He's Got His Daddy's Eyes

by Lois Faye Dyer

  “Yes,” he said simply.

  “Will you stop if I need you to?”

  “Yes.” Josh saw interest gain dominance over the grim determination and fear in her eyes.

  “Will you hate me if I panic? If I can’t…if I fail you?”

  “Honey, nothing you do tonight could be a failure. You’ve already given me more than I ever believed we could have again.”

  Reassured, Sarah walked on trembling legs across the room and halted, one arm curving around the smooth cherry wood post nearest Josh at the foot of the bed.

  “In that case—take your shirt off.” He reached for the top snap but she stopped him before he popped it open. “No, wait.”

  Josh halted immediately.

  “I’ll take it off.”

  Josh’s pulse leapt and he struggled to ignore a swift flood of heat. He’d been fighting the rush of hot blood through his veins ever since Sarah had agreed to make love. He knew, however, from the emotions that moved across her expressive features that she was still struggling to remain calm and not panic. She was far from aroused. He ordered his rampaging hormones to shut down. Patience» he reminded himself.

  Bent on taking control, Sarah left the support of the polished wood post and stepped forward. Scrupulously avoiding contact with his knees, she stood in front of Josh and leaned forward to reach him. The mother-of-pearl snaps gave easily under her careful tugs, the white cotton separating to let the shirt fall open over his chest. Her gaze never strayed from the snaps beneath her fingers, but even if memory hadn’t provided her with a vivid picture, she would have been aware of the width of his sunbronzed chest and the triangle of silky black curls that arrowed downward over the washboard muscles of his midriff.

  She reached the last snap above his belt and paused, glancing up at him.

  Josh saw her falter and he lifted one hand, silently asking her to unsnap his cuff. She complied and he repeated the gesture with his other hand before he tugged the shirt from his slacks, shrugged his arms free and tossed it over his shoulder. His gaze never left hers, and neither of them noticed when the shirt landed in a heap on the floor beyond the bed.

  “Now what?” she managed to get out.

  Josh watched the tip of her tongue flick out to dampen her lips, and he swallowed a groan.

  “Do you think you could kiss me?” Her eyes widened, refusal flaring as her gaze flicked downward to his mouth then back up. “I won’t grab you, Sarah.” His voice was husky. “I promise.”

  Sarah glanced at his hands; they rested palms down on his thighs. This is Josh, she reminded herself. He won’t hurt me—he promised.

  Her gaze locked with his, she leaned forward and carefully brushed her lips against his before easing away. Barely two inches separated their faces; his chest lifted in a heavy sigh, his breath ghosting over her lips as he exhaled. A slow smile tilted the hard line of his mouth. Between the thick black lashes that framed them, his eyes were hot shards of brilliant turquoise.

  “You have the softest, sweetest mouth, Sarah. Kiss me again.”

  Reassured, Sarah brushed his mouth with hers once more. Then again—until her lips lingered, lured into staying by his. His lashes drifted closed, but Sarah continued to watch him. Memories stirred, roused by the feel of his mouth beneath hers. Her body flushed and warmed, heated by Josh and the long-denied, repressed need for him that rose relentlessly, submerging her fear.

  Silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of quickening breaths and incoherent murmurs. Sarah’s Angers threaded through Josh’s hair, her palms cradling his skull. Long moments passed before she lifted her head, breathless, to look at him. His lashes lifted and she caught her breath at the hot, naked desire that lay in his eyes.

  Her fingers tightened and she eased backward. One swift downward glance told her that his body was blatantly aroused; his hands no longer lay palms downward on his thighs. Now they were curled into tight fists.

  “Sarah.” His voice was a full octave lower, gravelly with need. “I can’t stop my body’s reaction to you. That’s something I’ve never been able to control. I can’t hide how much I want you, but I won’t do anything about it, not unless you want me to.”

  Her gaze rose to meet his, and Josh sucked in a swift breath at the heated longing in her eyes. Her lips were damp, softly swollen from the long contact with his. His body clenched with need and he stared at her mouth, silently willing her to come back to him.

