Within minutes, Griffin joined her. “I don’t like J. Lyle,” he whispered softly. “What’s your take on him?”
Darcy leaned back against him and, when he unsnapped the button on her Levi’s, her breath caught in her throat. She had to force herself to inhale deeply to respond.
“He has a nasty streak a mile wide, and while I wouldn’t dream of saying as much to Christy Joy, I’m afraid he might not bring Twink back.”
Griffin slid his hand inside her panties and down over the flat hollow of her stomach. When he reached the triangle of curls, he tugged gently, then parted her clef. He teased her inner lips with a fluttering touch before bracing her hips against his thigh and plunging a finger deep inside.
He nuzzled her ear. “Maybe I should have let him think I was dating Christy Joy.”
She felt herself growing wet and reached back to encircle his thigh. “Not a good idea.”
He withdrew to stroke her clit with her own slippery wetness, then slid two fingers up inside her. “Still, it might have made him think twice about questioning their custody agreement.”
His erection was impossible to mistake, and she writhed against him to supply some distracting friction. “No, when he slants everything to his advantage, we ought to stick with the truth.”
“Which is?”
It was on the tip of her tongue, but as her inner muscles began to quiver along his maddeningly playful fingers, the thought was lost. He was simply too good at turning her insides to hot cream, and she thrust down on his next stroke and came with a sudden shudder.
She grabbed hold of his wrist to prevent him from withdrawing before the last tingling bit of ecstasy faded, and he cradled her in such a tender grasp, she felt as though she were floating. It really wasn’t fair, she mused silently. No man should have such remarkable gifts, but at least he used them beautifully.
Jeremy sucked Christy Joy’s fingers into his mouth to catch the last taste of marshmallow. “The power ought to fail more often,” he murmured against her palm.
His lips tickled her skin, but despite the good news from Griffin, she’d never felt less like laughing. Jeremy’s hair had dried in boyish curls, and she smoothed it softly with her free hand.
“I didn’t send Twink away for this,” she whispered.
Jeremy straightened with an ungainly jerk. “Do you think I’m taking advantage here?”
“No.” He appeared incredulous, and she caressed his now beard-roughened cheek. It had been so long since she’d touched a man, and she promptly withdrew her hand rather than appear pathetically needy.
“Well, you’d be right,” Jeremy confessed. “Twink’s adorable. Anyone would love her, but do you ever leave her with a sitter and go out on dates?”
Christy Joy sat back. “When no one’s asked me out, I haven’t needed a sitter.”
“Sorry, my mistake. Let’s go out to dinner just as soon as the weather clears.”
“As long as I can sleep a couple of days first, I’d love to have dinner with you. Then I’ll make supper for us here. I’m really a good cook when the power’s on.”
“I’m sure you are, but are you certain you want to commit to a second date before we’ve been out on our first?”
She glanced toward the doorway. “I’ll risk it. What do you suppose has happened to Griffin and Darcy?”
“Just this,” Jeremy whispered before his lips met hers.
She froze for an instant, then relaxed against him. His kiss was absolutely luscious, and she was positive this was unlike J. Lyle, no trick of technique, but sincere affection. Determined not to break his heart while hers was scarcely whole, she broke away.
“Please, I’ve been numb for so long, and—”
“I know numb,” he responded. “But the first time I saw you, well, let’s not even go there.”
His smile had turned shy and, while flattered, she wouldn’t press him for more. “You must have been very handsome in your cruise ship uniforms. I’ll bet the female passengers trailed after you like ducklings.”
He laughed at her compliment. “That they did, but I built up quite a tolerance to them. They were just out for a good time on their vacation and regarded me as one of the specialty items on the menu.”
“But you weren’t?”
“No, ma’am, I have my standards, but that wasn’t true for all the officers, and many were more than willing to fulfill an attractive passenger’s fantasies.”