Angelo’s voice dropped to a deep scrape of sound that made her skin prickle all over and her nipples pucker. It was all she could do not to drag him down on top of her so she could rub herself against him.
How could she want him now when she’d just climaxed so hard she might have blacked out for a second? Was that normal?
‘Don’t you, Ally?’
Was it childish to clamp her lips shut rather than admit the words? After all, he hadn’t admitted it either.
Then one large hand drifted down to her breast, so soft at first she couldn’t believe it, until he cupped her harder, his thumb brushing her nipple through her dress, and her whole body jolted.
‘Or are you too scared to say it out loud?’
Ally refused to let him feel superior. She lifted her hand, stroking the straining fabric that covered his thigh, then covered his erection with her palm.
Angelo’s hissed breath was magic, as was the sudden shudder of his body.
‘And you wantme, Angelo. This is mutual. Stop pretending you’re not interested.’
Above her he shook his head, his expression bordering on incredulous. ‘Not interested? You’ve been driving me out of my mind ever since you washed up on my beach.’
At last. Honesty. Honesty and desire.
Ally felt something take off inside her, as if a flock of birds had risen from a tree and soared into the bright sky.
‘Good.’ Her voice was husky, only just audible. ‘Because you’ve been doing the same to me.’
There was such freedom in admitting it. Not holding herself in any longer.
For a moment longer they remained unmoving, yet it felt as if everything shifted, the world turning over like a giant kaleidoscope and locking into a new, unfamiliar pattern.
‘Hold that thought.’
Angelo crawled backwards, down the bed. He shouldered his way out of his jacket and reached for her feet, slipping off first one sandal then the other.
It was a simple thing. It shouldn’t be erotic at all, but Angelo took the time to massage her instep and Ally had to bite back a moan of delight as her eyes closed and she gave herself up to sensual pleasure. This man knew his way around a woman’s erogenous zones. She could barely believe she’d climaxed against him while they were still fully clothed and now she was blissing out from the touch of his hands on her feet.
Finally he skimmed those clever hands up her bare legs, so slowly that her breath came in tortured gasps as she waited for him to reach the edge of her short dress. Soon he was pushing it higher, and she shifted her hips so he could free the material.
Callused hands caught the narrow lace at her hips and rolled it down, lower and lower, finally drawing her panties off her feet.
Yet he didn’t return to lie over her. Ally finally opened her eyes to see him drop and settle with his shoulders between her thighs.
The sight was...arresting. Incredibly erotic, especially when he sensed her regard and lifted his head to meet her stare. Something passed between them, hot and hectic, and Ally felt her heartbeat pound against her ribs and lower, between her legs.
Angelo’s mouth curved up in a smile that melded desire with greed. As if he wanted to taste her there. The idea made her quiver in arousal.
‘Angelo—’
‘It’s okay. I’ll take care of you.’ He was already lowering his head when Ally leaned up, putting out her hand to stop him.
‘No! I don’t want that.’
Glittering eyes met hers and she read surprise in his pared-back features.
Exciting as it was, seeing him there, Ally wanted something else. Next time she exploded in ecstasy she wanted to bewith Angelo, not alone.
She needed him desperately.
‘I wantyou.’