The ride home was silent and uncomfortable. Gibbs thought of a hundred different things to say and rejected every one as being potentially incendiary. He flicked a glance at her profile and found that he could read her as easily as if they'd never been apart. Sighing, he pulled into the garage and was surprised to see a flash of terror on her face before she closed down again.
Leah, please tell me what's wrong. He reached out to her carefully. She only shook her head in response and climbed out of the car. He slid out his side and followed her as she made her way to the front door.
It's not locked, he told her and opened it. She walked in slowly and looked around, noting the simple furnishings. Then she stood there, waiting, looking unsure of herself in his home.
I promised you coffee. He set down her overnight bag and moved into the kitchen to make a fresh pot. She followed him silently, leaning a hip against the counter, watching his hands as he worked.
Are you hungry? He switched on the coffeemaker and mirrored her pose. She shook her head in answer to his question as her eyes wandered from his hands to his hard biceps and landed at last on his chest. Little more than thirty minutes ago those arms had dragged her, unresisting, against the length of him. She swallowed as she remembered the feel of well-defined muscles under her fists as she fought his comforting gestures. Remembered the feel of other things, too; the heat of his rock hard thighs supporting her trembling ones as his strong fingers caressed her waist. She'd done the sensible thing and pushed him away, but now she wanted to feel him against her one more time.
She wouldn't meet his eyes; he wasn't sure what she was thinking. As he waited for the coffee he let his eyes roam her body, smiling in appreciation of her womanly curves. He reached out to the zipper on her leather jacket and slowly slid it down, expecting a protest, surprised when none came. He heard her soft sigh as the halves parted and he reached up to push it off her shoulders, careful not to touch her, yet.
The wave of cool air that swept over her as her jacket fell away caused an immediate reaction. The thin white blouse she wore hid nothing, and the flush that heated her skin made the contrasting air that much more arousing. The tip of her tongue slid along her lips as her eyes drifted from his chest to his waist.
His fingers twitched as he saw her body react to the loss of heat from the jacket. He would like to believe it was his proximity that prompted the tantalizing display in front of him, but he knew better, at least for now. He watched as she licked her lips and dropped her eyes, and he felt the tightening in his groin in response. Wanting to tease her without scaring her, he reached for the coffee cups that were in the cabinet above her head.
He was close, so close, too close. She could smell him, male and sawdust. The heat from his body burned into her as he leaned over to reach the cups in the cabinet. She shivered as overly sensitive nerve endings tightened with desire. Somehow she kept herself from pressing against him, holding herself motionless in the sweet torture of denial. She slowly looked up at him from under her lashes to see amusement and desire in his heart-stopping blue eyes. Her breath stilled in her throat just as the coffeemaker began to gurgle its completion. Thinking turnabout to be fair she reached for the carafe.
He froze in place as her arm came forward, then recognized her move for what it was and grinned. She carefully lifted the pot and tilted her head so the silken strands of copper brushed him as she moved. Filling each cup slowly, carefully, leaning over his arm, her breasts were very nearly touching his bared forearm. Finally she leaned forward and gently placed the carafe back on the hot plate. She drew back slowly, this time meeting his eyes with a smirk.
His thirst was no longer for something black and bitter. Sweetness in a seductive cream-skinned package stood inches before him and suddenly he was desperate for what only she could give him. The ragged whisper was a supplication he could not hold back and he cursed inwardly to see the fear blossom in her eyes.
I.. I.. no.. I.. She grabbed for the coffee cup, sloshing hot liquid on her hand, barely wincing at the burn. Gulping desperately at the scalding liquid, she tried to back away as he reached for her burned hand.
Don't you know I would never hurt you? Gently he lifted the coffee cup from her, and slowly brought the palm of her hand to his lips, caressing the trembling skin. Then he led her, slowly, to the sink and ran the burned skin under cold water, sliding her in front of him so he could encircle her body with his.