  When she slowly lowered her mouth to his, he strained to meet her until her mouth parted and the tip of her tongue glided across his lower lip. He groaned with satisfaction and returned the sleek, hot caress, his mouth luring her closer.

  The simmering heat moving through Sarah’s veins pulsed hotter, faster, flooding rich, hot desire through her body. Beneath the soft terry cloth of her robe, her breasts ached, and even the soft robe was unbearably abrasive against the sensitive, swollen tips. She murmured in frustration’ and Josh shifted, making space for her between his thighs. One small step brought her upper torso flush against his bare chest.

  Josh groaned and dragged his mouth from hers. “Untie your robe, Sarah. I want your skin against mine.”

  Sarah was immersed in seduction, blindsided by her body’s amazing and completely unexpected response to making love with Josh. His harsh, guttural words penetrated the sensual haze that surrounded her, and for a moment fear nudged its way into her consciousness, dulling the edges of delight.

  She shoved it away. She refused to give way to panic and terror. The soaring pleasure of making love with Josh had been too long absent from her life.

  Deliberately, she flattened her hands over the warm, sleek muscles just below his collarbone and stroked the sensitive pads of her fingertips downward until flat male nipples nudged her palms. They peaked under the brush of her Angers and Sarah stared at them, repeating the movement. Josh shuddered, the muscles of his biceps and chest flexing in response each time she touched him. Fascinated, she looked up at him to find his eyes hot, and dull red streaked across his cheekbones.

  “Sarah…” he managed to say.

  Sarah undid the sash to her robe, and the blue terry cloth fell open down the front from neck to hem. She barely heard Josh’s harsh, indrawn breath before her mouth returned to his and she eased her body carefully against him. His skin was hot, burning up where. her softer curves fit against the hard symmetry of his. He shifted, dragging his chest against the swollen, aching tips of her breasts, and Sarah gasped, eagerly repeating his movement, shuddering with pleasure.

  Three times eight is twenty-four. Four times eight is thirty-two. Five times eight is…uh… Josh fought for control, his fingers clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles were numb. His body was screaming at him to wrap Sarah in his arms, roll her beneath him, and bury himself in her soft, wet heat.

  He couldn’t Having Sarah make love to him was heaven. Not being able to hold her was hell. Especially now, when she was rubbing her bare breasts back and forth against his chest until he thought he’d surely lose what little sanity he had left.

  The only consolation was that arousal had chased the fear from her blue eyes. She wanted him. Still, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold on. He teased the tip of her tongue with his, luring her deeper, and let his muscles relax by degrees until he fell back on the bed. Arms wrapped around his neck, her tongue held captive by his, Sarah went with him, sprawling on top of his prone torso.

  Startled, Sarah lifted her mouth from his and looked down at him.

  “Don’t you think it’s time I took my slacks off?” he asked softly.

  Fear leapt, striking at Sarah. She’d been sidetracked by the pleasure of touching Josh without thinking beyond the magic of kisses and skin against skin. Now she was forced to think about the reason they’d come to her bedroom. She wasn’t sure she could carry this experiment through to its final conclusion, but she was committed to trying.

  I don’t have to like it, she told herself with fatalistic reason
ing. I just have to get through it.

  “Yes,” she said aloud. “I suppose it’s time you got undressed.” Self-conscious, she gathered the lapels of her robe together and slipped off him to lie curled on her side, the blue terry cloth shielding her bare body, while Josh sat on the edge of the bed and stripped off his slacks. He stretched out beside her, and reached above him to curl his fingers around the bottom edge of the headboard. His body nudged against hers, furnace-hot where her bent knees bumped against his hair-roughened thighs. She straightened one leg and trailed her toes down his calf to his foot, watching his eyes close and his muscles flex and tighten in reaction to the caress. She repeated the movement and his eyes flicked open.

  “Come back to me,” he whispered, his voice husky, tight with need. She hesitated, and his Angers tightened over the wood.

  “I’m afraid,” she breathed.

