Free Tidewater Lover by Janet Dailey Page A

tonight, I could tell something was bothering you. At first I thought it was because you and Bowman had argued, but you corrected that impression. So it must be something else that's troubling you, and I'd like to know what it is."
    "It has nothing to do with you." Lacey tried to twist away from his fingers, but Cole increased the pressure to keep her facing him.
    "I think it has something to do with me," he argued quietly. "Indirectly perhaps, but I'm guessing that it's about our arrangement. Am I right?"
    Lacey sighed in defeat. She swore he could partially read her mind, and she didn't know whether she liked that or not.
    "It's silly," she protested.
    "Why don't you tell me about it?" Cole let his hand slide from her chin to rest casually on her shoulder.
    "It's just that I'm slowly beginning to realize I'm not quite as liberal and freethinking as I thought I was," Lacey conceded. "I never thought other people's opinions would bother me as long as I believed that what I was doing was right. I'm finding out that I'm a bit more old-fashioned and traditional than I thought."
    "Because of Monica's and Vic's reaction to our sharing the house. And Bowman's disapproval, as well," Cole concluded.
    "More or less," she nodded, her dark brown hair catching and reflecting the sheen of the moonlight. "I mean, I know it's perfectly innocent," she insisted forcefully.
    "So now you're having second thoughts about staying here," Cole finished.
    "Oh, no, I'm not." Lacey laughed, a tremulous sound. "I bet you were hoping that's what I would say, then you could have that big fat moon all to yourself." She flicked a glance toward the silver globe hanging suspended above the ocean.
    "Strangely enough—" a furrow made a vertical crease between his brows "—I think I would find the house empty if you left."
    His statement hovered in the air, electrifying her. She had difficulty trying to breathe and there was an odd flattering in the pit of her stomach.
    The hand on her shoulder began, almost imperceptibly, to exert pressure to draw her closer as his gaze slid to her lips. Caught in his spell, it didn't occur to her to resist, although Cole gave her the opportunity. His boldly defined mouth slowly descended to hers.
    With a firmness absent of demand, he explored every curve of her full, soft lips. His hand lay along the side of her neck, his thumb resting against the tiny pulse that was racing madly. The blood tingled through her veins, setting every nerve alert.
    He lifted his head a fraction of an inch, the scent of tobacco in the warm breath that caressed her skin. "Strawberry, isn't it?" he murmured huskily.
    "What?" Lacey opened her eyes weakly and was immediately overcome by the sensation that she could drown in his indigo eyes.
    "Your lipstick. It's strawberry, isn't it?" Cole repeated softly, and tasted her trembling lower lip.
    "Yes," she whispered, and unconsciously swayed toward him.
    "I always did have a weakness for strawberry." It was an absent comment. Lacey doubted if Cole was aware that he had said it aloud.
    Then his mouth opened moistly over hers, devouring its ripeness as his strong fingers curled into the back of her neck, tilting her head backward to more fully receive his burning kiss. His other arm reached for her waist and Lacey pliantly let herself be arched against his hard, muscled length.
    With consummate skill, Cole demanded a response and she gave it quite naturally. Her fingers spread over his chest to slide around his neck into the thickness of his dark hair. A melting sensuality seemed to flow through her limbs as his mouth faultlessly continued its task of arousal until her hunger became an exquisite pain.
    The light breeze from the ocean cooled her heated skin, but it couldn't abate the molten fire spreading through her veins. His experience far outstripped hers and she gloried in it, finding a heady exultation in the heights of abandoned passion.
    The embrace that had begun so slowly ended abruptly with Cole