Max could not believe this was happening. Sophie here in his arms, touching her like this, had to be a hallucination, a vivid dream brought on by too much beer and the heat of the afternoon. Except it was better than a dream. Her skin was soft and warm under the pads of his fingers. The tiny mews she made as he sucked on her neck or dragged a thumb across her dark nipple. The burning at the base of his spine and the agony of where the seam of his shorts cut of circulation.

He thanked his lucky stars Campbell had tossed the condom into his duffle bag back in the barracks. "Always be prepared," his buddy had taunted. Max hadn't laughed at the joke. In the bars where women bee-lined for men in uniform, Max was not their first choice, rather the sidekick who bought them beer while they waited their turn to get their hooks into bigger fish. Only after months of working side by side and what he hoped was teasing and flirting had Bug kissed him in a darkened corner of the poolroom in the bar in Naples. Their night off from the base taking an unexpected turn.

Sophie shuddered against his lips, and he kissed her. This woman didn't play games.

To be truthful, everything was happening a little too fast for him, like they were on a mission, and she wanted to be first on the scene to nab the target. But how could he resist? They'd been inseparable most of the day, him sipping cold beer in an attempt to cool the furnace raging in his chest every time she brushed a body part against him. Her knee, thigh, elbow, finger, shoulder. Each tap, poke, slap, squeeze a signal he had hoped he read as attraction. He'd been right.

He cupped her breast again. "Your like sunshine in my hand."

"What?" Her lips scooted away from his. "Sunshine?"

Embarrassment swirled in his stomach, and he flopped onto his back. Of course, he'd screw this up. Whenever he opened his mouth, the wrong thing came out.

A hand landed on his chest, and her teeth tugged on his earlobe. "How am I like sunshine?"

Her purr vibrated in his head and made him twitch. Again. Deft fingers traced the lines of his abs, moving down and dipping underneath the waistband of his shorts. If she got anywhere near his cock, this evening would be over in seconds. Maybe nano seconds. He snatched her wrist and rolled them over, pinning her hand above her head. Her chest shook underneath him and her mouth split into a smile. She seemed to like this. Him in control.

He was better at following orders rather than giving them. But he could try. For her. "You're radiant." He nudged her chin, and she acquiesced, turning her face away from him. He pecked at the spot he'd found earlier and his reward was a tremor he hoped of delight. "You light up any room you walk into." He claimed her mouth before she had a chance to protest. She tasted like a summer's day. Fresh fruit and clean water, the river he swam in as a child. He could spend all night simply kissing her.

Not Sophie. There was no doubt she had more than tasting each other's lips on her agenda and he'd be the man to give her anything. At least tonight. With effort, he released her mouth and swept kisses along her neck. Down across the smooth skin of her chest until he found her breast. With his tongue in place of where his finger had swirled, he licked her alert nipple. "And you're incredibly hot."

Her moan made up for the lost kisses. This time, he was doing something right. Was it the words or the actions on her delicious skin? To test the theory, he switched breasts and grazed his teeth across her hard nub.

"Oh, Max."

His name from her mouth made his manhood pulse. Relief was needed, and he reached down, undid the zipper of his shorts, and released his aching erection. Freed, the respite was brief as Sophie squirmed beneath him, her hands pushing at the remnants of her dress. He assisted, slipping the material over her hips, the strap of her thong coming away with the outfit.

Nails scraping against his stomach, Sophie demanded, "Take off your shirt."

An order he could comply with, even though it meant creating a gap between them. With a hand over his shoulder, he clutched the cotton and tugged it over his head, the T-shirt easily coming off. In the moonlight, Max soaked up the sight of a naked Sophie while she traced a finger across his chest. His throat dried up like a raisin. She was like a painting he'd seen in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, long lines and slight curves he tried to commit to memory.

Cold air hit his backside, and he realized she was attempting to remove his shorts. He stood up and finished the job, shoving the unwanted material across the hardwood floor. Naked and exposed, he shifted on his feet.

She leaned on her elbows. "Wow." Unable to look at her, he concentrated on the diamond pattern woven into the bedspread. Her fingers tapped on his. "Come here."

Without hesitation, he rejoined her on the bed, his mouth latching on to one of the breasts he'd only just admired. The tender nipple peaked at his kiss and Max would have smiled with delight had he not had other priorities. His hand smoothed across her abdomen, relishing the way her muscles jerked under his touch. She moaned again, a mixture of mmmm that might have been the word more.

