush started unfastening the buttons of her blouse. “I find that you bring out the animal side of my nature.”

      Already Lindy could feel her body starting to respond. “You seem to be doing the same thing to me.”

      “We’ve got a million and one things to do,” he muttered, but his fingers were intent on only one task.

      “I know,” Lindy returned, pulling his shirt free from his waistband.

      He stripped the blouse from her shoulders and removed her bra. Her breasts stood out firm and round. He fondled each one, then kissed them in turn. “Did I ever tell you about the morning I walked in on you in the bathroom?”

      “Yes,” she whispered hoarsely.

      “I thought at the time your nipples were begging to be kissed.”

      “They are now, too.”

      Rush groaned. “Oh God, Lindy, I’m never going to get enough of you before I leave.”

      “But not for any lack of trying,” she whispered back, threading her fingers through his hair. Tossing back her head, she whimpered softly as he sucked her breast with the hunger of a starving man. Already his hands were at the snap of her jeans, working that open and then tugging at the zipper. Lindy’s fingers were equally busy.

      They could hardly make it to the bed fast enough. Wordlessly Rush spread her legs and lowered his body into hers. At his first thrust, Lindy felt an electric charge shoot through her and she cried out.

      Their lovemaking was a hungry, wild mating that was both tender and fierce and left them so exhausted they fell into a deep, drained sleep.

      A sharp sound broke into Lindy’s consciousness, but she resisted waking, not wanting to tear herself away from the warm, lethargic feeling of being held in Rush’s arms.

      “What the hell?”

      Lindy’s eyes shot open to discover her brother standing in the doorway of Rush’s bedroom. Before she could move or speak, Steve had tossed his seabag on the floor and stormed into the room. With one sweeping motion, he hauled Rush out of bed and slammed him against the wall.

      “Just what the hell are you doing in bed with my sister?” he demanded, his fist poised in front of Rush’s face.

       Chapter 10

      “Steve!” Lindy screamed. “We’re married.” She bolted upright and clenched the blankets to her naked breasts with her right hand while holding out her left in proof.

      “Married!” Steve exclaimed on a long, slow breath. Gradually he released his grip on Rush’s neck. “What the hell! But you hardly know each other. You can’t possibly…. You wouldn’t.”

      “It happens that way sometimes,” Rush explained, and reached for his pants.

      “I don’t believe this.” Steve shook his head as though the action would dissolve the image before him, then turned and stalked out of the