Nothing mattered now except the desire that bound them.

Flann pressed her hands flat against the door. Abby wanted to be in charge. She couldn’t remember a time when a woman had made demands of her, other than that she satisfy her. She’d never minded, but this…this was something completely different. Something she hadn’t realized she wanted until just this moment, and now she wanted Abby’s hands on her more than she wanted her heart to keep beating.

Abby grabbed the bottom of her T-shirt and yanked it up over her breasts. Flann automatically raised her arms and Abby stripped it off, dropping it behind them.

Abby smiled. “I’ve been wanting to see you without your shirt on since the first moment I saw you.”

“You could have asked and I would—”

Abby pressed her fingers to Flann’s mouth. “I don’t want you to say anything. I don’t want you to think about anything. The only thing I want is for you to feel what I’m doing to you.”

Silently, Flann nodded. Her heart pounded so hard it had to be visible through her skin. Abby pressed both hands to her chest, splaying her fingers over Flann’s muscles, moving slowly back and forth as if taking her measure. Flann was never so happy in her life that she spent her spare time working around the farm. She had trouble catching her breath. She had trouble focusing. She blinked, searched for some place to hold on, and met Abby’s eyes. They weren’t hazy the way they got when they kissed. They were sharp and intent, glittering with hunger. Hunger for her. She couldn’t keep quiet. “Okay?”

“Oh, honey. More than okay,” Abby murmured. “I love the way you look.” She slid her hands down Flann’s chest and cupped her breasts, lifting slightly so their weight fell into her palms. She brushed her thumbs over the tight tan nipples. “Look at you. So damn sexy.”

“God,” Flann choked out. Everything was too slow, too soft, too perfect. Already blood was pounding between her legs, the beat like a frantic creature racing from a soaring hawk. She’d embarrass herself if she got much more excited. “Abby—”

“I know,” Abby said gently, lowering her head and closing her lips around Flann’s nipple.

The shock arrowed straight down her spine. Flann’s legs trembled and she locked her knees to keep upright. Her breasts tingled. Lightning coiled in her belly, a storm brewing, about to explode. Flann cupped Abby’s head, pressed her mouth harder to her breast. “Feels so good.”

Lips curving in a triumphant smile, Abby took her time. She had all the time in the world now. This was where she belonged—this place, this world, this woman. She’d been searching and hadn’t even known it. She moved from one breast to the other, kissing the firm curves, nipping at the tender nipples, reveling in the rasp of Flann’s breath and the soft whimpers she doubted Flann even knew she was making. She brushed her mouth over the soft skin, a pirate claiming her treasure. Flann was hers and she intended to mark her in some deep, indelible place, in her body and her heart. “You’re mine.”

“Yes,” Flann gasped.

Abby kissed her way back to Flann’s mouth, delved inside, and slid a hand between their bodies. She flicked open the button on Flann’s pants.

Flann muttered softly, “Need you, Abby. Please.”

“I’m here.” But Abby had no intention of releasing her just yet. She dropped to her knees, gripped Flann’s waistband, and pulled her jeans down her legs. Of course she’d gone commando. Nothing ever reined Flann in, not clothes or convention. Only her. Only here, where all their secrets were exposed, where every need was celebrated, and every want satisfied. “Kick off those boots.”

“I don’t think I can move. I want to come so bad.”

“Mmm, I like that.” Abby kissed the base of Flann’s belly and reached down until she found the laces on Flann’s boots. She pulled them free. “Now, off.”

Flann managed to kick free of her boots, and Abby pushed the jeans after them. Abby’s vision hazed. Flann was naked, arms spread against the door, waiting, ready. Her arms and legs were bronzed and sculpted, her breasts proudly lifting, her abdomen a tight plain of smooth skin and muscle. She was glorious.

The sight of her, the taste of her, the scent of her desire stirred a madness Abby embraced with joy. Never in her life had she felt so powerful, or so blessed. She skimmed her fingers up the inside of Flann’s thighs, urging her to open. Flann’s body followed her commands, and Abby dipped her head and kissed her.

