Beverly Barton - Grace Under Fire

She'd been sane and sensible for over three years now. Always in control, never indulging in lengthy bouts of self-pity. But the depth of her despair lay just below that cool, aloof surface she presented to the world. Inside she was still grieving, still tormented by what had been and could never be again. And once she'd learned the truth about the night her husband and father had been killed, all the pain and anguish she'd pushed deep down inside had come rushing to the surface.

Let Jed help you forget. Just for tonight. Don't be sane and sensible. Don't be the woman of steel.

She closed her eyes and sighed as he gently massaged her flesh. His thumbs skimmed across her nipples. He lowered his head and flicked his tongue over the puckered tip; she sucked in a deep breath as sensation radiated from her breasts to the core of her body. He took turns, giving each breast equal attention. And just when Grace thought she couldn't bear another second of his arousing fondling, he lifted his head, clutched her hips and brought her up against him, her breasts to his chest. Then he rubbed their bodies together intimately and began dancing again.

Was he trying to drive her mad? she wondered. He was seducing her with every touch. Didn't he realize she wanted him now? He didn't have to continue the seduction.

"Jed?" She tilted her head just enough so she could see his face. He was so handsome, in a very rugged way.

He gazed down at her, desire bright in his hazel eyes. "Yes, Grace?"

How did she tell him that she wanted him to make love to her now? Show him. That's the best way. She inched one hand between them and struggled to unbuckle his belt. Failing at that, she glided the palm of her hand over his erection which strained against the zipper of his jeans.

He reached between them and grasped her hand. "Not yet."

"But-"

He brought her hand to his mouth, turned it palm up and licked a circle in the center with the tip of his tongue. Grace shivered.

"I'm not going to rush… we have all night," he told her.

All night?

He paused, unbuckled his belt and removed it, then said, "That should make it easier for you."

She responded with action, not words, and undid his zipper. He shimmed his hips as she pulled his jeans down his legs. When they hung on his boots, he dragged her across the room, then sat on the edge of her bed and held up one foot. She stared at his boot, then took hold of it. yanked it off, and followed up with the other. Jed kicked off his socks and removed his jeans. When he stood, he wore nothing but a pair of low-riding navy blue briefs. Grace stared at him, her gaze focused on his bulging sex pulsating beneath the scrap of material.

Jed quickly removed her pajama bottoms. Now, she thought, now he's going to make love to me. But she was wrong. He pulled her into his arms and began dancing again. His hairy legs rubbed against her smoother legs, the friction unbearably erotic. Her aching breasts flattened against his hard chest. Without any barriers separating their sexes, they practically made love as they danced.

Grace didn't know how much more of this she could endure. She was already wild for him, wanting him more than she could remember ever wanting a man. Such overwhelming passion was new to her, this raging hunger so powerful it frightened her. And for a man who was little more than a stranger to her. How was it possible?

He knew he was prolonging her agony, was doing it on purpose. She could tell by the way he watched her, the way he studied her. He was waiting until she was begging him for it.

Jed nuzzled her ear, then whispered, "I want you hotter than you've ever been. I want you hurting so bad for release that you'll do anything for it." He slipped his hand between her thighs and fondled her mound.

She gasped for air. "Can't you tell I'm already at that point."

He eased his fingers between her feminine lips and rubbed back and forth, touching just the right spot. She undulated against his fingers.

"Tell me," Jed said. "Tell me what you want."

"I… I want you to take me. Now. Please… please…"

He inserted his finger inside her. Moisture gushed around his hand. "You're wet… and hot. Very hot."

She grabbed his forearms and tried to pull him with her toward her bed. "Now, Jed."

He scooped her up in his arms, carried her across the room and laid her on her bed, then gently spread her legs apart. She held her breath, crazy with anticipation.

And then he did the unexpected. He kissed the inside of each thigh. Suddenly she realized his intent. Yes, yes, yes , her body screamed. Do it. Give me relief.

His mouth came down over her as he held her legs apart. He kissed, then sucked, then licked, his tongue working magic. She thrust her hips forward, exposing herself completely as he continued putting pressure on her most sensitive spot. When she complied without reservation, spearing her fingers through his hair to hold his head in place, he reached up to her breasts. The moment he pinched her nipples, she moaned. She was on the verge, so very close. Tension wound tighter and tighter inside her. And then with one final stroke of his talented tongue, Jed sent her over the edge, into complete and utter fulfillment. Her climax splintered her into a million shards of pure pleasure.

Before she could cry out, he came up and over her and covered her mouth with his. It was several minutes later that she realized he still wore his briefs. She tugged on them as she spread kisses all over his face. He grabbed and stilled her hand.

"I don't have any condoms," he told her.

"Oh, Jed… no…"

"I never anticipated this happening between us."

"No, I don't suppose you did." She knew what she wanted to do, what she intended to do if he'd let her. "Let me do for you what you did for me."

He shook his head. "You don't have to."

"I want to."

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure," she told him.

He removed his briefs, tossed them on the floor, then scooted into the middle of her bed. "I'm all yours, Blondie."

She positioned herself between his legs and studied his impressive sex. Renewed arousal rippled through her at the thought of touching him, tasting him, giving him release. First she stroked him with her fingertips, then she lowered her head and licked him as if he were a lollipop. He groaned. She opened her mouth and surrounded him, taking him as deep as she could. He groaned again. Harder. Louder. And when she used her tongue to add just a bit of pressure, he gripped the back of her neck and urged her into action.

Within minutes he came apart, release hitting him hard. The salty, musky taste assailed her senses as she removed her mouth and licked her lips. He grabbed her and hauled her up to his side, then kissed her with lingering passion, each tasting the other on their lips.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"No, thank you," she replied. "I needed sex. I needed sex with you."

"Did I help you stop thinking?"

Yes, he had stopped her from thinking, but he'd made her feel far more than she'd intended. Of course she couldn't admit that to him. "I didn't think about anything, not the past, not my present problems… nothing. I simply felt alive for the first time in years."

Jed glanced around the room. "Want me to stay all night or should I dress and go back to my room?"

She hesitated before replying. "Stay. Please."

"All right." He ran his hand down her neck and across her shoulder. "How about a shower together before we hit the sack?"

"I'd prefer a bubble bath," she told him. "Are you interested?"

"Yeah, Blondie, I'm interested. Very interested."

"I'll scrub your back and you can scrub mine."

He jumped out of bed, grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. "What are we waiting for?"