She moaned into him, clutching at his back, then skimming her hands down to the waistband of his breeches. She paused, gathered her courage, then hooked one finger underneath., touching the smooth skin of his buttocks.

Blake's lips slid across her cheek to her ear, murmuring, “I want to feel you,” against her skin. His breath was hot and moist, and so very erotic. She could feel each of his words even more than she could hear them.

“I want to feel you, too,” she whispered.

“Oh, you shall. You shall.” He rolled off her just long enough to divest himself of the rest of his clothing, and then he was on top of her again, the hot, naked length of him burning into her skin.

The surf was rising, and the cold water tickled her bare toes. Caroline shivered, but the movement only rubbed her more intimately against Blake, and she heard him groan with desire.

“I'm going to touch you,” he whispered, his voice hot against her cheek.

She knew what he meant, but it was still a shock when he brushed his fingers against her most intimate place. She stiffened, then relaxed as his lips pressed up against her ear with a soft, “Shhh.”

One finger slipped inside her, and she gasped with pleasure. “I want to touch you, too,” she said.

He let out a ragged breath. “It would probably kill me if you did.”

Her eyes flew to his face.

“I want you so much,” he tried to explain. “I'm damned near bursting with it, and I can't—”

“Shhh.” It was her turn now to comfort him, and she placed a gentle finger on his lips. “Just show me. Show me everything. I want to please you.”

A hoarse sound came from deep in Blake's throat as he nudged her legs apart. He touched her with the very tip of his manhood and nearly flinched at the pleasure of the contact. She was so hot and willing, and he knew she wanted him, damaged soul and all.

“Oh, Caroline, I'll make this good for you,” he vowed. “I'll bring you such joy. I promise.”

“You already have,” she said softly, then gasped as he began to penetrate her.

He took her slowly, giving her body time to adjust to his size and strength. It was so difficult to hold back when every fiber of his being ached to pound into her, branding her as his own. Something very primitive had been awakened inside him, and he didn't just want to make love to her; he wanted to devour her, possess her, bring her such pleasure that she couldn't even dream of giving herself to another.

But he held back, straining to maintain a gentle touch. She wasn't ready for the ferocity of his desire. She wouldn't understand it. And he cared too much to frighten her.

He cared.

It was a stunning revelation, and his entire body froze.

“Blake?”

He'd known he liked her, he'd known he desired her. But it had taken this moment of intimacy to realize that his emotions were far more intense. He, who had thought that he'd lost the power to feel anything deeply, had been touched by this woman, and—