She nodded, her eyes locking with his as she held tight to him. Her eyes filled, her full lower lip trembling.

“You’re all right,” he whispered as he traced a thumb over her lower lip. Her lips parted, the tip of her tongue brushing his rough skin.

Dulcie heard his groan and pressed her body to his. His arm dragged her to him. His mouth came down hard on hers. She gasped as she felt the tip of his tongue tease the inside of her lower lip.

Her breasts, crushed against his hard chest, ached and as her arms encircled his neck, she felt him lift her from the floor.

She hung on, his mouth never leaving hers, as he backed her up against the wall at the bottom of the stairs, holding her there with his body as his fingers opened her shirt, slipping inside to cup her full, round breast in his warm palm.

She cried out softly, her head lolling back as his thumb found the hardened tip of her nipple. Her arms slipped from around his neck to grasp the front of his Western shirt and pull, the snaps coming undone to reveal his smooth, tanned flesh and the dark trail of fine hair that disappeared in a V into the waist of his jeans.

“Dulcie,” he said on a ragged breath.

She closed her eyes as she felt him bare her breasts to his mouth, to his hands, and squirmed against him, wanting him like she’d never wanted any other man.

She opened her eyes and reached for his belt. His mouth came down on hers again as he lifted her higher and worked her canvas pants down. She felt the heat and hardness of him and nothing on earth could have kept her from fulfilling this desire burning in her as he pulled back to look into her eyes.

She reached for him, rocking against his hips, as he took her to the edge of climax and then even higher before quenching her aching need.

Russell held her against the wall and tried to catch his breath. They were both covered in sweat, their bodies glistening. He slowly lowered her feet to the floor.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t the way I...” His voice trailed off as he realized what he’d been about to say. That wasn’t the way I envisioned making love to you.

She laughed softly. “Oh. And what had you planned?”

He couldn’t help but smile. “A bed?”

She shook her head as she slowly began to button her blouse, her brown-eyed gaze locked on his. “I wouldn’t have had our first time be any other way. I wanted you as much as you wanted me.”