Instead he claimed her with a deep kiss. He traced her tongue with his, to explore the soft sweetness of her mouth. He slid his hands to her breasts and cupped them. When he teased her tight nipples, she groaned.

That throaty, hungry sound was his undoing. Suddenly he had to have all of her. He had to touch her and taste her everywhere, except he didn’t want to stop kissing her. Not yet.

He ignored the throbbing between his legs and concentrated on her pleasure. When she raised her head to catch her breath, he drew her up so that he could suck on her breasts.

First one and then the other. Her breathing increased and he felt her body tremble. He urged her up onto her knees as he slid down a little. For the first time, she hesitated.

“No, that’s okay.”

Joe looked at the beautiful naked woman straddling his chest and knew he needed her more than he’d ever needed anyone before.

“I want to,” he told her.

She made a vague motion with her hands. “It’s um…just…I don’t know. I’m fine.”

He didn’t want her fine. He wanted her writhing and panting and completely out of control. Had some guy refused, saying it wasn’t his thing? Had some bastard hurt her by going down on her? Or was this her first time?

He had a fantasy of her straddling his face, hanging on to the headboard and riding him to heaven. But that would have to wait for another time. In one quick series of grabs, shifts, and drops, he had her on her back with him between her legs.

“Jeez, how do you do that?” she asked. “I need more self-defense lessons if I’m going to keep up with you.”

He thought about telling her she couldn’t possibly keep up, but that it was okay because he had no intention of leaving her behind. He opened his mouth to say just that, but instead he realized he was inches above her belly and that any conversation could be had another time. Right now he had important erotic work to do.

He kissed her stomach, then along the top of her thighs. She squirmed, but it wasn’t in a good way. Her hands pushed at him.

“Please,” she said.

He braced himself on one elbow and looked at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Color stained her cheeks. “Nothing. It’s not important.”

“It is to me.”

She closed her eyes. “I’ve only slept with a couple of guys. I was always afraid of who would talk and what they’d say. Maybe to the press or something.”

“Makes sense.”

“Well, the first one was someone from college. I thought he was really special. I thought I was in love with him.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. “I wasn’t. But before I found that out, I suggested we try, you know, oral sex. He got all disgusted and said it was gross and he couldn’t believe I’d asked.”

“Which made you embarrassed.”

“Among other things. It was a couple of days before Christmas and I was taking him home to meet my family. On Christmas afternoon I overheard him coming on to my sister. He said that he and I were only friends, that he had a real thing for her, and that he wanted to make love with her. Then he detailed exactly what he wanted to do with her, including that.”

Joe wanted to go find the bastard and pound him into a bloodstain on the sand. Instead he kissed her thigh and asked, “What did Lauren do?”

“Slapped him as hard as she could, called him a sex-crazed asshole, and told him to get out of the house.”

He thought about saying he liked Lauren, but he figured Darcy would misunderstand his words.

“I’ve been a little sensitive about the whole thing ever since,” she said.

“Makes sense. Give me five minutes.”

“Joe, don’t.”

He moved between her thighs. “Five minutes and if you hate it, I’ll stop.”

She twisted away. “But you don’t have to—”

“I got that. I want to, and I took this correspondence class on some real interesting techniques. You might like them.”

Her eyes widened, then she started to laugh. “You did not,” she said.

“I can show you my certificate. I graduated at the top of my class.”

Then while she was still laughing, he used his fingers to part her and lightly stroke his tongue against her swollen center.

Darcy had big plans to endure the five minutes, then push him away. Sure she’d heard that some men liked that sort of thing and she was curious, but Greg’s reaction had scarred her in a way she’d never forgotten. The look of absolute disgust and horror on his face had pretty much shattered her tiny burst of confidence.

With her second lover, she’d been passive, not daring to ask for anything in case he reacted the same way. Joe had been her third foray into sexuality, and their passionate encounter hadn’t left any time for doubts.

But now she could think, and once she started, it was impossible to stop her brain.

The first brush of his tongue felt good. Really good. The second set nerve endings to humming in a way she’d never felt before. Her legs fell open, her hips tilted toward him, and suddenly breathing didn’t seem all that important.

He licked her over and over. It was different from being touched by his fingers. More intimate. Softer, but more direct. She could feel his breath. His shoulders pushed against her thighs. She was torn, wanting him inside of her and never, ever wanting this to stop.

Which, of course, it did.

She opened her eyes and stared at him. Fear swept through her. He hadn’t liked it. He hadn’t liked doing it to her. He hadn’t—

“Relax,” he said. “Give me your hands. Hold yourself open.”

He positioned her fingers so she parted herself for him. She felt exposed and stupid, but before she could ask what he was doing, he returned his mouth to her body and rational thought fled.

The licking, gentle sucking, circling, breathing all continued. Tension moved through her body, starting at her toes and working its way up. At one point she thought she might have felt his teeth lightly graze that one most sensitive spot, but then there was his tongue again and a slight pressure at the opening.

