"Jessica, " he whispered, his voice filled with anguish, "you don't know what you're saying. . . . Tomorrow, you'll regret . . . " "I need you, Cole. Love me tonight." He couldn't be noble any longer.

He sought her mouth hungrily, desperate with his desire to make her completely his.

For long minutes he made love to her with his mouth as his hand cupped her breast through her clothing. She was tugging at the buttons on his shirt.

He buried his face in her hair. "Slow down, sweetheart, " he whispered.

"Or I'll . . . " He wanted the first time to be perfect for her, but her eagerness so excited him he was finding it impossible to follow his own instructions.

His hands shook as he roughly removed her clothes, and when he pulled the straps of her chemise down over her shoulders and saw her beautiful breasts, he let out a groan. The pain of wanting her for so long blended with the sheer ecstasy he felt as he slowly came down on top of her, her smooth skin against his.

Her gasp of pleasure drove him wild. Her caresses became as bold as his, and when her nails scored the back of his thighs, the feeling was so exquisite, he thought he would die from it.

He wanted to kiss every inch of her body, and he did exactly that, spurred on by her cries of pleasure. When his hand slipped between her thighs, she tried to push him away, but he wouldn't be denied and within seconds was richly rewarded when she begged him not to stop.

Her passionate response equaled his own. He kissed her navel, smiling when she inhaled sharply, then moved lower to taste all of her.

"Now, Cole, " she cried out.

She was more than ready to receive him, but he wanted to prolong the blissful agony until he had so overwhelmed her she wouldn't notice the pain of his invasion.

She was writhing in his arms as he knelt between her thighs. "Look at me, " he demanded, his voice shaky with raw passion.

"This is forever."

"Please . . . " "Say it, " he demanded, his eyes piercing hers as he waited.

"Forever, " she cried out.

His mouth claimed hers for another searing kiss as he moved to make her his completely. His invasion was gentle but swift, as he thrust forward, he buried his head in her fragrant hair and closed his eyes in surrender.

She was exactly as he had fantasized she would be. . . perfect. He heard her cry, knew he'd hurt her, and stilled inside her, giving her time to adjust to him. He whispered loving words, but he was so out of his mind with his own raging need he didn't know if he was making any sense at all.

How could anything hurt like this and feel so wonderful at the same time? Beyond control, she wanted to tell him to stop, but she didn't want him to leave her.

"It'll be all right in a minute, " he promised her.

He sounded out of breath. Then she realized she was panting. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and the slight movement caused a burst of pleasure to rush through her. She moved again, heard his groan, and realized then he liked it as much as she did.

He slowly withdrew and then just as slowly moved forward again.

"Will you stop teasing me? " she cried out.

His laugh was throaty. "I'm trying to be gentle."

"Stop it, " she begged. "I want . . . " He silenced her with another kiss and then began to move again inside of her. Her passion shook him. He had never been with a woman who was so honest and open with her desire, and the fact that she gave herself to him willingly and with love in her heart was surely the reason he completely let go of his control.

Determined to make their loving last as long as possible, he tried to slow the pace. She made it impossible, and when she arched up against him, the fire surged between them.

Their lovemaking was wild, free, beyond anything he had ever experienced before. He felt her tighten around him, heard her call his name, and as she found her own fulfillment, he thrust deep and gave in to his own.

His surrender was complete, body, heart, and soul. He collapsed on top of her but couldn't find enough strength to move.

She was quietly crying. He felt her hot tears on his shoulder and finally lifted his head to look at her.

"I hurt you, didn't I, sweetheart? " He was filled with self-loathing, condemned himself for being too rough, too savage in his own desire.

It was her first experience, and he should have been more careful, much more tender . . .

"Jessie, say something." His anxiety pulled her out of her daze. She opened her eyes and. looked into his, and the warmth she saw there made her tremble with a burst of love.

"Oh, no, you didn't . . . Well, you did, but it didn't . . . It was .

. . amazing." He grinned with arrogant satisfaction. God, he loved her face. Her eyes were still glazed with passion, her mouth was red and swollen from his kisses. She looked thoroughly sated and pleased with herself, and how could he not love such a woman?

"Yeah, it was pretty amazing." He reluctantly moved away from her.

"But . . . " She put her hand over his mouth. "Don't, " she whispered.

"No regrets."

"No regrets, " he agreed.

She rolled into his arms then and laid her head on his shoulder.

Nothing lasted forever.

She squeezed her eyes shut so she wouldn't cry. How she wanted to believe him. No, he did love her, she knew, until tomorrow or the day after or the year after, but eventually, inevitably, he would leave.

"I love you too, " she whispered. Until forever.

l r the had seduced him. Jessica stood by the water's edge and let the truth sink in. The acknowledgment was promptly followed by another truth just as shocking. She wasn't sorry. For the rest of her life she would have the memory of his touch and his loving words to cherish and hold dear. It would have to be enough.

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her shoulder.

He knew something was wrong the minute he touched her, for he felt her stiffen against him.

"Tell me what's wrong."

"It's morning. That's what's wrong."

"No, you're supposed to say, good morning, not, it's morning, " he explained as he turned her in his arms.

She avoided his mouth when he tried to kiss her.

"All right, Jessie. What's this all about? " "Last night . . . "

When she didn't continue, he tilted her face up toward him so he could gauge her mood. She was clearly upset, and he thought he knew why.