  “I know you are.” Josh ached for the battle she fought between desire and fear. He wanted to tell her that they didn’t need to finish this—that she could return to the safe, sterile emotional zone she’d created for herself. But he knew she wasn’t really happy alone there, and he wasn’t happy without her. If there was to be a future for them, they had to get past, this first time together. “Come up here and kiss me again,” he coaxed. “I love your mouth, Sarah.”

  Sarah knew he was purposely luring her back to him. His patience with her fears when his body was obviously demanding more than kisses soothed the rising tide of terror and allowed sanity and determination to gain control of her emotions.

  She pushed up on her knees, carefully straddling his midsection before she bent forward to reach his mouth. Once again her robe fell open, baring the front of her from head to toe. Briefly suppressed by fear, the wanting blazed anew, leaping to life with the roar of wildfire at the touch of his mouth beneath hers, and Sarah’s knees gave way, her body easing down atop his. She squirmed instinctively, seeking and settling the cove of her hips over his. Josh responded with a slow, upward thrust, and Sarah’s fingers clutched at his shoulders, her fingernails scoring half-moons against his skin.

  Josh clenched the headboard until his fingers went numb.

  “Sarah,” he murmured against her mouth. Her eyes were dark, dazed when they met his. He squeezed his fingers tighter and fought down the unbearable urge to take her. “Take me. Now.” He could barely get the words out.

  She stared at him for a taut, tension-filled moment before she reached between them and freed him from the soft cotton briefs. He surged against the soft skin of her belly and she stiffened, glancing down the length of their bodies where she lay against him.

  “Sarah, look at me.”

  She obeyed and found him staring at her, his gaze intense, compelling.

  “Don’t look away. Don’t close your eyes,” he demanded hoarsely. “I want you to know who’s here with you.”

  She nodded, unable to speak.

  His body tightened in reaction, and his arousal brushed against her hand. He was hot silk over steel when her fingers closed around him.

  His breath hissed in, his irises turning molten turquoise. “Sarah, please…”

  Sarah felt a surge of power that was seductive, arousing. Josh could have taken what he needed by the sheer force of his physical strength. Instead, he lay beneath her, allowing her the choice of ending his torment or denying him satisfaction.

  Control was freeing and infinitely satisfying, empowering and exhilarating. The rush of power stoked sexual need, turning the flames that licked at her body into a firestorm. Without taking her gaze from his, she slowly took him into her body, easing downward until he was seated deep inside her.

  Josh struggled for control and lost. Dimly, he remembered not to let go of the headboard, but his body took over, thrusting up into the tight, wet heat of hers until sweet release claimed him. It wasn’t until he collapsed against the tangled sheet, dragging air into starving lungs, that he realized he couldn’t remember what had happened to Sarah.

  Oh, no. Foreboding mixed with anxiety as he tried desperately to remember. The soft weight of her body sprawled atop his eased his fear, and his tense muscles relaxed slightly.

  “Sarah?” he whispered softly into the tangled blond silk brushing the underside of his chin.

  “Mmmhh?”

  The drowsy, sated satisfaction in her low murmur was a relief, and Josh slowly relaxed his grip on the wooden headboard. His joints felt locked in place, and he had to forcibly stretch each finger to make them release.

  “Are you all right?” he asked cautiously.

  Sarah stirred. Unwilling to move, she merely nodded. The hard body she lay against tensed.

  “Are you sure? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  She pushed her hair out of her eyes and lifted her head, resting her forearms on his chest to look down at him. Worry darkened his eyes.

  “No, Josh.” She smiled as the tension eased from his body and the dark concern faded from his eyes. “You didn’t hurt me. In fact, you were wonderful. Thank you.”

  A slow, heart-stopping smile lifted the hard lines of his mouth, and Sarah felt her heart beat faster. “You know,” she said softly, contemplatively, “I do love you so much it hurts, but that’s a different kind of hurt.”

  Josh’s smile faded. “I love you, too, Sarah, so much it hurts.” His voice was gravelly and he stopped speaking to clear his throat“Do you think you could stand it if I put my arms around you, honey?”

  Sarah stared at him, gauging the intensity of love and need in his dark turquoise stare. Lying nearly naked against him, she gave him something more important than her body. She gave him trust.