Unable to get enough, he explored south until his fingers slipped into the warm wetness between her legs and found the swollen button hidden there with ease. His breath caught at as her hips bucked on his second swirl around the nub. This reaction to him was electrifying. Made him feel like the hero of this scenario. Impossible to resist, he took her mouth again, swallowing her shallow pants, savoring more of what his touch did to her.

Bug had been commanding in bed, instructing him on how to make their time together last. He'd taken the orders like every other aspect of life in the Navy. He hadn't been with anyone since... no; he wasn't thinking about that now. Those dark times wouldn't shadow the here and now with Sophie. Stay in the moment, he ordered himself. Stay in the light. Concentrate on how to please Sophie.

The very alive Sophie in his arms.

Vibrating because of his touch.

Receptive to his suggestions.

Slowing down the action, he took his time and enjoyed kissing a trail along her delicate skin until he arrived back at her mouth. Lips and fingers swirling with the sole intent of bringing Sophie joy. Her nails dug into his bicep when he slipped a finger between her folds and her "yes" was all the encouragement needed. 

With long, slow pumps that matched the tempo of his tongue against hers, his blood surged at her reaction to him. Sophie clawing at the back of his neck, drawing him closer. The warmth of her chest gliding across his as she rocked against him. Her tongue matching his rhythm. Both in sync.

A tingle burned at the base of his spine as he sensed her body began to coil. He focused on the feel of her, the tightening of her around the two fingers he had inside her. The high of her high better than jumping out of a plane. Her back arched, pressing herself into his hand as she shuttered and cried into his mouth. He rode out her orgasm, lips against lips, until her breathing returned to normal.

She didn't let go of his arm, like they were attached now by some unbreakable bond. He hoped her fingers branded his bicep. A tattoo to mark this achievement. He wanted to mark her too, his teeth nipping at her neck again.

"You said you didn't have any talents." Sophie's voice cut through the darkness.

"Can't exactly put that on my resume."

"You should." She rolled closer to him. "You really should."

Her leg caressed his, sending a jolt of desire to his cock. He bit down on his lip, struggling for control, trying not to explode at her touch. Afraid to speak, to move, he concentrated on breathing, running the proper procedure to handcuff a detainee in his mind to cool down. He had to make this last.

"Do you want me to..." Her hand found his thigh, and he jumped.

He hated admitting his weakness. "I... I won't last."

This time, her lips found his. At first, a tiny peck. The practiced drills of police procedures drowned in the taste of her, and he was alive again. Aching to be with her. When she snaked over him to get the condom, he dug his nails into his thigh not to let go. He was so close, threading the line between pain and ecstasy. The sound of the foil ripping caused his legs to flex.

"May I?"

Max hissed a yes and breathed through his mouth as her fingers wrapped around him. Either she was as impatient as him or she could tell he was on the verge, because she was nimble and quick. She crawled up his frame and licked his neck. "I can't wait either."

Her words released the mental guards he put up and instinct took over. Twisting in the sheets, he covered her body with his and positioned himself at her entrance. They locked eyes as he pressed forward, her gasp echoing his. Together, they found a languid, easy rhythm, like the dance they'd shared at the wedding.

Back and forth.

Pressure built below his breastbone and the base of his spine burned until his eruption was impossible to delay.

"Sophie," spilled from his lips, part grunt, part benediction. Her walls contracted around his taut member, her palms kneading his bottom. Heat surged through him, and he gave into oblivion, into her, soaring to new heights.

He caught himself falling and shifted to the side, trying not to crush her. His leg landed between hers, his arm wrapped around her waist, his head on the pillow beside her. Doubt edged its way through the euphoria of the moment while he watched her chest rapidly rise and fall. He should have lasted longer. Sophie probably had other men who could truly satisfy her. The drag of sleep pulled him under. Not before he vowed to do better, make her orgasm more tonight while he had the chance.

When he woke up, the grey light or pre-dawn filtered under the heavy curtains, and her side of the bed was empty.

Hey all. D L here. Do you think this scene was too early? Should I have waited until Max and Sophie got to know each other better? 

Were you surprised Sophie slipped out in the middle of the night or did you expect her to stay?

On a different note. If, like me, you are experiencing a wild and crazy weather day today, I hope you are safe and sound. Hopefully its giving you a chance to stay indoors and read some great stories.