And his blood swam with it; his heart jolted until he was as lost and open as she.
He murmured her name as he slipped into her, moaned it as she wrapped around him in welcome.
With long, deep thrusts, he moved in her while their mouths met in a soft and stirring kiss. In a slow, sleek rhythm, she moved under him while their hands met to complete yet another link.
They swallowed each other’s sighs, gripped each other’s hands as they let themselves shatter.
And he was there when she awoke, holding her, as he’d held her while they slept.
* * *
“It’s definitely number one of the modern-day Top Ten Most Romantic Evenings.” Jody expertly changed Charlie’s diaper, cooing at him between commentary. “It knocks that Valentine’s Day carriage ride around the park and dozen white roses with diamond-chip earrings attached that my cousin Sharon experienced down to a poor second place. She’s going to be peeved.”
“No one’s ever paid that much attention,” Cybil murmured, hugging one of the teddy bears in Charlie’s vast collection. “Not just the you-know.”
“But the you-know.” Jody cocked her eyebrows as she fastened Charlie’s fresh diaper. “That was excellent, right?”
“It was spectacular. You know that scene in Through the Mist, where Dorian and Alessa find each other after being cruelly separated by her evil, ambitious uncle?”
“Oh.” Jody rolled her eyes, lifting Charlie up to bounce him. “Do I ever. I was up till two reading that book, then I woke up Chuck.” She smiled reminiscently. “We were both a little tired the next day but very, very loose. Anyway”—she shook herself before carrying Charlie into the living room so he could practice his crawling—“it was that good?”
“It was better.”
“No way.”
“It was like having him take my heart out and hold it, then give it back to me.”
“Oh, man.” Weak-kneed, Jody slipped into a chair. “That’s beautiful, Cyb. Just beautiful. You ought to write a romance novel yourself.”
“But it wasn’t just that. It was all of it. Everything.” Still giddy, she threw her arms out and twirled in a circle, making Charlie rock back on his butt and clap in delight.
“I’m so in love with him, Jody. I didn’t think you could be this much in love and not have it all just come steaming out of you. There shouldn’t be room inside for it all.”
“Oh.” Jody’s sigh was long and loud. “When are you going to tell him?”
“I can’t.” With a sigh of her own, Cybil picked up Charlie’s red plastic hammer and tapped the oversize head on her palm. “I’m not brave enough to tell him something he doesn’t want to hear.”
“Cyb, the guy’s crazy about you.”
“He’s got feelings for me, and maybe, maybe if I can wait, if he realizes I’m not going to let him down, he’ll let himself feel more.”
“Let him down?” The very idea ruffled Jody’s feathers. “You never let anyone down. But maybe this time you’re letting Cybil down.”
“He’s got reasons to be careful,” she said, then shook her head before Jody could speak. “I can’t tell you about it. They’re his own.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks. I’ve got to go. I have a million errands to run. Need anything?”
“Actually, I do. If you’re going out anyway.”
“I’ll just add it to the list. I’ve got a few things to pick up for Mrs. Wolinsky, and I told Mr. Peebles I’d see if the green grapes looked good at the market. Just let me find my shopping list.”
“I’m only asking because you’re going out anyway and because it’s you.” Jody bit her lip, then grinned. “Don’t tell anybody what you’re getting for me, okay?”
“I won’t.” Absently, Cybil dug through her purse. “I know that list is in here somewhere.”
* * *
It took longer than she’d expected—but Cybil found shopping usually did. Then, by the time she’d delivered the goods to Mrs. Wolinsky, the grapes—which had looked appetizing enough for her to buy a pound of her own—to Mr. Peebles and knocked on Jody’s door, it was after five o’clock.
She hissed in frustration when Jody didn’t answer. It appeared her friend could stand the suspense, though Cybil herself wanted instant gratification. But either Jody had taken Charlie out for