Free Lone Star Rancher by Laurie Paige Page A

her, making her aware of sensitive places she’d never encountered before. She did the same to him, touching him as she’d once wanted to all those many years ago when she’d been nineteen and in love.
    As her hands moved slowly down his hips and then became more intimate, Clyde grasped at control, determined to make the moments last. But he was near the exploding point.
    So was she. It pleased him deeply to know she was moist and ready for him, that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. The intensity of her gaze almost did him in when she opened those lovely blue eyes and followed the path of her hands over his taut body.
    â€œYou’re making me crazy,” he warned.
    He both heard and felt her soft laughter. “Good,” she said. “That’s what you’re doing to me.”
    When she prodded, he shifted his weight over her. Those long, shapely legs wrapped around him. It was a dream come true, the torment of his nightly yearnings turning tosweet bliss. Their bodies touched, then, without conscious effort on his part, merged.
    â€œOh,” she whispered, closing her eyes tightly.
    He couldn’t hold out any longer as he felt her seductive movements against him, driving him onward. He closed his eyes and kissed her, feeling the full impact of her with all his senses. It was the best thing he’d ever experienced. He wanted it to be the same for her.
    Jessica nipped at Clyde’s shoulder, then kissed each spot, then nipped some more as restless hunger seized her. She met his every thrust and felt a thousand sparkles of delight run over her senses at his gentle caresses.
    She heard the sounds of their breathing as they moved in concert, each second building on the next until she was panting with wild exhilaration. Then, like a shaken champagne bottle, she was filled to the bursting point.
    â€œYes,” she cried softly when she finally came. “Oh, yes. Yes!”
    She heard his groan of completion, then there was silence, except for the pounding of their hearts against each other, for long, delicious minutes.
    The afternoon breeze gave the tree leaves a playful shake. Jessica felt the dappled sunlight like warm fingers on her face and half her body. Clyde had shifted to the side and rested with one leg and arm thrown protectively across her. She felt totally safe for the first time in months.
    Sleep, deep and restful, crept over her. When she awoke, she was alone.
    Sitting up, she spotted Clyde in the water, doing a lazy crawl along the length of the lake. That seemed like a good idea. She rose and waded in. At waist deep, she began swimming across the lake.
    On the return, he joined her, swimming beside her and matching her stroke for stroke. After five laps, she stoppedand treaded water in the middle, where the lake was over her head. He swam close, then she felt his powerful legs lock around hers, and they both went under.
    Before she could splutter indignantly at the dunking, his mouth found hers. The kiss was deeply satisfying.
    Against her hip, she felt the return of his passion and turned instinctively toward it, surprised that she could want him again so soon.
    With long swipes of his arms, he swam on his back, taking them to shallow water. There, in the lapping wavelets against the sand, they made love again, slower, more perfect than the first time.
    A long time later, he rose and held out his hand to her. “It’s time to go in,” he said.
    She saw the sun had set. The sky was getting dark and the air cool. She heard the drone of a mosquito. “Yes.”
    He gave her the towel to dry off. He dressed quickly, but she was finished first. When she glanced at him, she saw the brooding darkness had returned to his eyes. The magic moment was truly over.
    He collected the picnic basket, the tarp and the towel and stored them in the pickup. “Ready?”
    She nodded and climbed in the passenger side without help. He drove silently back to the house.