Tenderly, he laid her back against the furs and stripped her clothes from her body.

Maggie rose up on her knees as she quickly divested him of his own shirt, plaid and boots. She could only see him by the light of the fire, but it was enough to let her revel in the hunger he had for her.

She smiled. "You are so handsome," she said, running her hand over his bare, muscular chest. He shivered beneath her touch.

"And you, little blossom, you are so very beautiful."

She scoffed at his words. "What a liar you are."

He shook his head as he laid her back against the mattress. Mesmerized, Maggie watched the way the fire played across his tawny skin as he dipped his head to suckle her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Again the inferno started deep inside as her as her body craved his touch.

He skimmed her hips and waist with his hands as he ran his tongue slowly, carefully over her right nipple.

Maggie's head swam.

"Like that, do you?" he asked.

"Aye," she breathed.

Her feelings of love and devotion washed over her as he moved his hand down to the center of her body and toyed with the sensitive flesh between her legs.

"And that?"

She couldn't speak; all she could do was writhe to his touch, seeking those wonderful fingers that delved into her body over and over again.

Braden laughed, then dipped his head and replaced his fingers with his mouth.

Maggie reached down and buried her hands in his hair as he tortured her with pure bliss.

He cupped her bottom in his hands and lifted her hips so that he could gain greater access to her.

Maggie obliged by pressing her feet against the mattress and lifting herself up to his questing, delving tongue.

Her entire body quivered and shook as pleasure a.s.sailed her. Finally, she could stand no more.

Maggie moved away from him then. He looked surprised as she sat up and eyed him.

"My turn," she said, wanting to give him the same pleasure he had given her.

Braden smiled in delight as she leaned forward on to all fours.

Oh, the sight she made in his bed, her short russet hair curling around her face as she rolled him over onto his back.

Instead of straddling his waist, she stayed to his right side. She took his hand into hers and brought it to her mouth. "Such wonderful hands you have," she breathed, running her fingers over his skin. "So strong and dark." Then she placed his forefinger into her mouth and ran her tongue over the pad of it.

Braden hissed in ecstasy as she nipped at the sensitive flesh. He watched in awe as she alternated his fingers one by one, giving each the same sensual attention with her tongue and teeth.

As she toyed with him, he reached out his other hand and cupped her breast.

She groaned and released his hand. Braden quickly closed it over her other breast. She smiled at him and placed her hands over his.

The sight of her hands over his as he touched her soft mounds delighted him. But not nearly as much as the sight of her eyes, dark and seductive, as she watched him watch her.

She was spectacular. The way she gave herself to him without shyness or reserve.

Never had he seen such. And he wanted more. He reached for her.

Maggie grabbed his hand andtsked at him. "Do I have to tie you up?"

He grinned evilly. "Would you?"

She laughed at him. "Do you want me to?"

"I must say I have never had that happen before. It might be interesting."

She arched a brow at him. "You would trust me to do that?"

"Only if you promise to untie me when you finish."

A wicked glint came into her eyes. Before he could reconsider, she pulled the laces from their shirts and set about tying his wrists to the bedposts.

Braden couldn't believe he had agreed to this, and yet there was something so strangely erotic about it.

He was completely vulnerable to her now. Something he had never been to anyone else in his entire life.

Maggie stared down at Braden lying against the white linen sheets. His dark skin contrasted sharply with the linen. The muscles on his arms flexed ever so slightly as she adjusted herself to sit by his side.

"Are you just going to look at me?" he asked.

"For the moment, aye." Because he looked scrumptious lying there, naked and warm, writhing on the sheets as his long, dark hair spilled across the pillows.

There were so many places on his body she longed to explore. The muscled curve of his neck. The ripples over his stomach that flexed as he breathed.

But first she decided to start with his thighs.

Aye, those strong, dark legs seemed to be the most delectable part of him. Well, them and his b.u.t.tocks.

Maggie smiled. She would taste him all before the night was over.

Moving to his feet, she placed herself between his spread legs and skimmed her hand up his calves and over his thighs.

Braden ground his teeth as her nails gently sc.r.a.ped his flesh. He stared down at her as she dipped her head and started biting the flesh of his inner thigh.