Then she was caught up in a whirlwind of sensation. Even as he continued to use his mouth on her, he slipped in first one finger, then another. He filled her in a slow, steady rhythm designed to make her scream and beg.

She drew her legs back and dug her heels into the mattress. She rocked her hips and tried to catch her breath. Need swept through her. It was hot and thick and too powerful to ignore. Closer, she thought as pleasure tightened and grew. She was so close.

His fingers moved faster, sliding in and out of her. His tongue kept pace. Suddenly her body was out of her control. She shuddered into her release as incredible sensations washed through her. She bucked against him, desperate to keep him there, touching her everywhere.

He read her mind, slowing but not stopping. Again and again she came until the climaxes slowed and her body relaxed.

She opened her eyes and saw him smiling at her.

“Not bad for a rookie,” he told her, then he pushed into a kneeling position and shifted closer. He thrust into her, filling her completely.

Understanding dawned.

“You’re still hard,” she whispered.

“Very hard. I liked doing that. A lot.”

Difficult not to believe him when the proof pushed in deep enough to make her clench around him.

Gratitude made her ache. Not only because he’d pleasured her, but also because he’d replaced a horrible memory with one that bordered on spectacular.

In a matter of seconds, the steady rhythm had her on the edge again. She wrapped her legs around him, drawing him closer, then quickly lost herself in more waves of release. Two thrusts later, he followed, groaning her name and hanging on as if he would never let go.

When they’d recovered enough to speak, Joe rolled off her and pulled her against him. He settled her head on his shoulder and wrapped his arm around her.

“Thank you,” he said.

Darcy snuggled close. “I believe that’s my line,” she whispered. “You were great.” With more than just sex, she thought. In all of it.

“I needed to be with you.”

His words did a funny thing to her heart. It sort of stuttered a beat, before returning to the regular pace.

Danger, she told herself. This was the wrong man. She needed someone to love her back, not run for the emotional hills.

Oh but she wanted him to be different. She wanted him to care. But Joe had pushed away one wife and the entire Marcelli family. Why would she be any different?

“You need to get back,” she said, giving him a little shove, knowing that if he stayed with her much longer, she was at risk of saying something that could embarrass them both.

“I don’t want to.”

“Perfectly understandable, but I’m not excited at the thought of someone in your family coming looking for you and finding you here. They already know about the last time.”

“Good point.” He kissed her, then sat up and reached for his clothes. “I wish you could come.”

“Me, too. But Paige and Alex are right. Better for me to stay securely hidden away.”

He dressed quickly and left. When she was alone again, Darcy dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, then stretched out on the bed. Now what? Everything had changed, and she didn’t know how to make it go back. Falling in love with Joe was a huge mistake. Was it too late to protect herself? And even if she could stop herself from caring about him, however was she going to get over falling for his whole family?

Three days after the funeral Darcy walked into the kitchen and found Grandma Tessa sitting alone at the kitchen table. It was so strange to see the tiny woman simply sitting. Grandma Tessa was always on the move—carrying, chopping, stirring, serving.

When she saw Darcy, she stood up. “It’s nearly lunchtime,” she said briskly. “I’ll fix you something.”

Darcy knew the whole “food is love” talk. She’d given it to Joe more than once. But just this once she couldn’t listen to her own advice.

“No,” she said gently, pushing Tessa back in her chair. “Let me bring you something.”

Tears filled Tessa’s eyes, although she did her best to blink them away. “You’re a good girl, Darcy. It’s been a blessing to have you here.” She fingered the rosary beads on the table in front of her. “Honestly, I’m not hungry. I know I have to eat, but not yet. I miss him too much.”

Darcy sank down next to her and took her free hand. “I know. You’ve loved him a whole lifetime. It’s only been a few days. You’re allowed to grieve.”

Tessa nodded and squeezed her fingers. “I keep expecting to see him walk into the room. I can’t sleep. The bed, it’s so big. When did it get so big?”

Not knowing what else to do, Darcy hugged her. Tessa held on tight.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she said. “With the girls all gone, the house is so quiet. You bring us life again.”

Darcy thought that might be an exaggeration, but she knew having people around gave Tessa something to think about other than her sadness. She wished she had something to say, something that would help ease the other woman’s pain. But there weren’t any words.

So they sat together, hugging and rocking, not speaking. Darcy breathed in the scent of spices and rose soap and did her best to be strong.

The back door opened. She glanced up, hoping to see Joe. He’d been busy with family stuff for the past couple of days, and they hadn’t had any time alone. But instead of him, Paige walked into the kitchen.

“I have news,” she said.

Tessa straightened and turned. “Paige. Are you hungry?”

Paige walked to the older woman and crouched in front of her. “You’ve got to stop feeding me,” she teased. “I’ve gained twenty pounds.”