A ma.s.sive limestone fireplace that soared to the ceiling dominated the center of the house. Tara could almost see the flames crackling in it.

"Great for blazing fires at night," Cole said, coming up behind her and gathering her in his arms. "We seem to do very well in front of fireplaces, don't we?"

Tara blushed at the obvious reference to the night of their reconciliation.

"I like a bride who can still blush," he teased. "I can't wait to see you in the firelight again."

Tara felt her heartbeat accelerate at the antic.i.p.ation of the evening to come and the rest of the nights in this hideaway at the end of the world. She felt almost giddy with expectation and turned and hugged Cole tightly, pressing her face to his chest.

"Thank you for this," she said. "Thank you so very much." She moved away from him, walking to the front to look at the view again. "This whole place is so beautiful. It's like G.o.d's country."

Cole stood beside her, one arm draped over her shoulders. "I know. I get the same feeling when I'm at the ranch with Jake and Lindsey. It's like being in another world. No wonder Jake sold his house in the city when they got married and chose to live in Cibolo. I don't blame him.

It's paradise."

They made no plans but just let each day happen, choosing activities as the moment struck them. Sometimes, they hiked the property, which covered a hundred acres. Other times, they roamed the countryside, stopping at out of the way places for lunch or dinner. In the evenings, they hunkered down in cozy comfort with one of the movies from the owner's collection, munching on hot, b.u.t.tery popcorn and cuddling on the couch as if they were teenagers.

And of course, they made love whenever the mood struck them. They were ravenous for each other, feasting in greedy hunger, driven by their newly acknowledged love. She was always ready for him, hot and wet and waiting. He took her everywhere- in bed, on the couch, on the floor, standing up in the shower. He used every bit of expertise he had to give her total satisfaction, driving them both to exquisite peaks of desire.

One afternoon, lying in front of the fire on thick cushions after having had exhausting s.e.x, he nibbled on her ear and whispered, "I want to try something different."

"Oh?" She was so sated and relaxed she was sure she'd agree to anything. "Different how?"

He bent over her, his tongue tracing circles around her nipples, down between the valley of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and lower to her throbbing c.l.i.t. "Just...different. I think we've made love every way possible but one, and I want this with you more than you know."

His fingers sought her c.l.i.t, ma.s.saging it as his mouth sucked each of her nipples. He slipped two fingers inside her, pulling them out slowly and showing them to her, covered with slick liquid. He licked his fingers slowly, drawing his tongue carefully from tip to knuckle. Then he lifted her and flipped her to her stomach, lowering himself to the cushions between her thighs.

Before she could ask what he had in mind, he began lapping at her slit, thrusting his tongue inside her c.u.n.t and drawing it out slowly.

Tara griped the cushion beneath her head with her fists as sensations spiraled through her.

She was sure she didn't have another o.r.g.a.s.m left in her, but as always, Cole proved her wrong.

One of his large, warm hands moved to caress her b.u.t.tocks then trail down the cleft to the tight ring of her a.n.u.s.

She jerked, startled by the thought of his invasion there. Cole simply moved his head and showered kisses on the globes of her a.s.s, all the while letting his finger play in that area between them.

"Don't move," he said, thrusting his fingers inside her p.u.s.s.y then spreading her juices on the puckered entrance to her r.e.c.t.u.m, r.i.m.m.i.n.g it with the tip of one finger.

"Cole?" The word escaped on a long breath.

"Shh. It's all right. Just relax and let me pleasure you."

Did he intend to f.u.c.k her there? She had no idea how she would accommodate his enormous c.o.c.k.

"But-"

"Shh," he repeated. "It will be all right."

As he worked her c.l.i.t, her p.u.s.s.y and the cleft of her b.u.t.tocks, she fell into a whirlpool of carnal l.u.s.t that blocked out everything else. Soon her mind was focused on nothing but the heat spiraling up from her c.u.n.t. Whatever Cole wanted, her body apparently was ready to give him.

He pulled her to her knees, spreading her legs wide and placed another pillow beneath her to brace her body.

"Take a deep breath, darlin'." His voice was low and thick.

She did as he asked, drawing in every bit of air she could. At once, she felt the tip of his c.o.c.k against her a.n.u.s, pressing, pressing, pressing.

"Let it out slowly," he told her.

As she did, he moved past the tight ring of muscle and partially into her r.e.c.t.u.m.

"Oh!" she cried out.

He stilled. "Are you okay?"

