Page 37 of Opal (Lux 3)

Annie was nervous. And she shouldn’t be. She’d made love with this man innumerable times. But that was years ago. She’d had lovers since, but this wasDiego! The most masculine man she’d ever known. His lovemaking would be enthusiastic even though he was injured. The thought made her shiver. She brushed her hair then stared at the worried blue eyes in the mirror.

Stop it, Annie. You know you want this.

She did.

So she left her home hurriedly and arrived at Diego’s house around five; it felt odd parking in the driveway, with no officer standing guard at the front to let her in. She stepped up to the porch and opened the door. “Hello.”

“Come on in,” he called out. He’d put on denim shorts and a button-down shirt. His smile was thousand-watt. “Hello, Annie.”

“Hi.” She crossed into the living room and kissed him on the mouth.

Afterward, he gestured to the couch. “Hmm. Let’s sit. Want a drink?”

“Sure. White wine.”

“I ordered some bottles of Kendall Jackson just for you.” He headed to the kitchen and returned with two glasses. He handed her one then sat on the couch next to her. “What shall we toast to?”

“To us, of course. To tonight.” She sipped the tart, ice-cold wine.

His hand shook some. He closed his eyes, embarrassed. “Hell, Annie, I’m trying to keep myself from throwing you over my shoulder and carting you to bed. Of course, I can’t do that, but you get the gist.”

“Why aren’t you dragging me to the bedroom?”

An innocent expression played across his face. “I’m being civilized.”

“Ah. Then let’s talk.”

“Like hell.” He stood, set down her glass and his, then walked to the foyer. She heard the front lock snick. He returned, drew her up and took her mouth in a hot kiss before leading her to the back of the house.

The three large windows on one wall allowed the afternoon sun to peek in through the blinds. His bedroom was done in beige and blue. A shelving unit stood tall across from his bed. It took up the whole…”

Diego drew her around. Stared down at her; brushed his knuckles over her cheek. She was so lovely it made him hurt. “I want you, Annie Stefano. So goddamned much.”

“I want you, too.” Her hands fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, slowly opening them, kissing the skin she bared. She eased it off his shoulders carefully, so she didn’t hurt his wound. The stark white bandage—it was smaller now—stood out on his swarthy complexion.

He put his hands on her pretty pink top and pulled it over her head mostly with his good arm. The bra beneath it was the same color. She always liked fancy lingerie. He kissed one lacy breast then he dispensed with the garment.

He unzipped her capris and they fell to the floor, too. He got hard when he saw the why-bother panties. Reaching out, his hands were shaking even more as he resisted ripping them off and instead pushed them down. She disposed of his shorts and he drew her close. Torso to torso. Legs entangled. She sighed. When she drew back, she asked, “How are we going to do this?” They’d liked all the positions of lovemaking.

“No missionary. Side by side wouldn’t work yet either. I’ll have to sit up against the headboard.”

Her beautiful blue eyes gleamed with desire. “Oh, I love that one. Do you need help getting on the bed?”

“No, I can do this.”

He sat close to the nightstand and with his feet on the floor. Using his good arm to brace himself, he eased back as far as he could then swung his legs onto the bed and against the headboard. He inched himself over a little at a time to the middle of the bed.

“That looks exhausting.”

“Usually. Not now. I’m ready for you.”

She glanced at his crotch. His erection was impressive.

He said sexily, “Straddle me, darlin’.”

Annie was careful as she climbed over him. She sat on his lap, avoiding his genitals for now. He drew up his knees and she leaned against his legs. “My favorite position,” he said, fondling her breasts, kissing them, then taking a nipple in his mouth. She bucked back into him. “Not too much love, or I’ll come.”

His hands probed her folds then entered her. “You’re wet.”