‘‘That’s all right.’’ She let out a long breath, but it did nothing to calm her racing heart. ‘‘I didn’t expect anyone to . . . what are you doing home so early in the day?’’ Quickly she clasped her hands together because they wanted to grab at him. ‘‘Are you sick?’’

‘‘No.’’

‘‘It’s not even three o’clock.’’

‘‘I know.’’ He stepped into the room, saw her press her lips together, moisten them. Take it slow, he reminded himself, don’t spook her. ‘‘Aubrey’s not with you?’’

‘‘No, Julie’s minding her. Julie got a new kitten and Aubrey wanted to stay, so . . .’’ He smelled of the water, salt, and sun. It made her light-headed.

‘‘Then we’ve got some time.’’ He came a little closer. ‘‘I wanted to see you alone.’’

‘‘You did?’’

‘‘I’ve been wanting to see you alone since we made love that night.’’ He lifted his hand, gently encircled the nape of her neck. ‘‘I’ve been wanting you,’’ he said quietly and lowered his mouth to hers.

So soft, so tender, her heart seemed to turn one long, loose somersault in her chest. Her knees went weak. They trembled even as she threw her arms around him, as she answered that tentative kiss with a flash of heat. His fingers dug into her skin, his mouth bruised hers. For one wild and wicked moment, she thought he would take her where they stood, fast and frantic and free.

Then his hands gentled, smoothed over her. His lips softened, cruising over hers now. ‘‘Come to bed with me,’’ he murmured. ‘‘Come to bed with me,’’ even as he lowered her, covered her.

She arched against him, wanting and willing, impatient with the clothes that separated her flesh from his. It seemed like years since she had last touched him, had last felt those hard planes, those iron muscles. Moaning his name, she tugged up his shirt, let her hands possess, and possessing, they aroused.

His breath came raggedly, burning his throat. Her movements under him urged him to hurry, hurry, but he was afraid he would bruise her if he didn’t take time, didn’t take care. So he fought to slow the pace, to taste rather than devour, to caress rather than demand.

But where as she had once seduced him, she now destroyed him.

He tugged off her shirt, found her naked beneath it. She saw his eyes flash, turn to a burning blue that all but scorched her skin. He was careful, so careful not to bruise, not to frighten. Slow, to slow the pace even while the brutal desire to take, take more, take swiftly, swarmed into him.