„A stowaway?“
He nodded. „Apparently. I certainly didn’t invite her along for the flight. Still, I can’t help but feel responsible. How could she vanish without a trace?“
„There was an explosion on impact. If she couldn’t get out of the plane, she would have been incinerated. Maybe when the ashes cool, you’ll find some clue.“
„Maybe.“
She saw the puzzled frown and decided to pursue an-otiier topic. „You say your friends were right behind you?“
„Yeah.“ Josh ran a hand through his hair. „We were in communication until just before I went down. But even after my systems failed, they had to be close enough to see everything.“
„Maybe there were clouds shielding your plane from view.“
He shrugged. „Maybe.“ But he could remember nothing except a clear, cloudless blue sky before all hell broke loose.
„If they saw the crash, they may have decided to fly back to civilization and bring help.“
„That’s what I’m thinking, too.“ He fell silent, mentally willing his friends to be unharmed. He couldn’t stand to think that if their plane went down, too, they may have suffered a very different fate from his.
Her voice interrupted his thoughts. „You have to be exhausted from your ordeal. Would you like to lie down?“
Josh shook his head. „It just occurred to me that for the first time in years I have nowhere to go and nothing to do but wait until my backup crew arrives.“
It had to be the result of the crash. It was the only explanation for this strange euphoria. Ordinarily he’d be pacing like a caged tiger at the thought of all the unanswered questions. But for tonight, for whatever reason, he intended to put aside all the troubling questions and simply enjoy this unplanned freedom from his relentless schedule.
Without a word Josh tore himself from the comforting fire and got to his feet. „I’ll give you a hand.“
„You’ve done enough.“ Grace removed a kettle of water from the fireplace and poured it into a basin. „I think it’s only fair, since you did the cooking, that I wash the dishes.“
„Just to satisfy your sense of fairness…“ He crossed to her. „We’ll do them together.“ He picked up a towel and began to dry. „This way, we’ll have them done in half the time.“
„Don’t you want to tackle the generator tonight?“
„I wish I could.“ He glanced out the window. „But it’s already dark outside.“
„I brought along a battery-operated lantern. Feel free to use it.“
„I appreciate the offer.“ He dried the first plate and set it down before reaching for the next. „But I’d hate to use up all your batteries on something that can be tackled just as easily tomorrow.“
„What about the people who are worried about you?“
„I’m sure they’ll be here by morning.“ He was rewarded with a rare sense of peace. He couldn’t work up any anger at these odd circumstances. He was alive, unharmed, and in the company of a beautiful woman. Life didn’t get much better than this. And in die morning, when Marty and the others got here, he’d have a great tale to tell them.
He set aside the towel and lifted the plates. „Where did you find these?“
Grace gave a nod toward the cupboard above her. Josh reached up and opened the door before stowing them on a shelf. As he did, their bodies brushed. He glanced down at the same instant that Grace’s head came up and he knew, by the look in her eyes, that she was feeling exactly the same quick sexual tug that he’d just experienced.
He lowered his hand to her hair and trailed his fingers through the tangles. „Soft.“ He didn’t even realize he was speaking aloud. „I knew it would be as soft as an angel’s wings.“
„Josh…“ She lifted soapy hands from the basin. Before she could resist he dipped his head and his mouth covered hers.
The jolt to his system was instantaneous. At the first touch of his lips to hers, he felt his mind empty of all thought but one. He’d wanted this more than anything. Just the chance to taste her. Touch her. Hold her.
Though he hadn’t planned it, there was no way he could back off now. The feelings rocketing through him were more shattering than his plane crash.
He felt the slight trembling of her lips and swallowed her little gasp of surprise. As she started to back away his arms came around her, molding her to the length of him. The thought of devouring her was nearly overpowering.
The need to kiss her until she surrendered was so strong, so compelling, he wondered how he could resist. It took all his willpower to go slowly, nibbling her lips until they softened beneath his and opened. Then he was feasting on her mouth. There was such sweetness here. Such goodness.
Grace couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. Could hardly breathe. As he took the kiss deeper, she brought her wet hands to his chest. She could feel the strength in him, and she had a desperate need to cling, at least for a moment. Instead of pushing away as she’d intended, she found herself giving a shaky sigh before wrapping her arms around his waist. With his mouth on hers, there was no thought of holding back. For this one moment, she would give him everything, if he but asked.
Her simple act of surrender rocked Josh as nothing else could. He’d never known anything to compare to the feelings that spiraled through him as she offered her lips. He took them with a raw, deep hunger that startled them both. He could feel his blood heating, his heartbeat racing, as his mouth moved over hers, kissing her with a thoroughness that had them both trembling.
Grace had no defense against these strange new emotions. She could feel her body burning for his touch, her bones beginning to melt like wax. She’d never known a man’s kiss to have such a devastating effect. The floor beneath her feet seemed to shift and tilt as his mouth moved over hers. When he drew her closer, she could feel his heartbeat thundering inside her chest, its wild rhythm matching her own.
In some small corner of Josh’s mind a warning bell sounded. He knew he was very close to crossing a line. Who would have expected one simple kiss to take him to the very edge of reason? But this was far from simple. The woman in his arms had awakened a hunger, a craving that was direatening to take them both down a dark and dangerous path.
One of them had to be sensible.
Head spinning, chest heaving, he drew on every last ounce of willpower and managed to lift his head.
Unwilling to completely break contact, he kept his hands at her shoulders and looked down into her eyes while he waited for his heartbeat to settle. „I hope you’re not expecting an apology. The truth is, I’ve been wanting to kiss you like that since I woke earlier and saw you lying beside me.“
„I suppose I should at least thank you for your honesty.“ She gave a shaky laugh, wondering if her heart would ever return to its normal rhythm. Just standing this close, his hands touching her, had her pulse thundering out of control.
„All right. Time for true confessions.“ He was studying her through narrowed eyes. „I wanted to act on that impulse sooner, but I was afraid.“
„You?“ She tossed her head. „Fearless world athlete? I find that hard to believe.“
„Maybe I was afraid you weren’t real. That you were a figment of my overwrought imagination. Or that you’d run away before I had a chance to know you better.“
With that glint of humor in his eyes, she couldn’t tell if he was serious or having fun with her. Either way, his smile was contagious. He was far too tempting. And too close for comfort.
She took a step back and picked up the dish towel before drying her hands. „Sorry I got your shirt wet.“
She tried to appear casual as she picked up the basin of hot water and crossed to the door before tossing the contents outside. When she returned it to the kitchen table she was aware of the way he was watching her. His gaze swept her, lingering on her lips. It was as tempting as any kiss. And had the same strange effect on her, leaving her feeling more aroused than she cared to admit.