Desire was fluid, its current steady. They rode it, thrilling to the pace, to the deep, resonant pleasure of each long, slow stroke. Grace swirled close to the edge, felt the orgasm build, slide through her system like velvet ribbon so that she rose up, farther up, wallowed in the glow, then floated down into weightless wonder.

He pressed his face into her hair, and let himself follow.

HE WAS SO QUIET IT worried her. He held her, but he would have known she’d need him to. Still he didn’t speak, and the longer the silence stretched the more she feared what he would say when he broke it.

So she broke it first.

‘‘Don’t tell me you’re sorry. I don’t think I could stand it if you told me you were sorry.’’

‘‘I wasn’t going to. I promised myself I’d never touch you like this, but I’m not sorry I did.’’

She rested her head on his shoulder, just under his chin. ‘‘Will you touch me like this again?’’

‘‘Right this minute?’’

Because she caught the lazy amusement in his voice, she relaxed and smiled. ‘‘I know better than to rush you on anything.’’ She lifted her head because it was vital that she know. ‘‘Will you, Ethan? Will you be with me again?’’

He traced a finger through her hair. ‘‘I don’t see talking either one of us out of it after tonight.’’

‘‘If you started to, I’d have to try to seduce you again.’’

‘‘Yeah?’’ A smile crept over his face. ‘‘Then maybe I should start talking.’’

Thrilled, she rolled over him and hugged hard. ‘‘I’d be better at it the next time, too, because I wouldn’t be so damned nervous.’’

‘‘Nerves didn’t seem to get in your way. I nearly swallowed my tongue when you walked to the door in that pink dress.’’ He started to nuzzle her hair, stopped, narrowed his eyes. ‘‘What were you doing wearing a dress to sit around at home?’’

‘‘I don’t know . . . I just was.’’ She turned her head, ran kisses along his throat.

‘‘Hold on.’’ Knowing just how quickly she could distract him, he took her shoulders and lifted her up. ‘‘A pretty dress, candlelight . . . it’s almost like you were expecting me to come along.’’

‘‘I’m always hoping you will,’’ she said and tried to kiss him again.

‘‘Sending me off with a recipe, for Christ’s sake.’’ In a smooth and easy move he plopped her on her butt beside him, then sat up. ‘‘You and Anna got your heads together on this, didn’t you? Set me up.’’

‘‘What a ridiculous thing to say.’’ She tried for indignant, but could only manage guilty. ‘‘I don’t know where you get these ideas.’’