  “Yes.”

  Slowly Josh closed his arms around her, the weight of his hands and arms enfolding her. When she tensed but didn’t push him away, he carefully cupped the back of her head in one big palm and gently tucked her head beneath his chin.

  “Damn,” he said unevenly. “This is better than sex.”

  Startled, Sarah laughed, her breath feathering over his skin. Still buried deep inside her, his body stirred and flexed, reacting to the soft touch. She smiled against his throat.

  “Well,” he said wryly, feeling her amusement, “almost as good.”

  For long moments they lay contentedly, savoring the bone-deep pleasure of holding each other, treaswing the freedom to trace sensitive, curious fingertips over soft skin and sleek, hard muscle.

  The thick terry-cloth robe still covered Sarah’s arms, shoulders and back. Josh plucked at the offending folds. “Do you think we could get rid of this?” he asked. “It’s in the way and besides, I’m the only one naked here.”

  “Hmm.” Sarah reluctantly lifted her fingers from testing the smooth skin over his biceps and shrugged out of the robe. “If I remember correctly, you haven’t an ounce of modesty in your entire body. Being naked doesn’t bother you at all.”

  Josh chuckled and tossed the robe onto the floor. “Life doesn’t get any better than being naked with you, but it’s better when you’re naked, too.”

  Sarah turned her mouth against his throat, the tip of her tongue flicking out to experiment with the taste of faintly salty skin. Josh’s muscles tensed beneath her and, deep inside her, his body stretched, seeking and responding to the heat and dampness that gloved him. Her body tightened in instinctive response.

  “Sarah?” His voice had gone husky again, faintly slurred. “Do that to me again. Five years is a long, long time.”

  Startled, Sarah lifted her head and searched his face questioningly.

  “Five years,” he repeated in answer to her unasked question. “You’re not the only one who couldn’t stand being touched.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Oh, Josh. I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything.” His hands stroked down the satin-smooth skin of her back and closed over the rounded curve of her bottom to press her closer. “Just touch me. I love your hands on me.” She responded by tracing the line of his
jaw and cheek with her fingers and pressing her lips against the base of his neck. Josh shuddered when she once again tested his pulse with her tongue. “And your mouth,” he growled before he bent his head and claimed her lips with his.

  It was a long time later before Sarah spoke again. It was 3:00 a.m. and they sat side by side, reclining against pillows propped against the headboard, eating from a tray loaded with what looked like half the contents of her refrigerator.

  She munched on a chocolate cookie and watched Josh demolish a chicken drumstick.

  “Josh,” she began. He glanced up quickly, his slow grin quickly fading when she didn’t smile back. “There’s something we need to talk about.”

  “Really?” He wiped his hands and lips on a napkin and gave her his full attention. “What’s that?”

  “Sex.”

  “Sex?” He flicked a swift glance over the tangled sheets and the clothing strewn across the bedroom floor. “Didn’t we just do that?”

  Sarah felt heat move up her cheeks and frowned at him. He smiled innocently back at her, his thick lashes half-lowered over hot blue eyes. “We made love—”

  “Yes, we did,” he interrupted. “Several times, as a matter of fact.”

  “Precisely. Each time with me on top.”

  “Yeah. So?”

  “So, I know you like…I remember that you…” The heat in his stare grew and Sarah stopped speaking, her own temperature skyrocketing. “Five years ago we didn’t make love the same way every time,” she finally finished.

  “If you’re worried about me getting bored with you on top, Sarah,” he began softly, “don’t.” He laid the palm of one warm, big hand high on her bare thigh. “I’ll take you any way I can get you— for now. I won’t deny that I’ve thought about making love with you in the barn, in the bathroom, with you on top, with me on top, standing against the wall in the shower and with you sitting on the kitchen couhtertop.” Josh ignored her startled intake of breath. “We’ll get there. In the meantime…” He took the last bite of cookie from her unresisting fingers and dropped it on the tray before he shifted the tray to the floor. Dishes rattled, but he ignored them. “Do that to me again.”