but her kiss was filled with sweet heat that further fed the spark inside him.
He deepened the kiss with his tongue and she responded, opening her mouth to him as her arms reached up to clasp him around the neck.
Moving his body closer to hers, he was enveloped by the evocative scent of her perfume and could feel her body heat radiating outward as if to warm him.
His mouth left hers and traveled the path his fingers had trailed earlierâ¦down her jawline, then lingering in the vulnerable flesh just beneath her ear where a pulse beat rapidly. Her arms tightened in response to his nipping, teasing kisses.
His fingers toyed with the ribbon between her breasts, but he carefully kept away from a more intimate touch, knowing it was too soon. Instead he claimed her mouth once again, enjoying the way shetasted and the way her tongue thrust and parried with his own.
All too quickly, mere kissing wasnât enough. Chance wanted, needed to touch her, feel her warm skin against his, cup her bare breasts in his hands.
He stroked his hands down the length of her sides. He could tell she was ready for him to take them into the next dimension. Her breathing had grown more rapid and occasionally a tiny moan issued from her lips.
âLana,â he whispered softly. âI want to take your gown off.â
In the pale illumination of the room, she gazed at him, and he saw her desire in the dark depths of her eyes. âShut off the light,â she replied breathlessly.
He hesitated. He didnât want the light off. He wanted to see the beautiful skin he was eager to caress. He wanted to see her breasts, the flat of her stomach, the curve of her hips and the length of her legs.
âPlease, Chance,â she said as if recognizing his hesitation. âWe can keep the light on next time.â
He acquiesced to her wishes with the promise of another time ringing in his ears. Turning out the light, he heard the whisper of silk leaving flesh and when he reached for her again, she was warm and naked in his arms.
Any further conscious thought was impossible as his hands stroked her heated flesh and she returned his touch, caress for caress. Their mouths found each otherâs as they explored one anotherâs bodies, findingthe magical, secret places that evoked sighs or sweet shudders of pleasure.
All too quickly, Chance was ready to possess her completely. She arched beneath him and a deep, throaty moan escaped her as he moved between her thighs.
He moved partially into her and encountered resistance. He pressed deeper, harder, and instantly her fingernails bit into the flesh of his back. He froze, recognizing suddenly what the resistance had been.
âLana.â Her name was both a protest and a plea. He started to pull away, shock riveting through him as he realized what heâd done, realized sheâd been a virgin.
âNo, Chance. Itâs all right. Donât stop now. Please donât stop.â The fingers that had bitten into him now pulled him closer.
Heaven help him, he didnât want to stop. She surrounded him, warm and tight and achingly pleasurable. Still, he remained inert, afraid of hurting her any more than he just had.
âPlease donât stop,â she repeated, the words a warm breath in his neck and followed by the press of her lips against his skin.
He moved tentatively, gently against her, awed by the gift sheâd just given him and at the same time angry that she hadnât told him beforehand.
Had he known sheâd never been with a man before, he would have never agreed to this whole scheme. Now it was too late. In a single moment heâd transformed her, changed her forever, and she would neveragain be the same woman sheâd been before climbing into his bed.
Had he known she had never made love before, he would have taken more time, enjoyed introducing her to sensations that would be new and exciting.
But it was too late now. Buried deep within her, he