Forever Spring by Joan Hohl Read Free Book Online Page B

way.
    “My wife is dead, Karen,” he said, rising to stand in front of her. “She’s been dead for almost seven months.”
    “I’m sorry.” Her lashes swept down to conceal her eyes, but not quite fast enough to hide the flash of relief that they revealed.
    Reaching out, he caught her hand with his. “You needn’t be,” he murmured, feeling heat shoot up his arm as he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. “She had been on a course of self-destruction for years.”
    Karen started, and her lashes swept up again. “You mean she committed suicide?” she breathed.
    “No.” Paul shook his head sharply. “At least not consciously. It’s a long, unsavory story, and...” His voice faded. He couldn’t simply say “.. .and I’d rather make love to you than talk about her now.”
    “I’m sorry,” she repeated.
    “Don’t be.” Paul was hurting again and enjoying every nuance of physical pain. Lifting her hand, he brought it to his lips. His tongue tested the tips of her fingers and found them delicious. “She was driven by demons no one understood. She’s at peace now.” As he finished speaking, he drew one finger into his mouth to suck gently on the tip. Satisfaction shimmered through him when Karen gasped, then shivered.
    “Paul.” Her voice was low, quivery. “What are you doing?”
    “Tasting you.” A slow smile curved his lips. “You taste like lemon-fresh dish detergent.”
    “I... I had to wash the broiler. It doesn’t fit in the dishwasher.”
    Paul’s smile deepened. Karen’s tone was revealing in its uncertainty. “I find I’m developing a taste for the tartness of lemons,” he said, deserting the finger and drawing her hand to his shoulder. “But I still prefer the sweetness of your mouth.” His objective stated, Paul slowly lowered his head, allowing her time to retreat if she wanted to. She didn’t.
    Desire surged through Paul’s body as Karen lifted her head, silently offering her mouth to him. He groaned and covered her mouth with his parted lips.
    This time his kiss was different; the difference destroyed the last of Karen’s resistance. Though his lips were as hard as before, his mouth was gentle on hers, coaxing a response from her. Murmuring words she couldn’t hear but understood nonetheless, he played
    a sensual game with her lips, nipping at them and sucking on them in turn, then lightly skimming his tongue over her sensitized skin.
    When Paul finally slid his tongue into her mouth, Karen had been reduced to a whimpering, shivering mass of receptive readiness. Her muffled moan of pleasure electrified him. Gentleness gave way to spi-raling hunger. The kiss became an almost violent clash of greedy mouths, each seemingly intent on devouring the other.
    Circling her hips with one arm, Paul pulled her into intimate contact with his body. His right hand captured one breast, fingers teasing the crest into tight, aching arousal. Karen shuddered in reaction to the pleasure splintering throughout her body. Her mind whirled. Her senses exploded. Her empty body throbbed a demand for fulfillment. A low moan of protest burst from her throat when he deserted her mouth to seek her ear with his lips.
    “Come to bed with me.” Paul’s voice was harsh with strain, his breath hot, his body rigid.
    It was sheer madness, and Karen eagerly divorced sanity. Arching her body into his, she closed her eyes and let her head fall back, exposing the vulnerable cords in her neck to his voracious mouth.
    “Karen. Karen.” Paul wrenched a moan from her as he drew the moist tip of his tongue down her throat to her fluttering pulse. “Come to bed with me.” The touch of his tongue whipped her pulse beat into thunder. The noise created by nature outside paled by comparison.
    Consumed by an intensity of passion she had never before experienced, Karen was oblivious to any and all outside influences. The force of the worsening storm battering the house went unheard by her, as did the spit and