“Damn!” Flann’s hips thrust forward, and she drove her fingers into Abby’s hair.

Abby pressed her cheek to Flann’s thigh, struggling for enough control to continue. Flann’s need enflamed hers. She wanted to take her in, swallow her, drive her over the edge. But not yet. Not this first time. She raised her head, met Flann’s hooded gaze. “You’re gorgeous.”

“Take what you want.” Flann’s face was stark with need and something more. Trust.

Abby’s heart filled. “I want you. You, Flann. All of you.”

Flann’s fingers trembled in Abby’s hair. “I’m yours. All of me.”

“Here?” Abby stroked one finger between Flann’s thighs.

“Yes. Yes, please.”

“Mmm. Wait.” Abby followed the path of her finger with her mouth, traced the folds and valleys, closed her lips around Flann’s clitoris, circled her feather-light.

Flann groaned. “Close, close.”

Abby slid her arms around Flann’s hips and caressed her ass, held her firmly against her mouth, and sucked.

Flann’s head banged back against the door. A hoarse cry wrenched from her throat, and her fingers convulsed on Abby’s neck. She came hard in Abby’s mouth, pumping once, twice, a third frantic thrust of her hips. Abby kept up the long easy strokes until Flann sagged with a tortured groan.

Abby rose quickly, cinched an arm around Flann’s waist, and kissed her. Not done yet. She wanted more. She cupped her, eased inside. “Again.”

Flann moaned and tightened around her. Abby stroked, slowly at first until she felt Flann tense and grip her harder. She kissed her, increasing her tempo and swallowing her moans. Flann grabbed her shoulders so tightly she’d probably leave marks. Abby didn’t care. She reveled in the feel of Flann coming apart in her arms. When Flann came again, Abby pressed her mouth to the wild pulse in Flann’s neck. Mine.

“Done,” Flann finally gasped. “I think you fucking killed me.”

Abby laughed, the triumphant sound of a warrior trumpeting her victory. “I certainly hope not. I’m not done with you.”

“I don’t ever want you to be done,” Flann said fervently.

Abby leaned back, cupped Flann’s face in both hands. “I never will be. I love you, Flann.”

“I need you Abby.” Flann kissed her. “I love you, if you’ll have me. I swear—”

“You’re already mine, Flann,” Abby whispered and kissed her back.

Flann caught her second wind midway through the kiss. Abby loved her. Abby wanted her. Abby was hers, as she was Abby’s. She slipped an arm behind Abby’s shoulders, the other under her knees, and picked her up.

“Flann! What—”

Laughing, Flann strode four paces to the bed and dumped Abby in the center. Abby shrieked and Flann straddled her hips, already unbuttoning the sexy shirt she was wearing.

Abby raised up so Flann could get it off and her underwear followed. Then the shorts and Abby was naked, spread out before her and so beautiful Flann forgot to breathe.

“You’ll forgive me,” Flann muttered, sliding between Abby’s legs, “if I don’t go slow the first time.”

Abby laughed, wild and reckless. “Who wants slow? Hurry.”

Flann’s mouth came to Abby’s breast at the same time as her hand slid between her legs. The fire that had been burning in Abby’s depths for days roared to life and she arched, pushing against Flann’s fingers. She grabbed her wrist, pushed her deeper. “I want you to make me come. Right now.”

Flann’s teeth closed on Abby’s nipple just hard enough to send a jolt burning through her clitoris. She arched her hips, rode Flann’s hand, and closed her eyes as everything inside her unraveled. She lost count of how many times she crested, lost awareness, lost everything except the sensation of Flann above her, inside her, owning her. At last she lay boneless with Flann stretched out on top of her. She had just enough energy to kiss her neck.

“That is unequivocally the best sex I’ve ever had,” Abby murmured in a voice she didn’t recognize. Throaty and obscenely satisfied.

