Only in Her Dreams by Christina McKnight Page A

reach her.
    And oh, she wanted him to reach her.
    Her body hummed with anticipation, her breasts raised, her back arched slightly. She’d forgotten what it felt like to desire a man.
    How could she lust after a man she just met? But hadn’t she known him for so long, even longer than Greg?
    She yearned for Maxim’s touch. To have his fingers caressing her back, up to her shoulders and then running through her hair. To wait another second for him to travel the last five feet would be agony. With ease, as if she floated, she stood to meet him halfway, her arms outstretched, welcoming him home.
    Silently, he reached for her as well. He grasped her outstretched fingers and pulled her into his arms, hugging her so tightly she struggled for breath. He led her back to the plush blanket and lowered himself to a kneeling position. Her small fingers were still entwined between his much larger ones. He spun her around to face the water, her back to him and gently pulled her down to the softness of the cotton spread.
    She shifted on the blanket while his hands caressed her arms, moving up to push her hair out of the way, and expose her neck. Electricity ran through her body; everywhere he touched her it lit up like never before.
    Unwanted images popped into her head. Her late husband laying her down on their wedding night, his hands clumsily struggling to unbutton her blouse, his confused expression as he tried to unclasp her bra. The awkwardness of her first sexual encounter was burned into her mind, the hurt, the disappointment. But their love had been true and strong, developing over time. This feeling and experience was different.
    Maxim was all man--full of strength, integrity and compassion.
    His lips gently lowered to her neck, trailing light kisses over her shoulder and down her clavicle. She gasped at the pure delight of his kisses, further arching her back and thrusting her breasts skyward. His hand dipped into her shirt, cupping her breast and propelled her toward the release she sought.
     
    # # #
     
    Maxim awoke with a start, the image of Lucessa’s pleasure ridden body front and center in his mind. He’d seduced her in her sleep, shamefully taking advantage of her when she was helpless to resist.
    Pushing the covers back, he crawled out of the warm bed, almost tripping over Goosey. He paced the room. How could he explain his actions, his dastardly and ungentlemanly conduct? Thankfully, he’d been able to pull himself out of her dream before too much damage was done, but the guilt would continue to plague him.
    The sun rose outside the guest bedroom window as Maxim continued to pace the room. There would be no more sleep for him. Lucessa’s shower started across the hall and he escaped downstairs to the kitchen. The bottom level of the house was filled with early morning sunlight, and the aroma of coffee assaulted his nose.
    He hadn’t heard her go downstairs, the maker must be on an automatic setting, programmed to brew a fresh pot in time for her to leave for work.
    He searched through cabinets looking for tea bags and a kettle.
    “Can I help you find something?” She asked from behind him.
    He turned and came face to face with Lucessa, wrapped tight in her robe, her hair up in a towel after her amazingly quick shower.
    “Ummm, yes,” Maxim cleared his throat after his voice came out in a high pitch. “I was looking for a kettle and tea bags.”
    Her brow rose. “Coffee’s brewing now. I’m sure you’d much rather have that. Julie and Bret import the beans from a plantation in the Himalayan country of Nepal.”
    “If you insist. I haven’t had a cup of coffee in a long time. My kind tends to favor different teas to coffee.”
    Lucessa retrieved two coffee mugs from the cupboard above her head, her robe shifted above mid-thigh at the extension of her arms. He glimpsed a shapely leg underneath.
    “I promise to find the tea for you if you don’t enjoy the coffee.” She set the mugs on the counter and