Free Joy by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

you do.“
    „Oh, Ryerson.“ She gave a small cry and without pausing to think she released the bodice of her dress and flung herself into his arms.
    Ryerson chuckled softly, sounding relieved and very pleased. He wrapped her close against him. „It’s going to be okay,“ he said into her hair. „Everything’s going to be all right.“
    Opening the jewelry box behind her back, he removed the bracelet and carefully fastened it on her wrist.
    He tossed the empty box down on the dresser and studied the glittering stones on her arm.
    „It was made for you,“ Ryerson said softly.
    Virginia looked down at the bracelet and knew somehow that he was right. It had been made for her to wear. With Ryerson.
    The bracelet felt unexpectedly warm on her wrist. Virginia was surprised. She had thought it would feel cool to the touch. „You want me to wear it? Now? In bed?“ she asked uncertainly.
    „Does that seem a little too kinky to you?“
    „No, no, not at all. A bit exotic, perhaps, but not really kinky. It’s just that I’ve never worn anything like this to bed before.“
    „We’re even. I’ve never been to bed with a woman who was wearing emeralds and diamonds,“
    Ryerson interrupted gently. „Tonight is going to be very special for both of us.“ He touched her shoulder lightly, his fingertips a little rough against her soft skin.
    Virginia clutched him around the waist. Everything would be all right as long as she kept going forward and didn’t lose her nerve, she thought. Ryerson felt good. Warm and heavy and right. Just as the bracelet did on her wrist. Her nerves seemed to be humming with genuine excitement now, not fear. For the first time she allowed herself real hope. She was beginning to think she might be able to get through this, after all.
    The important thing was not to lose her nerve.
    Under no circumstances must she give herself a chance to lose her nerve. Forward.
    Driven by a sense of urgency, Virginia reached up to push Ryerson’s shirt off his shoulders, and then she quickly fumbled with the zipper of his trousers. She had his pants halfway off when she remembered his shoes. Things were already getting awkward, she thought uneasily as she knelt at his feet and struggled with his shoelaces. Ryerson reached down and tangled his hands in her hair. She sensed the sexual tension in his touch. It sent a ripple of response through her.
    Ryerson patiently allowed her to undress him down to his briefs, his expression half-amused and totally aroused as he watched her. When she was finished, she stepped back with a small frown to see if she had overlooked something. Not that anything about Ryerson was easy to overlook. He was very large and very male standing there in front of her, wearing only his briefs. Virginia chewed on her lower lip.
    „Hey, it’s me,“ Ryerson said softly. He stepped forward and tilted her face up so that she was forced to meet the desire in his eyes.
    „Let me undress you now,“ he said thickly. He tugged her gently into his arms.
    Virginia could feel the unmistakable hardness of his body as he pinned her close. He was hard all over, she thought in vague wonder. His shoulders, his thighs, his smoothly muscled back all seemed strong and tight and hard. She inhaled the earthy scent of him and realized she found it tantalizing. Something unfamiliar vibrated within her.
    Then she felt his hands on the silk dress, pushing it carefully down over her hips. It fell to the floor near his trousers and shirt and Virginia was now violently aware of her near nakedness. She searched Ryerson’s face anxiously for any sign of disappointment.
    „You’re beautiful,“ he said in a voice that was dark and vibrant with his desire. „You’re all a man could want.“ His hands drifted down over her full breasts. He unclasped her plain, functional bra, dropped it on the floor and took the weight of her into his warm palms. His thumbs moved slowly over her nipples.
    Virginia shivered and closed