She shoved the door open and grabbed her bag, pressed the car remote and trotted to the door, aware she was a couple of minutes late. She’d timed it on purpose, so she’d have the room to settle herself. “All for nothing,” Davina muttered and hurried inside.

  Karly appeared harried. “Good, now you’re here, we can get started.”

  The woman shunted her into the room as the word we exploded in her brain.

  Micah waited on the floor for her, his smile welcoming with a touch of devilry about the corners, and her oxygen supply fled as surely as mist on a summery morning.

  Davina scurried to take her place beside Micah, as Karly assumed her favoured position, and she closed her eyes.

  “Today, I want you to take a moment to find your inner peace. The one you’ve been focusing on for the last two weeks.” Karly’s words were soft and calming. Relaxing.

  The room was still and quiet and Davina allowed herself to sink into the practice, just as she’d been doing at home.

  A rustle sounded, but she focused tighter, until the touch of a hand against hers shocked her. “Feel the touch of each other’s hands. Focus on the connection between you. Feel the arc of nature’s heartbeat.”

  The moisture in her mouth fled as the electric feel of skin to skin flared. Like a bright light behind her closed eyes and her breath caught.

  “Feel the softness, his palm to yours. The way we connect to each other, to the earth and the atmosphere. Let yourself sink into that awareness, so it becomes part of you. Become one with it.”

  Between her legs, an insistent and hungry throb grew. The need she’d experienced when she’d first met him, burning hotter and wilder within her body than before. Hot enough to engulf her in the sensual haze that was floating around them both.

  Davina fought it off, trying to listen to Karly’s instructions, but every action roused her further.

  By the end of the session, Davina was about to crawl up the walls. Keeping her eyes low, she hurried to collect her bag and shot out the door.

  “Davina?” The sound of his voice left her shaking as the passion inside her reached out, yearning for him.

  She stilled, then turned slowly.

  His gaze carried the same hunger. “Give me a lift home?” The husky timbre was too much for her to bear, but at a loss to know how to respond. She simply nodded.

  He followed her in silence, climbing into the vehicle after her.

  Reaching into her bag took a lot of effort. Her hands questing for, then finding the keys. She shoved them with shaking hands into the ignition point.

  “Davina—”

  “No.” She cut him off. “Just tell me where you live Micah, and I hope to God you aren’t married or in a relationship.”

  His laugh was shaky. “Neither.” He gave his address, and they drove in silence, the night closing around them, building on the facade that they were the only two humans needing each other right now.

  At his home, an ocean-side chateau, she slid out of the car, the beep of the locking sequence loud to her sensitized hearing.

  “Come inside.”

  She knew exactly what he was asking, but the erotic hunger was impossible to ignore. Her nipples engorged and pushing against the white satin bra she’d donned just in case this should occur, and the rasp of her G-string a reminder that the horniness was skyrocketing.

  “Yes.”

  He shoved the door open, then tugged her into his arms. “You know what this means?”

  She nodded, watching the movement of his lips, needing them now against hers. The throb of her body insistent.

  Her fingers released the keys at the door, and she reached, hands clutching at his shirt. “Take it off. Let me see you.”

  Micah wanted to tear the clothes off Davina. She’d driven him wild with every touch and exhalation she’d made during the lesson.

  Take it slow. The reminder was difficult to follow, but he refused to scare her away. Instead, he cupped the back of her head, dipped down so their lips were mere millimetres apart. Electricity sparked between them, and he held himself away for as long as possible before closing the distance and sipping at her.

  Her hands clutched at his shirt, tugging insistently, and he reached down, cuffing her wrists with gentle hands.

  “We’ve got time and I want to enjoy this with you.”

  She whimpered as he pulled her further into the dark recesses of his house. “I want you, Davina. I want to touch you. To pleasure you. I want my lips on every inch of your skin until you writhe beneath me. Tell me you want that too?”

