His body was lean and sinewy, sleek muscles visible through skin that was tanned except for a strip of white over his buttocks. Golden hair covered his chest and his manhood, which was strong, erect and ready.

His fingers caressed her, his lips and tongue exploring each intimate crevice and curve. She tingled inside as she, tentatively at first, and then with more confidence, touched him and heard him moan with deep, hungry pleasure.

She didn’t think about the consequences as he rolled atop her, didn’t consider recriminations. She arched as he placed his big, callused hands on either side of her rib cage, his fingers splaying around her ribs, his thumbs rubbing her nipples seductively. His hair fell forward, streaked gold and red by the firelight as he bent forward and kissed the tip of each breast. The world began to tilt. He pushed his tongue through the valley of her sternum; then, with his lips, climbed each mound and lingered, laving and sucking at her nipples. Desire, dark and insistent, curled deep inside her, and brought with it a moistness, a wild yearning she hadn’t felt in years.

“Katie,” he rasped, lifting his head as her fingers dug into the hard, sinewy muscles of his buttocks. “Sweet, sweet Katie.”

She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t form a word.

“Is this what you want?”

“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. It had been so long. Too long. Winding an arm around his neck, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him, her mouth open and waiting, her body quivering with a passion she’d feared she’d lost.

His knees parted her legs and he looked one last time into her eyes before he thrust into her as if he’d wanted to make love to her all his life. She gasped as he entered her, holding tightly to the arms planted on either side of her head, and as he withdrew and entered again, rose to meet him. She held his gaze as their bodies joined, moved her hips to his rhythm, felt the sting of anticipation in her bloodstream. All her doubts fled, all her worries disappeared and she was lost in the single purpose of loving this lone, tough man.

Faster and faster he moved and she could scarcely breathe, gasping in short, sharp bursts that matched the crazy beating of her heart.

“Katie,” he cried, throwing back his head as he spilled himself into her. “Katie!”

She clung to him, her body convulsing, her universe shattering deep in her soul. He fell against her, breathing hard and holding her close as he rolled to the side.

Tears welled deep in her eyes and he leaned over and kissed each eyelid. “Regrets?” he asked, his expression clouding.

“Relief.”