Free Army of You & Me by Billy London Page A

than a noncommittal murmur.
    “You’ve evolved.”
    He lifted his brows. “Tactics. I’m good at that.”
    “I’m sure you are.”
    He finished his glass of wine and stood up. “Shall we go for a walk?”
    Madeline stayed in her chair. “Don’t you need to go home?”
    “Nope.” He held out his hand to her, and she took it. “No hurry, Madeline. We’ve got all night.”
    He led her out of the house and into a brisk stride. They walked along the park towards the bowling green, the night air still and cool. “Think the bar’s still open?” he asked, looking to the dark block where the bowls club met.
    “It’s as dead as a cemetery in there.” Madeline sighed.
    “Makes it easier for us to talk.” He released her hand to capture one shoulder-length twist between his thumb and forefinger. “What’s wrong? What are you so scared of?”
    “You won’t get it,” she said, anxiously pressing her hands together.
    “Get what? This morning? Madeline, that was entirely natural.”
    She struggled to explain. “Everything I know about intimacy has never been natural for me. I’ve always had to…push myself to do…. To try to feel something.”
    “And you think it’d be the same with me?”
    “Maybe.”
    His frown upset her. He didn’t understand. Of course not. He was a man – why would he understand why she’d be worried? Sex made her vulnerable. Took away her power. Sent her back to the screams and cries of Rwanda, no matter how hard she’d tried to bury it.
    “Madeline,” he whispered, “it’s not about forcing yourself or lying back and thinking of England to pretend to be normal. All you have to do is talk to me.”
    She scratched her eyelid, swallowing back tears. “I don’t want to sound like a slut, but I’m well into double figures, and all of them thought that they could change that about me. But it didn’t feel right. Never did. Ever. And I can’t help that I put sex and powerlessness together. Do you know?”
    “It’s never about that. It’s just you and me. Your body, your wishes, your desires. Freedom. Choice. Simplicity. Pleasure.” He rested his forehead against hers, his mouth a breath away. “Pleasure like you’ve never known – no, the word’s inadequate. I can show you, but only if you let me. There’s no fear in being with me. Not like that. Never ever. I’d never want you to feel afraid of me.” He sucked in a breath and leaned back, almost out of her reach. “Am I pushing for too much?”
    It was all she needed to hear from him for her brain to get in line with what her body was telling her. Ride that man to Jericho . Madeline dropped her bag on the grass and encircled his neck with her arms.
    “No. You’re not.” The kiss was all in her control until Cain gave way to his own need and tightened his arms around her waist. Lifting her against him, he sat down on the grass. Her skirt hiked to the top of her thighs, and she revelled in her new freedom. Not thinking was much better. Not when there was lip and tongue and sigh and warmth to contend with. He changed position, lying down on the grass and manoeuvring her so she lay directly on top of him. What was he doing?
    “Now?”
    “Here,” he agreed gruffly.
    “Out here?” She thought they were just having a little kiss! Taking her issue public was not what she’d had in mind.
    “Right now. Right here. Yes, Madeline.” His roughened hands moved over her bare thighs and tugged at the edges of her panties. She had no idea what he’d make of her high-waisted vintage lingerie, but her mouth parted on a large ‘O’ shape when his thumbs brushed over the seams.
    “What?” he asked, sliding the damp material over her knees before propping her legs on either side of his waist. When his palms cupped her bare buttocks, she couldn’t complete rational thought. The delicacy, the tenderness with which he touched her only stoked her fire.
    “All right?” the mischief in his eyes made her grin. “Feel