The Fairest of Them All

His low, deep voice so close to her made the blood bubble through her veins like champagne. Russ’s car was only a few steps away, and Carly felt reluctant to leave the evening behind. She sighed.

“Tired?” he asked.

She shrugged.

“It was nice of you to help Janet with the twins.”

“They’re cute. Robbie’s got dimples.” She looked up at Russ. The streetlight was broken, so his face was all hard planes and shadows. She touched his cheek.

Her featherlight touch stopped him in his tracks.

“Did you ever have dimples, Russ?” Carly asked and frowned. “I can’t remember.”

Thirsty for her touch, he shook his head. “No, but you did,” he whispered.

“Not anymore,” Carly whispered back.

Her eyes were as blue-black as the night, and she was looking at him in a womanly wanting way. He turned her in his arms, slightly, slowly, wondering if and when she’d pull away. To his surprise, she moved closer. Her fragrance wove its way around his mind, stealing his sense. Her breasts were one deep breath away from his chest. It would only take one step to feel her legs brushing against his tensed and waiting thighs.

Her lids lowered, hiding her eyes from his. Still her hand remained soft and caressing on his cheek.

“Russ, I don’t really care whether you had dimples or not. I just wanted an excuse to touch you,” Carly said in a voice so low, he almost couldn’t hear her.

His heart turned over. He took a deep breath, and she closed the minuscule gap between them.

“Know what I wish now?”

“What?” he asked, keeping his voice quiet, not wanting to disturb the magic of her closeness.

Carly looked up at him then and moved her hand behind his neck. The gesture was unmistakable. She pulled his head gently toward hers.

“I wish I knew what your mouth felt like,” she said in a husky voice.

His heart somersaulted, and his blood roared in his ears. He’d always considered himself a man with superior self-control, but when she tentatively touched her lips to his, he lost it all.

His hands clenched around her forearms. There would be bruises tomorrow. He took her supple mouth with the passion of a man who’d waited too long. He thrust his tongue past her parted lips, wanting to possess her body, mind and soul with the kiss.