  Micah lurched just far enough away to catch the wild glint in her eyes. “Yes.” Her answer was low, infused with the passion that jumped and burned deep inside him.

  “Good. Then follow me, beauty.”

  He led her to the bedroom, left her standing in the doorway for an instant, as he reached for and found the matches.

  Sliding one out, his fingers fumbling, he struck it; the light illuminating enough for him to see the starkness of her features. He touched the dancing flame to one candle, then another. In the corner, a small kerosene lantern illuminated the dark wood and red velvet bed. Large and inlaid with provocative scenes, carved deeply into the wood.

  He smiled as he reached up, fingers closing over the button at her throat. Slid the fastener through, then dropped to the next.

  Unable to still himself, Micah reached out, slid the carved wood clip from her hair, so it dropped a satiny curtain around her features.

  He threaded his fingers through it, pushed it away so it caressed the skin of his arms.

  She sighed.

  Micah reached out, stopping the hand about to release the last button on her shirt. “Wait, Davina. Let me?”

  It was a query of last resort. Her last chance because heaven knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself once the bounty of her breasts, outlined beneath the soft cotton, were bared to his sight.

  Her lips curved.

  Davina moved her hand away, and he covered the tiny button, still warm from her touch.

  His hand shook, but he pushed it out, then reached up to push away the shirt.

  It slid from her shoulders, forgotten immediately as he inspected the skin he’d uncovered. “You’re exquisite Davina. But tell me.” He leaned in and caressed the nape with firm sure strokes as she shuddered, “are your nipples light, like peaches or dark like plums, I wonder. Let’s find out.”

  He slid his hand slowly, deliberately, around the skin of her back and she mewled.

  Finding the clip of her bra, he released the white satin cups until pale skin sagged.

  He swore, the urgency of needing skin against skin clawing at him. “Let me get this off.” He reached down and with a jerk, Micah tore his loose tunic top off, so he was bared from the waist up.

  His body burning now, he tore the bra from her waistband, where it had caught, and kissed her. A savage mating of lips and tongues, which she met touch for touch and stroke for stroke. Her fingernails dug into the flesh of his shoulders, but he welcomed the sting. It told him he was not only alive, but half naked against a gorgeous woman who welcomed and returned his passion.

  The hard tips of her breasts scored him, burned where flesh met flesh and his hands slid down her back, shudders wracking her form as it screamed the passion that thrummed through her system. His grip settled on her hips, held her still so that his erection nestled into the apex between her legs.

  The emotion so raw and overwhelming that he had to shudder through first one, then another breath, each more intoxicating as the scent of their passion filled the air.

  He glanced down, pleased to note her breasts, smashed against his chest, were tipped by cherry-coloured nipples and, unable to help himself, he caught her gaze. “I want to taste them.”

  Her stomach quivered, nipples grazing, and he hardened further with a groan.

  Her acquiescence was given with a jerky nod and a strangled “yes.”

  Micah slid down her body, laving the inches of flesh he moved against until he was before her, almost worshipping her on his knees. Opening his mouth, he captures one taut peak, tonguing the tip as she cried out.

  “God!”

  He fumbled with the waistband of her yoga pants, sliding shaking fingers inside, then pulled. Her panties followed, the string of them capturing his gaze. “Naughty.” Then that too disappeared as her mound, covered with carefully groomed dark hair, caught his attention and he slid his mouth against her belly.

  “I have to touch you, Davina. Please?” His hands clutched at her, waiting for her to agree.

  “Yesss…”

  He cupped her intimately, thumb moving over the dampness he found there. Her sex quivered beneath his touch, and he dipped the tip of his finger within. “So beautiful, Davina. A temple for me to discover and worship at.”

  Her groan strangled as he dipped in, tongue glancing over the wetness.

  “I need more. Please?” Her whimpers joined the shaking of her knees, and he knew it would take so little to splinter her right now.

  He didn’t want her alone. Not this time.

  Together.

  It beat like a drum, demanding more.