Flann chuckled against her throat. “Wait till the next time.”

Abby stroked her hair. “Will that be soon?”

“I sincerely hope so.”

“You do realize it’s a package deal?” Abby wasn’t so far gone not to know she couldn’t be so exposed without being sure. For once in her life, she wanted to be selfish. She wanted it all.

Flann marshaled her strength and pushed herself up on her elbow. Her face was loose and relaxed and she looked years younger. And supremely satisfied. Such an arrogant, gorgeous woman. Abby’s heart clenched. Please.

“If you mean Blake, of course I know that. If you’d let me be part of his life, I would be honored.”

“You know you already are part of his life. And mine.” Abby caught her lip between her teeth and waited until her voice was steady. “I’m going to want the whole deal, you know. That means you and only you for me. And same for you. The three of us, together.”

Flann’s brows drew together. “That works for me, for now.”

Abby’s throat closed. “For now?”

Flann kissed her throat, the valley between her breasts, the place where her heart beat. “I know it’s asking a lot of you, but I was thinking we might work on a sister or brother for Blake.”

“I’m almost thirty-five years old.” Abby stroked Flann’s face. “So I suppose we should get started fairly soon.”

Flann grinned. “Let’s find a house and get Blake settled at school. Then you say when.”

“We should probably tell Blake about us first. He’ll be so happy.”

“Then that makes three of us.”

Abby pulled Flann down beside her and curled up with her head on Flann’s shoulder. “I’m afraid he’ll want a farm.”

“Plenty of those around. Maybe we can compromise and get a reasonable-sized spread closer to town.” Flann stroked her arm, her talented surgeon’s fingers tracing light patterns on her skin that set Abby ablaze again. “A barn, some pastureland, but not so big we can’t handle it ourselves.”

Abby nuzzled her neck. “I want to see the river. I love the sound of the water at night.”

“Anything.” Flann tilted her chin and kissed her. “Anything you want.”

Abby smiled. “You’re what I want.”

“Done,” Flann murmured. “And if we stay here much longer I’m going to want you again. Sooner or later we’ll be missed.”

“I know.” Abby sighed. “We should get back.” She laughed. “But I’m showering first.”

“Good idea. I’ll help.”

Abby sat up, pressed her palm to Flann’s belly. Muscles jumped, and her blood heated. “Not the recommended course of action, Dr. Rivers.”

“Do you have a better treatment plan in mind, Dr. Remy?” Flann stretched under Abby’s caresses, indolent and satisfied.

“Mmm, I do.” Abby leaned down, kissed her, and quickly rose before her willpower deserted her. “Much more of that as often as possible.”

Flann grinned. “Sounds like the perfect prescription.”

EPILOGUE

Three Weeks Later

Thunder pulled Flann from a deep sleep. Rain pelted the tin roof of the old schoolhouse, filling the bedroom with a melody as familiar as her own heartbeat. Beyond the window, the faint gray light heralded the dawn. She listened to the sounds of the world awakening—a tree frog’s rumbling croak, the first trill of birdsong, the distant whistle of a freight train chugging along the river. Nature’s symphony washed over her like a soothing caress, but what warmed her most of all was Abby’s slow, steady breathing—her presence still new and already achingly central to Flann’s life. Abby slept on her side with her back to Flann, her hips pressed into the curve of Flann’s body as if they had been sculpted to fit together. Flann slid her hand around Abby’s middle and gently brushed her palm over the curve of her belly. Abby murmured, arched under her touch, and edged closer. Flann rested her cheek in the curve of Abby’s neck, breathing in the pure, clean scent of her hair and skin. The night was warm and they’d gone to sleep naked beneath the sheet. The sensation of Abby’s soft, warm skin against her nipples made her loins tighten.

“Mmm.” Flann kissed her neck.

“Again?” Abby murmured sleepily.

Flann chuckled. “What’s the matter, are you worn out already?”