He retreated slowly, so slowly she moaned for a good minute, it seemed. Which was a mistake because that meant when he thrust forward, she had no air left in her lungs and no way to suck any in either.
There was no chance to coordinate her breathing, her lungs starving for oxygen, but she didn’t give a damn because he was moving faster. Driving forward, her legs rocking in midair as his groin slapped her ass. The sounds of sex and their heavy breathing echoed in the silence of the room.
And when he came, it was with a roar that shattered the silence and set her blood pumping all over again.
Her heated cheek rested on the cool wood of the piano, her hair tousled everywhere. The sheen of sweat on her skin was beginning to dry, and as he pulled free, she figured she was pretty much a mess.
She didn’t care one bit, turning eagerly as he helped her sit up on the piano top. His arms wrapped around her, one hand firm on the back of her neck as he took her lips in a final kiss. Tender this time, gentle.
As if their wildness had been consumed until all that was left was sheer pleasure, joyfully shared between them.
10
Splashing noises escaped from the bathroom along with a saucy tune rendered in a surprisingly fine alto. Jim caught himself tapping his fingers to Lillie’s singing, and put aside the newspaper he’d been attempting to read.
It made no sense to be wasting his time in the living room when what he wanted was to spend time with Lillie.
He knocked on the partially open door, and the singing stopped abruptly.
“May I come in?”
More splashing. “Umm, I’m in the bathtub.”
The sheer innocence in her voice only made Jim smile harder. “I had surmised that. It’s part of the reason I want to come in.”
Lillie laughed. “Well, I suppose it is your bathroom.”
He’d begun to move as soon as she’d given the first word of approval, strolling to the edge of the tub and looking down on a vision.
There was something about this woman that pleased him so well. Only hours ago they’d shared the most incredible sex at the dance club, and already he wanted her again. And yet, leaning back on the counter, he was content to fold his arms and simply look his fill.
She’d piled her hair on top of her head, and even in the muted feature lighting, coppery highlights glittered as she moved. The claw-toed tub was filled nearly to the brim, her feet nowhere near reaching the end. Her arms were draped over the sides, probably in an attempt to keep herself from sliding under the surface.
No bubbles blocked the view of paradise relaxing before him. Her breasts bobbed along the water’s surface, her back slightly arched. A perfect artist’s model with one leg bent upward, the other extended. The lean line of her stomach led down to a neat triangle of reddish curls.
Her toenails were painted blue.
He’d seen her naked a number of times already, and every time he enjoyed it more.
Lillie laid her head on the rim of the tub, and her body floated upward. “Did you decide where we’re going for dinner?”
“We’re staying in.” The words burst from him without advance warning. He wasn’t sure where the idea had come from, but it was perfect. “If you don’t have your heart set on something, we can take it easy. Hang out here, maybe watch a movie.”
She blinked her hazel eyes, pulling herself back to vertical and nodding slowly. “Okay. Actually, you know, I would like that very much.”
“Good.” He sank to his knees beside the tub and went to trickle his fingers through the water, snatching them back as the temperature damn near scalded him. “Lord, woman, how can you stand the water that hot?”
Lillie opened her mouth to answer…and paused. Her lashes fluttered, and he wondered if she was avoiding sharing something personal.
The lack of information between them clicked over from a logical necessity to an unwanted burden, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than for her to share. He needed to know more about her. Wanted her to know about him.
Warning, warning. There are only two days until the race. Don’t do anything foolish.
Jim didn’t wait to hear what the other half of his psyche would suggest in response. He wanted…more. Not sure yet what, but they could figure it out as they went along.
His mental ramblings had taken a few seconds, because when he focused, she had turned toward him, all rosy-skinned and smiling. “You’re daydreaming,” she teased.
“I am, and that’s a terrible thing considering I don’t need to dream when you’re right here in front of me.” He caught her fingers in his hand, lifting them to his mouth.
Drops of water fell as he pressed his lips to her knuckles, and Lillie sighed. “I love when you do that. That kiss-the-knuckles thing gets me every time.”
Jim gave her fingers a squeeze. “I like it as well.”
“You are obviously a well-adjusted and bright individual.” She raised a brow. “Are you going to let me out of the tub? Or did you want to join me?”