  Everything.

  Now he rose, sliding his arm around her as he wrestled with the snap of his pants, every movement urgent and driven by the raging thunder of his need. The pop as they sprang free, loud, then forgotten as he shoved at his underwear, toeing off his shoes. Micah slid a shaking hand beneath her.

  She whispered a shocked ‘oh’ as he lifted her and carried her to the bed.

  “I want you, Davina. So much I’m shaking. Feel the way you affect me.”

  She did, hand curling around his aching erection, fingers sliding over the tip so that he bucked involuntarily at the feel of her movement, nerve endings shrieking.

  “I want you too, Micah. Don’t let me come alone. Not this time.” The huskiness urged him forward as he reached for the draw beside the bed, then palmed a small foil packet.

  “Protection,” he whispered as he tore the pack, releasing the condom.

  Rolling it down, he couldn’t control the jerk of his hips and he hissed, eyes closing involuntarily.

  “Let me.” Her hand slid over his. The last bastion of control fled as he shoved her back, straddled her.

  “I’m not sure how long this is going to last.”

  She giggled, “Long enough I hope to make both of us happy.” Her lips closed over his as she wound her legs around him and impaled herself.

  Heat, silken and damp, surrounded him, and he moved, the rhythm as old as life, demanding and driving.

  Hunger rose.

  Every slide feeding the conflagration.

  They rushed forward through the maelstrom, undulating against each other, fingers gripping, musk enveloping until there was nothing except their cries.

  The fever burned in his blood, cresting as he lost control over the passion he’d savagely restrained, until the orgasm blew him apart.

  His body exhausted, lungs burning, he slumped over the woman who even now clutched at him, her chest heaving under their shared exertion.

  “Are you alright?” He could barely whisper, and she gave a languorous caress.

  “Oh yes, Micah. I’m feeling excellent.”

  A small roll, and Micah snuggled into the counterpane, then pulled her against him and closed his eyes. Just a moment…

  Davina woke with a jerk.

  Where am I?

  Memory hit, crashing, and she couldn’t help the small stretch. Muscles continued to quiver, but an exhausted smile lingered. “Well.”

  The sound of snores had her head turning.

  This wasn’t quite what she’d had in mind when she and Elyse had started the planning of her campaign, but the result was very… satisfying.

  For a moment, Davina considered the idea of staying, seeing what his reaction would be, but that fled when he jostled beside her.

  I’ve never stayed the night, and I don’t intend to change that now. This wasn’t about building a connection or relationship, just about scratching that damned itch.

  With a tiny huff, Davina slid out of the bed, casting a last longing glance over her shoulder, then set to hunting for her bottoms and G-string, sliding them up over her body while looking for the bra. She couldn’t see it, but her button up blouse lay by the door, so she scooped it and her shoes up, beating a hasty retreat toward where she thought the exit lay.

  Just inside the heavy door lay her keys, she picked them up, slid into her shoes and tugged the shirt over her naked chest.

  Like a thief in the night, she carefully opened the front door and made her escape, wondering how she’d handle the meditation class next week.

  Devilry raised its head. Maybe you’ll get lucky again. “Maybe I will,” she murmured, racing for her car, pressing the remote.

  Davina slid into the seat and shoved the key into the ignition. Gripping the wheel, she inhaled. He hadn’t woken or followed her; no lights illuminated the house. For a moment, a sense of loneliness assailed, then she brushed it aside. “It’s not about forever. It’s about sex. That’s all I want.”

  She started the car and headed for home.

  Chapter

  Six

  Micah woke, layers of unconsciousness sliding away like mist. When he opened his eyes, the bright sunshine burned, and he groaned, rolling over. His hand reached and met emptiness.

  Memories of Davina flared, and he started upright.

  Out of bed, he noted her clothes missing and slumped to the bed. She’d gone.

  “Dammit!”

