Free Courting the Darkness by Karen Fuller

out his hand. “Hold onto my hand and I’ll lead the way out of here.”
    She gave into the impulse, timidly placing her small hand in his. A warm, tingling sensation traveled up her arm at the contact. Catching her breath in surprise, she looked into his eyes. Smiling, he entwined his fingers in hers, leading the way through the cave.
    Once rounding the corner, they were in total darkness. She felt a moment of panic as the walls felt like they were moving in on her. She had a death grip on his fingers, shuffling her feet to make her way. Her heart raced and she felt like she was going to have a full-blown panic attack. Mica turned around, gripping her shoulders. “I can hear your heart racing and smell your fear,” he stated calmly. “Do you want to turn back?”
    Her legs threatened to give way to the trembling. Her unseeing eyes darted frantically around. “No.” Her voice quivered weakly. “I still want to go outside.”
    “Close your eyes.”
    “What good is that going to do?” Her voice panicked. “I can’t see anything anyway.”
    He chuckled “I can see. Do you trust me?” She nodded her head. “Okay, then close your eyes.” She closed her eyes, but the trembling continued. “I’m going to pick you up and carry you out of here. Don’t fight me.”
    She blinked hard. A few tears coursed down her cheeks. “You must think I’m a big baby.. I never knew I was afraid of the dark.”
    “I don’t think you’re a baby.” He bent down toward her. “Put your arms around my neck, and I’ll carry you.”
    She did not even think about it. Her fear took over. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding tight. He lifted her up as if she did not weigh a thing, and she held on with a death grip.
    His touch was gentle as he cradled her in his arms. “I’ve got you. You can relax.” She placed her cheek against his chest and he carried her swiftly through the cave.
    Soon, she felt the ice-cold night breeze on her face, and she opened her eyes. It was still dark, but the full moon illuminated enough that she could see his face. His eyes glowed in the moonlight. Gazing into them, she saw the raw hunger smoldering just below the surface. Catching her breath, her lips parted, her fear forgotten. She gave into the compulsion and reached her trembling fingers out to caress his face. Her thumb traced the curve of his bottom lip, her eyes following the path her fingers were taking; she licked her lips in anticipation.
    She saw his eyes darken, and he suddenly tensed. She felt his body grow hard with his intensifying gaze. He let go of her legs, allowing her to slide down his body, pulling her closer into his arms.
    Trembling with an intense need, her knees threatened to give way. She’d never felt a yearning this strong in her life. Every nerve ending ached for his caress…his touch. “Mica…please,” she whispered softly. Slipping her hands up under his shirt, she ran her fingers over his rock hard abdomen up to his chest, his skin quivering everywhere she touched. Brushing her hips against his, she felt the hard evidence that he wanted her as much as she had to have him. Want was gone; she needed him with an intensity that bordered on pain.
    ***
    He meant to kiss her gently, but the moment their lips touched, good intentions were forgotten. His mouth covered hers in a searing kiss that buckled her knees. He ran his tongue across her bottom lip until she opened up to him and allowed his tongue to slide into her mouth. He tasted her sweetness, her aroused scent fueling his senses. Inching his hand up under her shirt, he lightly ran his fingers across her bare back and around the front to cup her ample breast, running his thumb over her beaded nipple through the lace of her bra. He splayed his fingers over the firm, yet soft flesh, longing to remove the rest of the fabric so he could gaze at her perfection.
    He tore his mouth away from hers to look into her eyes. “Desiree…” His voice was soft, deep, and