Yes. No. Ice and heat rocketed through her veins.

"Yes," she said at last in a shaky voice.

"All right, then. Another deep breath, then let it out slowly."

And so it went. Every time she let out a breath, he invaded her even farther, until he was fully seated in that hot, dark tunnel. Flaming sparks fired everywhere inside her and shivers raced over her skin. She had never been drawn to a.n.a.l s.e.x, maybe because she had never trusted any man enough to give him the opportunity. But with Cole, she was willing to try anything.

An incredible wave of l.u.s.t roared through her, igniting her pulses, hardening her nipples and making her c.l.i.t throb in a demanding beat. She wanted this! It excited her in a way she'd never felt before. The dark eroticism of it thrilled her and gripped her in its clutch.

Cole reached around to find her c.l.i.t, rubbing it until she couldn't stand the stimulation any more. Until her body demanded more than this. Until she wanted him to f.u.c.k here there.

Now!

She pushed back against him, silently urging him to motion. Wrapping one arm around her waist to keep her in position, Cole pulled back then thrust into her in one swift movement.

Then again. In. Out. In. Out. On and on. She was lost in an erotic fog, everything focused on his c.o.c.k in her a.s.s and the incredible pleasure the friction caused her.

He rode her until the first tremors of her climax began then increased the speed of his movements so they crested and fell together. Tara felt herself whirling in s.p.a.ce, her entire body convulsing over and over again, rockets exploding behind her closed eyelids, She clenched over and over again, caught on a plane of desire she'd never known existed. Cole's warm s.e.m.e.n filled her r.e.c.t.u.m, setting off another series of tremors.

At last, when she was sure she could no longer stand it, the last aftershock shimmered over her, and she fell forward, Cole's body a heavy weight on top of her. Silently, he withdrew and stood up. She heard his footsteps leaving the room then returning. In a moment, she felt him cleaning her with a warm cloth. When he was finished, he turned her over to face him, wrapping his arms around her.

"Was it too much for you?" he asked.

She shook her head, unable to speak.

He frowned, concern in his eyes. "Tara, are you all right? Was I too hard on you?"

Finally, she found her voice. "It was the most amazing experience of my life. I've never felt anything like it." She buried her head against his chest. "It was...explosive."

"I worried," he told her, his hand wandering idly up and down her back. "I would never make you do something you didn't want. You know that, right?"

"Cole." She looked up at him. "It was the most intimate moment we've shared. I felt part of you. And yes, I want to do it again and again. And-"

He interrupted her with a deep chuckle. "How did I ever spend one day without you?"

"I don't intend for you to spend any more that way," Tara a.s.sured him, feeling his heart beat beneath her cheek as she cuddled against his chest.

Three days seemed to fly past them as if they were only seconds. On their last night, after sharing a bottle of wine, brie and crackers, they stretched out in front of the fireplace one final time.

"I want this to work out for us, Tara." Cole's voice was serious. "I've wanted you for so long. You can't know how much I love you. I promised you I'd try with the little girl and I will, but what if I can't make it work?"

"Cole, if two people love each other, they can find ways to work through things. And I believe we love each other enough to do that. You've let me into your life. We've shared our secrets and realize the love we have is strong enough to withstand anything. You'll never lose me.

The rest we'll just figure out as we go along." She lifted her face to him. "I'm in for the long haul, cowboy. You won't be getting rid of me any time soon."

"Thank G.o.d." He smiled at her lazily. "Let me show you how thankful I am."

He kissed her then. He tasted of wine and the fire and the woods, a strong male essence she wanted to swallow and keep inside of herself forever. She rubbed her hand over the coa.r.s.e stubble on his chin, loving the rough, uneven feel of it against her palm. She unb.u.t.toned his shirt, wanting to feel every inch of him. She buried her fingertips in the crisp mat of hair on his chest, teasing his nipples with the tips of her nails then putting her mouth on them to suckle as he did so often to her.

She felt coc.o.o.ned in a warm place in life, free at last from the guilt and misery that had imprisoned her for so long. Now, she had a future with a man who loved her beyond anything, who made her body sing with pleasure and who brought her sunlight and roses. Right now, she was intent on giving some of that pleasure back to him.

Then it was his turn to feast. He took a long time tasting and kissing her skin. He devoted himself to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, teasing her nipples, working at them, not touching any other part of her.

He felt her b.r.e.a.s.t.s tighten and cupped his palms around the taut mounds. She was so delicious his p.e.n.i.s responded with a will of its own and he had to fight for control.