Even as her brain screamed, NO!' her body sighed, yes,' at the feel of his lips on her hand. She moved where he led and when he wrapped her up in his arms, her body's treacherous needs overrode her mind's sound judgment. She let herself lean into him, soaking up his heat and allowing his sheer masculine strength to awaken everything feminine in her.
His mouth descended on her neck, nipping, laving, kissing and she sagged against him, running water forgotten. He nibbled gently at her earlobe and a whimper escaped her throat. He gathered her hair and exposed the nape of her neck for a series of exquisitely erotic kisses and her whimpers turned to groans.
He reached out and turned off the water, then took her by the shoulder and turned her to face him. I don't want anything you're not ready for. Let me kiss you, Leah, just a kiss, he breathed low and husky, as he leaned close and ran his thumb down the side of her face. Slowly, giving her time to back away, he lowered his head and captured her lips. At the feel of her full, firm lips giving way under his, everything but the woman in his arms ceased to exist.
His voice was aural sex as his eyes stroked her soul. Desire began to flow through her veins like hot lava as his lips descended and she willingly parted her own as his strength claimed her. She was beyond thought, feeling only the man she'd never wanted to leave.
As they pressed closer and their tongues dueled, arousal became a tangible thing. Breaking the kiss just enough to draw air into starved lungs, the scent of their mutual hunger was overpowering. She let her head fall back as a sighing moan escaped her throat and he bent his head to suck and nibble at the hollow she offered up to him.
Warmth and pleasure flooded her at having this man bowed over her body, worshipping her flesh, and she found herself wanting to be the sacrifice on the altar of his bed, piercing her walls of fear and solitude with him. Please, Jeth, please, she whispered.
Please what, Leah? His lips trailed a teasing path to her ear as he whispered his question.
Make me feel, God, please. She wrapped her hand around his head, pulling herself as close to him as possible. I want to feel you.
He swept her into his arms, unable to believe the gift she was offering. His long strides brought them to the side of his bed in seconds and he gently lowered her to the floor, searching her eyes as he asked, Are you sure this is what you want? she answered and saw his eyes cloud. She brushed his lips with her fingers as she continued. But it's what I need. You're what I need. His hands tightened on her waist and slowly pulled her close as her fingers slid around to brush through his short silver hair. The lips that claimed hers this time were more demanding and she answered fervently, thrusting her full breasts forward as his hands slid up to cup them.
The feel of the heavy globes in his hands made him lightheaded. He ran his thumbs over the nipples and felt the nubs respond to his touch. There was an answering twitch from his groin and he gave a groan of pleasure into her mouth. She answered with a whimper and clenched hands at his hips. He walked his fingers to the center of her blouse and slowly unbuttoned the garment, sucking in a breath when it parted to show her beige lace bra. Her nipples were dusky peaks teasing him through the sheer fabric and he could not resist teasing her in return. Licking his thumb, he placed the wet digit on the sensitive nub and rolled it gently, grinning at the gasp she gave. He proceeded to give the same treatment to the other side and watched as her head fell back, a low moan reaching his ears. He slid his fingers to the clasp nestled between her breasts and popped it open, freeing her exquisite curves from their prison, reaching up and sliding the straps and her blouse from her shoulders.
It didn't seem fair that she was now naked from the waist up, but he was still fully clothed. She reached out and tugged his shirt free from his jeans, slipping her hands underneath both the shirt and the undershirt and skimming her hands along his skin as she lifted the garments over his head. When he stood there, bare-chested, before her, she found she had trouble catching her breath. He was all muscle with a thorough scattering of grey curls, and her hands cried out to be allowed to caress his body, to see if the skin covering the muscle would prove as tantalizing to touch as it was to see. Her lips began to tremble as her fingers slipped along his chest, satin over steel with silken fibers. Her palms grazed his flat nipples and she felt them tighten as his body jerked in response. Liquid heat pooled in her as she realized her touch was making his already hard body harder. Leaning forward, she flicked her tongue over the tiny peak and received a fierce growl for her gift. As she went to taste its companion, she heard the low voiced word, before he tangled his hands in her hair and bent her head back. She saw the need in dark blue eyes before his lips crashed down on hers, demanding yet giving. She surrendered to the wildness of it, feeling his hand in her hair, her breasts flattening against the planes of him, their sensitive peaks teased by threads of silver as she slid against him.
