Shadows moved across the curved walls of the small chamber. The sound of water was constant and loud, the spray, a thick veil cutting her off from the rest of the world. Isabeau lay across the thick mat in the rock chamber behind the waterfall, and turned her head to watch the water cascading down in glittery white sheets, enjoying gentle touches to her body, but always aware of the gathering heat, a firestorm that would come crashing down on her.

Conner. Her ruthless lover. When he touched her, she was lost. And right now he wanted to claim every inch of her. She couldn’t resist his particular brand of possession. The animal in him raged close to the surface, and the intensity of his touch reflected his hunger for her. He had made certain she was comfortable—he would always see to that—before he took his time doing everything he wanted to her. She heard her own breathing, ragged gasps she couldn’t quite control. Anticipation was turning her on as much as looking at him did.

Conner knelt between her legs, surveying Isabeau for a long time before reaching out and dragging the second sleeping mat from his pack. He folded it and pushed it beneath her buttocks, raising the lower half of her body and opening her more fully to him. He studied her again. He loved the way she looked with her hair spilling around her and her body bare and open to him. There was moisture seeping between her thighs and he could scent her arousal.

He casually dropped his hand down to cover her tempting mound. She jerked, sensitive already with anticipation. He loved her welcoming moisture. There was something so satisfying about seeing his woman like this—so ready for his attention. Conner was ravenous for her and he didn’t pretend anything else and he loved that neither did she. She wasn’t ashamed of wanting him, of showing him how much she wanted him. And that was an aphrodisiac, pure and simple. Everything about Isabeau was to him.

Very slowly he lowered his body over hers, blanketing her completely like a cover, just holding her, absorbing her. She was so soft, that long expanse of skin and feminine curves. He sank into her heat, listening to the rapid beat of her heart. Her arms went around him, fingers lacing at the back of his neck. She didn’t stir, didn’t complain about his weight. She just absorbed him the way he was absorbing her as if she understood that great need to just hold her.