But when she went to lean toward him, she found she couldn't do that. It was too bold, too beyond her comfort level. She didn't know what to do.

"Jordan, I can't."

"Yeah, you can. Kiss me, Holly."

She stared into his eyes, then allowed herself to get lost in the dark depths. She leaned forward and touched her lips to his.

The hand he was still holding got caught between them, and her wrist bent back. Sharp pain shot up her arm, and she pulled back. It wasn't going to work.

"I'm just not good at this," she muttered, and turned away.

"Sure, you are." He raised the bed a little, then patted his belly. "Straddle me like you did when you were giving me a back rub." He grinned. "I'm pretty sure I can stand it."

She eyed him doubtfully. She might not have ever seen a man naked before, but she knew where all the parts went. If she straddled him, then his ... she-knew-what would be pressed awfully close to her private parts, and she wasn't sure that was right or even legal. Although the statement about him being able to stand it was confusing. Would it hurt him?

"Never mind," Jordan said suddenly. "Bad idea. Why don't you let me get some rest?"

Now Holly was really confused. What was going on? One minute he wanted to kiss her, the next he was dismissing her?

Then she looked at him closely and recognized the tension around his mouth. He was embarra.s.sed. She wasn't sure by what, if it was his weakened condition or the fact that he thought she wasn't interested. It didn't matter. Holly's already soft heart melted. She grabbed his hand in both of hers.

"Don't be mad," she said quietly. "I don't mean to be shy, but this is all new to me."

He gazed at her for a minute, then relaxed perceptibly, "Yeah?"

"I swear. Tell me what to do."

His eyes narrowed. "Is this some sort of new-tech nursing technique?"

"I'm sure kissing is considered a breach of professional ethics." Her voice was prim. "I've never heard of it being prescribed for medicinal purposes."

"A guy can always hope."

He smiled and she relaxed. "Tell me what to do."

"Straddle my stomach."

Feeling as coordinated and elegant as a newborn giraffe, she did as he requested. Thank goodness her sweater was loose so he couldn't get a good look at her body. That would be too embarra.s.sing to stand.

"Lean forward," he instructed. "Rest your forearms on the bed."

"But then my-" She glanced down at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "Then I'll be touching you with my chest."

His smile broadened. "That's the point."

"Oh. Are you sure?"

"Trust me."

She did as he requested. Their faces were inches apart. She could feel his sweet breath fanning her face. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s nestled against his lean strength as if they'd spent their whole lives looking for this one spot to rest.

Holly wasn't quite as comfortable. She didn't know what to do with her hands. She felt as if her b.u.t.t was sticking up in the air. To make matters worse, every inch of her was tingling and trembling, and she couldn't catch her breath.

"This would have been a whole lot easier when I was sixteen," she murmured.

"Not for me. Back then I was more interested in results than the process itself."

She didn't know what that meant, but before she could ask, he raised his head slightly and kissed her.

It was better than she remembered. His lips were firm, and warm as they caressed hers. He brushed against her sensitive skin, awakening the nerve endings and reminding them why they'd been put there.

He opened his mouth. She didn't need urging to follow suit. The antic.i.p.ation of those few seconds waiting for his tongue to touch hers nearly made her swoon. Suddenly she knew what to do with her hands. She cupped his face and urged him closer. She buried her fingers in his thick dark hair and tried to communicate her need.

He got the message. He invaded her mouth, touching, stroking, tasting, leaving wickedly wonderful sensations in his path. He stole her breath, made her relax against him, made her want more. She squirmed in delight when he drew her lower lip into his mouth and suckled it. The gentle tugging started a chain reaction that coiled all the way to that waiting place between her thighs. Tremors rippled through her.

This wasn't a kiss; it was a life-changing event. She felt herself being pulled under, drowning, and she didn't care. She followed his retreat, invading his mouth, a.s.saulting him as he'd a.s.saulted her. She felt answering shudders in his muscles.

His hands stroked down her back. One played with her hair, while the other discovered the sweet spot where her derriere curved into her legs. He touched that place over and over again. It tickled yet sent hot rivers of feeling through her legs and up her chest.

She wanted to kiss him forever. She liked the hard breadth of his body below hers. She'd been denied physical pa.s.sion so long, she wasn't sure she would ever get enough.

He reached for the hem of her sweater and tugged it up. Holly broke their kiss. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

When the sweater was bunched around her waist, he slipped his fingers under it and began to touch her bare skin.

"You're doing something. I can feel it."

Lines deepened by the corners of his eyes as he smiled faintly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She wasn't sure she did, either. He traced her spine up to her neck. His soft touch sucked away her strength. She couldn't even protest, not, that she wanted to.

He touched her shoulders, then down her sides and over her ribs. Without planning the action, she raised herself slightly. She didn't even know what she'd done until his hands slipped under her, circling around and coming to rest on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Large hands cupped her full curves. He didn't move, but just supported their weight against his palms. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the sensations. No man had ever touched her there. Everything was new. The whisper of embarra.s.sment, the tingling, the way her nipples puckered and ached for more of his caress.

Then he began to stroke her. His thumbs swept across the taut peaks. She felt the jolt clear down to her toes. Her arms trembled violently, then strength faded and she collapsed against him.

He didn't give her time to have regrets. He claimed her mouth, sweeping inside, taunting her, tempting her, teasing her until all she could do was cling to him.

She didn't recognize herself anymore. She was painfully alive and aware of her body. She'd never thought about physical pleasure before, and now she couldn't think about anything else.

His hands stroked her back. She was vaguely aware of a slight tugging on her bra, but she ignored it. Jordan could do whatever he wanted. She was never going to protest again.

"Sit up," he said, then kissed her cheek and her jaw.

She did as he asked. She swayed for a moment, finding balance, then glanced down at him. His bare chest was in reach. Not sure where she gathered the courage, she placed her hand on top of his breastbone. His eyes closed slowly, and he breathed her name.