The whimper he felt on his tongue as she sucked it gently was enough to drive a sane man mad. And he had not been sane since he'd seen her copper hair and sexy curves five months ago. He felt her cry out again and knew that he could not hold out much longer, that possessing her body and soul was a need more critical than any other. His trembling fingers fumbled with the fasteners on her uniform slacks and then finally they were free. He slid the zipper down and slowly his hand traveled the swell of her hips as he pushed the dark fabric free of her pale skin. The sight of her slim waist and flat stomach flaring out to fabulous curves, a scrap of beige lace the only remaining barrier, made him painfully aware that his jeans had been too tight to begin with. He watched with fascination as she stepped the rest of the way out of the slacks that had fallen at her feet, her movements sensual, her scent filling his pores. He was mesmerized by her movements as she reached out and slowly unfastened the button on his uncomfortable pants, sliding the zipper down with excruciating slowness. She slipped her delicate fingers inside the waistband of both his jeans and boxers, dragging them down so slowly he thought he'd scream from the torture, the need to be free.
She watched as he kicked impatiently at the jeans and boxers around his feet. He stood before her, magnificent and proud, but only for a second. He grabbed the bedcovers and threw them back, then lifted her onto bed, reaching up to slowly drag the damp lace off her. Then he slid onto the bed next to her, kissing her, touching her everywhere. She felt his hands roam her from top to bottom and she arched and rolled as her highly aroused body begged for more. Her skin prickled from the damp trails his tongue left as he traced lines down her body, and whimpers became begging cries. His fingers were like small brands leaving scorching pinpoints everywhere he touched as he moved around her and soon she found herself shaking her head back and forth on the pillow gasping and desperate.
Jeth, Jeth, please, baby, please... She was being cheated of the one thing she wanted more than anything, she didn't want it like this.
C'mon, Leah. God, she was so beautiful! Her skin was flushed and as he watched she bit her lip, frowning. Let go, babe, this is just the start.
Heat washed over her to hear him call her name. She tried to wait for him but his fingers were making it more difficult; somewhere far away he told her it was just the start. There was more? Oh, God, she needed more. More of him. Waves crashed over her and she cried out incoherent words of need to him. More, he promised more, and she would have it, and have it now.
He saw her give herself over to the climax, saw the gasp and shudder as her whole body felt the release. What surprised him were the throaty demands that began even before she was done vibrating from the pleasure.
More, Jeth, more. You said more, and I want you. All of you, I want it now. She took a gasping breath and he was too stunned to move. Then she was grabbing his arms, dragging him on top of her. If I can't feel you inside me I'm going to go insane, please, Jeth, don't make me beg. She wriggled her hips beneath him and there was no going back. He wanted inside her as desperately as she seemed to need him there. Her fingers were already fumbling between them, to facilitate his entry, but it was unnecessary. Her body was slick and anxious, if snug and he slid easily into her tight sheath, losing his mind at the feel of her body.
The low of satisfaction she let out as he filled her didn't help his sanity. He held still for a minute, to accustom himself to the sweet feel of her flesh, then he began a slow torture of highly sensitive skin and he found himself grow harder still at her grunted God, yes! and more, Jeth, more, cries. He knew he was nearing the end of the line and wanted to warn her when he felt her breathing change, as well. He felt her fingers dig into his ass and heard her pleas of, harder, harder. He was only too happy to comply as his thrusts became pounding against her. He felt her shudder beneath him just as his climax overtook him, her tight muscles and delicate skin milking him rhythmically with his throbbing. He collapsed on top of her, sweaty bodies sliding together. His last coherent thought before he fell asleep was Please don't let this woman leave me again.'