There was no pain, only a pleasure unimaginable. Never had he felt anything more exciting than her tongue gently dancing across his flesh as her hands explored him.

Laughing, she looked up at him. "Hmmm," she said thoughtfully, "where should I go next?"

She traced small circles with one fingertip over his thigh.

"Where would you like to go next?" he asked.

She bit her lip as if debating. Scooting to his side, she traced her finger over the contours of his ear.

"Would you like that?"

"Aye," he breathed as fire coursed through his veins.

She leaned forward and gently stroked his ear with her tongue.

Braden hissed as his entire body jerked involuntarily. His body instantly sprang back to life, even harder than it had been before.

She trailed her mouth from his ear down his jaw, then buried her lips in his neck. Braden struggled against the laces holding him.

"I want to touch you," he said, his voice ragged with need.

"Where?" she asked.

"Everywhere."

She laughed again. "Sorry, love, you'll just have to wait."

She straddled him then. Braden arched his body as she skimmed herself from the center of his chest all the way down to his waist.

"You're killing me!" he growled, wanting to touch her so badly that he could barely stand it.

Maggie smiled wickedly at his agonized tone as she felt his stomach muscles contract beneath her thighs.

The hunger in his eyes burned her.

He lifted his hips then and threw her forward onto his chest. "Kiss me, blossom," he demanded.

She did. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she lifted his lips to meet hers and she kissed him with all the strength she had.

Oh, but he tasted wonderful. And as their kiss deepened, she felt him harden even more against her bare thigh.

"You are a hungry one," she said as she pulled back from his lips to look down at his shaft standing out from his body.

"You have no idea," he said, his voice breathless.

Deciding she had tormented him enough, she turned and placed her hand against his rigid shaft. He shook all over.

"Like that, do you?" she asked.

"Aye."

She skimmed her fingers over his swollen manhood, gently toying with him while she used her other hand to brush the small trail of hairs that led from his navel to his groin. He hissed and growled as he writhed even more.

Maggie delighted in her power.

Braden couldn't think as he watched her staring at him. The look of love and desire on her face scorched him straight to his wicked soul. And just when he was sure he could stand no more, she finally took mercy on him.

Her eyes smoldering, she rose up above him, then impaled herself on his shaft.

He threw his head back and growled at the tight feel of her body enveloping him again. Lifting himself up, he drove himself deep inside her.

Never had he felt anything like her as she rode him hard. The feel of her body sliding against his as she moaned feverishly above him.

Unable to stand it, he fought against the ties that held his hands from her. He needed to feel her. Had to feel her.

Maggie must have decided she'd had enough as well, for she delivered one deeply satisfying stroke to him, then untied his wrists.

With a triumphant roar, Braden sat up.

"Now you're mine," he said playfully.

"I have always been yours," she whispered.

Before he could think on her words, he pressed her back against the mattress, separated her thighs with his knees and drove himself back into paradise.

She raked her nails over his back as he thrust against her. In and out, faster and faster, until he thought he would go mad.

She clasped him tight with her legs and arms, then threw her head back and screamed out his name as her release took her.

Braden laughed as he continued to fill her.

"That's it, Maggie," he breathed in her ear. "Hold me." Because, in truth, he never wanted her to let go of him.

She held him tight and when his own release came, it shook him all over.

Never had he met her equal. Braden lay there, still inside her, just listening to her breathe in his ear. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were flat against his chest, and for the first time in his life he didn't want to leave her. If he could, he would crawl inside her skin and stay there forever.

The peace inside him was indescribable. His body was fully sated and yet he still wanted more.

It was the strangest, most frightening thing he had ever encountered.

What was it about her? She was magical.

Rolling over, he pulled her to him. She curled against his right side with her head on his shoulder and one arm draped over him.

For hours they lay there, neither speaking, just feeling each other, grateful for the time in each other's embrace and terrified of what the morrow might bring.

In the wee hours of the morning, Maggie fell asleep.

Braden stayed awake, listening to her breathing as he held her close. It was such a miraculous sound.

"Maggie," he whispered against her hair, knowing he would have to leave her when this day was over.

Why? his mind demanded.