Tara moved restlessly against him, and Cole slid one hand lower on her body, palming her mound, moving his fingers against her. He used his lips and tongue and fingers expertly, touching all the right places, drawing out each sensation.

She moaned against and he took it as a sign to him that she wanted more.

"Is that good, darlin'?" he asked, his voice raw with desire.

"Yes, yes." She could hardly speak.

He kissed her navel, swirling his tongue, pulling at it with his lips. And all the while, his fingers worked their magic between her legs. Little feathers of sensation chased up and down her spine and the pulse deep in her center began to thrum again. Her body didn't belong to her anymore. It was his, and he was totally possessing it.

He held her suspended, his tongue tracing patterns everywhere, his fingers tormenting her.

She wanted him inside her, needed his thrusting to help her reach her peak, but he deliberately held her back. When he slid his fingers, wet with her juices, into the cleft of her b.u.t.tocks, she gasped and a little spasm rippled through her.

"Right now," she panted. "Please, Cole. Now."

But he just continued to tantalize her with the tips of his fingers, circling and provoking.

She tried to urge him inside her, but he shook his head.

"Slow, darlin'. Very, very slow. We have all night."

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to relax. Her body was turning into one gigantic nerve, humming with antic.i.p.ation.

"Tell me," he ordered.

"Tell you what?" She couldn't think. Her mind was fogged.

"Tell me," he commanded, harsher this time, and she knew what he meant.

"I...love...you."

"Again. Say it again."

"I love you," she screamed. What was he doing to her? She could hardly form words, so intense was the desire coursing through her body. "I love you," she gasped.

"I love you, too, Tara. You are my life. You're mine. You belong to me. Say it." His mouth claimed hers in a demanding kiss.

"Yes, yes, yes, I belong to you," she panted against his lips. "Always, always. Please, please, please."

He held her teetering on the edge so long he knew every nerve in her body screamed for relief. She strained for the release that eluded her. Sweat made her skin shine in the muted light, and she fought to catch her breath. Her entire body trembled and shook with need yet he kept on and on.

He watched her through glittering eyes, captivated by her look of total abandonment, thrilled that the look was for him. Her head arched back, and she pushed against his hand as he used all his skill to draw her o.r.g.a.s.m out as long as he could. Her entire body shuddered and shook.

"Please, please," she begged again, wanting more, wanting him to fill her.

Then, when he knew she could stand no more, he gave her what she needed and entered her. She convulsed around him, and his climax came almost at once. They both shook from the intensity of it, consumed by the fierce joining of their bodies.

He collapsed on top of her, drained, every bit of breath sucked out of his body. When he could raise his head, he looked into her eyes and was captured by what he saw there. He had always been a man of great s.e.xual appet.i.tes, but for most of his life, what he experienced had been little more than a physical exercise. With Maggie, everything became a perversion. But with Tara, it was a blending of souls as well as bodies. A shared giving. Not even in his dreams had he thought he would find this kind of happiness. He swore he would do his best not to lose it.

"I hate to think of leaving tomorrow," Tara said. "This has been incredible."

"You like it here?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. No wonder Jake sold his house in town. This whole area is magic."

He leaned down and kissed her. "I agree. Let's enjoy every minute we have left here."

Tomorrow, he'd have another surprise for her, and he hoped she'd be as excited as he was.

Chapter Fourteen.

Tara looked through the car window with mixed regret and excitement as they pulled away from the cabin. She felt sure that these few days had really cemented the marriage and turned a bizarre bargain into a real relationship. Too bad, they couldn't have stayed longer, maybe have brought Molly out to be with them. She had a distinct feelings that, in someplace other than that house filled with bitter memories, Cole would be able to find his way back to the little girl.

Closing her eyes and giving herself over to the motion of the car, she jolted upright when she realized they had stopped. She had no idea where they were except they were parked off the road between huge oaks. Nothing looked familiar.

She looked at Cole, confused. "Where are we?"

"About two miles from Lindsey and Jake." He grinned at her. "I told Jake what I wanted and had him scout it out." He went around and opened the car door for her, then urged her forward until she realized they were standing at the top of a hill. "Ten acres, with a creek running through it and plenty of s.p.a.ce for a home, a yard, maybe even a couple of horses. You've got a horse farm to the right and a small cattle ranch to the left." He turned to her, anxiety written on his face. "What do you think?"