The darkness hid her blush, but Todd felt the heat in her cheeks when he cradled her face in his hands. He stretched out beside her. His erection pressed to her thigh and even that had him catching his breath. He was her first. The simple act of making love never held such power. He knew his time in her life may very well save it, but that wasn’t what brought them to this point. No, this was something they both wanted. Never once did he feel she wanted him only to rid herself of the threat from Grainna. Myra was too pure for that.

Her touch was full of tenderness and, dare he say, love. Never had one woman’s touch meant so much. “Are you sure this is what you want, Myra?”

he asked, giving her one more chance to back out.

“When you touch me, I feel alive,” she confessed.

“This burning inside me is only sated when you touch me. I want this... I want you.”

His fingers burned a trail down her sleek frame.

Pausing at her hip, he waited for her to arch up. He didn’t have to wait long.

Smiling, he kissed the pulse in her neck and pressed his palm to the triangle at her legs, slowly slipping one finger into her tight, hot folds. Her moan reached new levels that brought a wave of satisfaction down Todd’s back. Her breath caught, her body went rigid, not in denial, but with the first throes of an orgasm hovering over her. She pushed against him, riding his hand. Myra stilled before she trembled and crested for the first time.

His devilish laugh of success played against her chest. “Amazing,” he whispered, dragging his lips back to hers.

“Please, Todd...” she groaned. As if she were unable to stop her body’s response from the spasms he gave her, she arched into him and moved. Her instinctive movements were his undoing. He opened his bedside table, ripped open the condom with his teeth, and slid it over his erection.

“What is that?” she asked.

“To protect you.”

She didn’t ask more, instead she stroked his length.

“Are you sure you’ll fit?”

Like a glove. “Lets find out.” He moved his body until he hovered over her. Her legs fell to the side offering him everything. He clasped his fingers with hers, captured her eyes with one penetrating look. In complete awe of the strength of their joining, he watched her as he slipped inside.

Expecting her barrier, he eased himself inside with slow degrees. Her tight passage expanded, inviting him in. Her eyes widened as he sheathed his length fully inside her. She didn’t cry out in pain.

Thank God. He didn’t want her to hurt, which she must, he thought. He stilled his movements, swept his tongue into her mouth, and mimicked the act of making love.

Then she started to stir. Slow little movements of her hips arched to him, asking more of him. He moved slowly at first and watched her climb higher.

Her body closed around him, accepted every glorious inch of him. She whimpered as he drove them both closer to completion.

His movements quickened, along with their breathing, moisture pearled over their skin as they tumbled over each other, climbed toward the peak.

“Todd,” she cried as her frame stilled under his and her body clenched around him, gripping his seed from deep within to explode along with her.

In time, her mind drifted off the cloud he had put her on. Tangled in sheets ruffled and moist with the evidence of their passion, she was helpless to move even a finger. His leg laid over her, pinning her to the bed, and beneath him. The weight of it comforted and reassured her. His body fit so perfectly against hers. Snuggling closer to keep from being chilled, Myra smiled in her contentment.

“Is it always like that?” Myra asked against his chest.

“If it was, no one would ever get out of bed.”

She laughed, “I believe that was a compliment.”

His mouth smothered hers in a kiss that threatened her soul.

Breathless, he murmured, “A compliment it was, along with a request.”

Her head fell back when his lips found the pulse beating in her neck. “Anything.”

“More.”

“Aye, more.”

Chapter Ten

The sun shines brighter in the month of December, with its rays closer to the surface of the Earth. Neither Todd nor Myra could be bothered with waking despite its mighty power. They both were content to stay in the bed they shared as long as hunger held off.

Someone else had a different idea.

Pounding on the front door startled them both, and had them reaching for their clothes.

Alarmed because of the previous night’s intruder, Todd reached for his weapon. When he heard a female voice calling Myra’s name, he set it back down.

“Myra! Come on, it’s cold out here, open up,”

Lizzy called while pounding on the locked door.

Todd tossed her his bathrobe that hung by his door then hurriedly tugged on his jeans. “What is she doing here?”

“I told her to pick me up this afternoon.”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “She’s early.”

But when they looked at the clock they noticed the time read half past noon.

Myra tightened the belt around her waist, started for the door. Todd caught her, placed his lips to hers. “Good morning.”

She could get used to that, she thought, his smile and morning growth of beard. The casual caress of a lover’s hand reminded her with only a touch, of the night they had shared. “Good afternoon,” she corrected.

She pushed past him when Lizzy’s knocking continued.

Myra opened the door, Liz’s frown slowly turned into a knowing grin. “Well now... What do we have here?” She stepped into the house.

Blood shot to Myra’s face, glowing red at the embarrassment of being discovered.

Liz laughed, tossed her purse on the coffee table, only to pick up Myra’s bra and let it dangle from her fingertips.

Myra snatched the evidence out of her hand just as Todd rounded the corner shrugging into his shirt.

“I see you’re right on time,” he said, completely unaware of the crimson that flooded Myra’s neck.

“Apparently I’m early.”

“Oh, God.” The gasp from Myra had them both showing pity on her.

Liz couldn’t contain her mirth and laughed.

“Why don’t you go make us some coffee, handsome,”

she told Todd. “We girls need to catch up.”

Liz circled around Myra, hiding her smile.

“Maybe you should go and get dressed.”

Thankful for the reprieve, Myra practically ran from the room. She tossed on the clothes she wore the night before and joined Liz back in the living room.