  He’d had every intention of asking her to stay, and maybe spend some time with him, share a glass of wine or…

  The sex had been explosive, and his gaze settled on the book he’d purchased after reading the leaflets Karly had given them about the differing forms of meditation. The Kundalini ones particularly had appealed to him, and he smiled.

  “If that’s what made last night stand out, then I’d better read more.”

  But right now, he wondered what to do. Energy was flowing. He felt strong and in control. All good, but even with that, he felt something was missing.

  He shrugged and headed for the bathroom. A shower, maybe a coffee, and he would wander into his studio. Maybe that would energise him?

  He promised himself a glass of wine later and some more reading time, but for right now the light was good, and the urge called.

  Davina tapped away at the computer, avoiding looking at any of the literature Karly had given her. After all, she’d gone to meditation simply to find a guy. Mission accomplished… But over the last week, she’d taken to practicing each night, enjoying the serenity that filled her in contrast to her day-to-day life.

  The phone rang, and she jumped. A glance at the identification viewer told her it was Elyse. She’d been dodging her since Tuesday, the woman was like a bloodhound. Davina was sure she’d worked out something went on.

  On a heavy sigh, she answered, “Hey Elyse.”

  “You’ve been avoiding me. Why?”

  Davina slumped in her seat. “I haven’t. I’ve just been busy.” To her hearing, she could tell there was a giveaway kind of whine.

  “Don’t tell me you did the guy from Meditation?” Elyse practically crowed, and Davina flinched.

  “What? No… No! I just—”

  “Davina Elliott. I’ve been your best friend for twenty-five years and I know all your tells. I’m heading over now, and I want to hear everything in detail.”

  The line disconnected, and Davina cradled her now aching forehead in her hands. “Why me?” Not that anyone would hear her. Instead, Davina scooped up the pamphlets, particularly the one with Kundalini emblazoned and the couple in a serious clinch. Because that would—not fan the fire, because wildfires just raged uncontrollably—but encourage Elyse to start another.

  She hid it in the meditation room she’d set up in the cabinet's drawer under the meditation CDs she’d bought and shut the door firmly.

  She turned into the lounge, knowing Elyse would want wine to chat over, and her eyes caught sight of the painting of Night Rocks. The turbulence there reflected the one currently raging inside her brain.

  Elyse was her best friend, but while she’d never shied before talking about exploits, this time it was different.

  By the time Elyse arrived, Davina had settled herself and her nerves, sitting nursing a glass of chilled chardonnay and thought over what she could and would say. No details, because she wasn’t a kiss and run kind of girl, but some broad-brush statements.

  Elyse sailed in, tossing her bag to the lounge. “My, you’ve been busy. If this is what meditation does for you, I’m signing up!” Her gaze settled on the painting, “That’s a Micah McKay work. I met him at a show when I was dating Doctor Delicious. They’d apparently been friends for the longest time. Shame he’s a doctor cause that impeded playtime, but anyway.”

  Stalking into the kitchen, Elyse helped herself to a glass and the red Davina had already opened, then wandered back into the lounge. “So, girlfriend, tell me all the details. Are guys who meditate better?”

  Davina wanted to swat at the heat growing in her face and gave a small grimace. “It’s not like that, Elyse. I mean, maybe I did and maybe I didn’t but—”

  “Don’t tell me the Evil Ice Queen of Divorce Court Number One has a guy who might melt her icy chastity belt?”

  She started, then stared at Elyse. “Evil Ice Queen of Divorce Court Number One? Where did that come from?”

  Now it was Elyse’s turn to stutter and stumble. “It’s ahhh… The guys from…”

  She turned away and Davina pressed her advantage. “’Lyse?”

  “Look, while I dated Corbin from Hedges, Mavin & Trott, he told me that’s what all the guys call you.”

  Davina leaned forward. “What else?” Fury roared for an instant inside her then fled.

  “He said they think you’re like in a frozen shell. Frigid enough to snap-freeze them then beat them with law and logic cause that’s all you sleep with.”