* * *
Having had enough of the beach for one night, they returned to her
white Le Baron. As Madeline strapped herself securely in the bucket seat,
she was fairly certain that this time he would drive her to his villa, bid her
goodnight and leave her to replay the evening's events alone in her
apartment. Instead he paused as he brought the key to the ignition, then
turned his body toward her as far as the fastened seatbelt would allow.
Madeline shifted in her seat to face him. Moonlight streamed through
the windshield as their lips met again, gently at first, then with more force
as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. The intensity of his probing both
fascinated and frightened her. She froze for a moment, wanting to etch
the sensation of his exploration in her mind forever. She wanted to savor
every moment of his kiss the way she did every mouthful of warm,
chocolate chip cookies-an indulgence she rarely allowed herself. Mark
stopped and pulled back a little. She looked at him questioningly.
"Go like this," he whispered hoarsely. She watched as he danced his
tongue around the parameters of his own lips before fulfilling his request
as best she could, expressing her growing passion as freely as her
persistent self-control would allow.
"You're smooth," he whispered. She felt his hands on her waist, and
then sighed softly as they massaged her back, working their way up to her
neck. With his left hand, he reached down to unlock his seatbelt, freeing
himself to concentrate on her fully. Feeling flushed and breathless,
Madeline pressed her face close to his in an affectionate embrace. She
breathed deeply the scent of his spicy cologne and perspiration, wanting
to remember the smell forever. Mark complied and held her tightly for a
moment. Then, placing a hand on her cheek, he turned her face to his and
stared into her eyes.
"Kiss me, kiss me," he demanded firmly. In an instant, his mouth
devoured hers once more as Madeline matched him in ferocity until it
nearly overwhelmed her. Mark paused again only briefly. Madeline
watched as he pulled his white golf shirt from the waistband of his jeans
shorts and lifted it up, revealing a broad, masculine torso.
"Touch my chest," he demanded huskily. He reached for her hand
and placed it on his skin as he moved in for another kiss. Madeline
caressed his shoulders, agilely working her way down to his waist. Beneath
her fingers, she felt the warmth of his skin and the rippling of well-toned
muscles. His stomach contracted as she explored that area.
"Feels good," he groaned. Her hand lingered above his waist, moving
back and forth slowly, lightly. "I'm afraid I've developed a beer belly from
all the drinking I did tonight," he confessed, apparently unaware of how
good his body was looking to her at that moment.
"It's ok," was all she whispered in response as her hands continued to
work his flesh. Mark gathered her auburn hair in his hands, holding it to
one side while he hungrily pursued her neck.
"Is biting legal?" he asked, proceeding to nibble at her soft, inviting
skin. Lost in her own emotions, Madeline barely heard the question. Her
silence did not hinder him and he continued his activity, moving to the
front of her neck, and then inching his way lower.
Madeline closed her eyes as her entire body tingled. She ran her hands
through his sandy-colored hair as the nearby surf pounded with the
rhythm of their breath. Then a touch in a new area shook her out of her
reverie. She abruptly stopped and looked down at her inner thigh.
Reading her mind, Mark assured her, "I promise I won't go any
higher. I am trying to be really careful where I touch you. Too exhausted
to argue, Madeline gave in to his tantalizing caresses. It was incredibly
stupid in a way. After all, she was twenty-eight, not twelve. What was
really stopping her? It is technically only our second date. I don't really know him
yet. He could really hurt me if I'm not careful.Mark's hand stubbornly remained on her thigh, creating a rush of
sensation in the part of her anatomy that defined her femininity. He
buried his head in her chest, prying at the buttons on her dress with his
teeth. Consumed by both desire and awe at his hunger for her, Madeline
did not resist when she felt the second button come undone, revealing the
black lace of her bra.
Mark's hands slowly fondled her breasts through the delicate fabric,
sending chills throughout her body. He couldn't get enough of her silky
soft skin, the floral scent of her perfume, the feel of her chest against his.
He was about to free her from the bondage of lace and under-wire when
she suddenly caught his hand and pulled it away.
Like a little boy begging to keep a stray puppy, he moaned in protest,
"I want to kiss your nipples."
Madeline straightened up in her seat and refastened the buttons on
her dress as guilt overtook passion. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "It's
not that I don't want to. Please just give me some time." She lowered her
eyes as she spoke, unable to look at him. Mark, feeling guilty for rushing
her, gently drew her into his arms.
"I'm the one who's sorry, Maddy. You just excite me so much I can
barely control myself."
"The feeling is mutual."