Lonely Heart
Fae Harlow

Kora blinked, taking in the strange surroundings. Dreaming? She almost laughed. She was dreaming. That eased her worry.

She wasn't sure exactly what she was dreaming.The entire world seemed to be encased in gray twilight. A light breeze lifted the sash on the gossamer robe she wore, tangling it playfully around her form. The silken material felt wonderful against Kora's skin, cool and soft. It moved like water over her flesh, reminding her of exactly why she purchased such a fanciful garment.

A sound, a sigh so soft she wasn't certain she'd actually heard it made her turn.

Kora gasped. Her pulse jumped. "Who? What? Who are you?"

There was a half-naked man standing in her gray twilight, his eyes drinking in her barely covered form, their dark depths stormy amber. She shivered as fear moved down her spine - fear and desire.

He was beautiful, she decided, not the kind of man Kora normally found in her head. In fact, she was quiet certain this one was the kind of man her mother had never thought to warn her about. He looked positively rakish, like something out of a fantasy induced by reading too many historical novels.

He chuckled, a dark sound that made her flesh tingle and pleasure spiral through her. Kora closed her eyes, trying to draw in a calming breath. The air was tinged in musk and sandalwood. It wasn't her scent, but his. Kora shivered again, deeper this time. Her lids moved slowly up, her eyes filled with him, suddenly all that much closer - too close for her state of mind.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes busy drinking in his well-shaped form, all hard lines and defined muscle. He reminded her of a brilliantly sculpted piece of hard clay that would not give if you touched it. Suddenly, Kora wanted to do just that, test the suppleness of his skin, the feel of it beneath her fingertips, wondering faintly how her mind would interpret something she had never felt in reality. Kora knew no men like him.

He smiled. His lips shifted to reveal a row of fine, white teeth. The look in his eyes somehow matched the almost predatory smile that lingered on his lips. He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His hand lifted and he entangled his fingers in her wild hair. He lifted his hand and…

"I am here, because you called to me. You invited me in. The question is, what am I going to do with you now that you've made such an unwise decision?"

Kora stiffened, her eyes going wide, white light surrounding her slender form automatically. He took a single step back, the smile on his lips widening. His gaze lingered on the lace that encased her breast, sending delicious shivers through her form. He reached toward her and traced the curve of her cheek. The bright glow surrounded his fingers.

He caught her eyes once more, leaning down to settle his lips lightly against her, so light it could barely be called a kiss. His hand slid away from her cheek. His lips curved against hers, pressing, caressing, lingering, enticing her to deepen the contact. Kora shivered, pressing herself against him, her hands sliding along the bare skin of his chest, testing it, learning the curves and lines.

Her lips parted as his nipped and tasted first top, then bottom. Her tongue darted out to taste the curve of his lips. Kora moaned softly as his mouth opened against hers, his tongue brushing against hers. His lips caught and teased and taunted. After a long moment, he released her lips, allowing her to draw in a much-needed breath.

He trailed his lips down her jaw and along the sensitive column of her neck, each movement drawing startled little sounds from deep in her throat.

Dark and needy, Kora strained into the caresses of lips and tongue. She moved her fingers over the flesh of his shoulders, hands meeting in the wild fall of hair at the back of his head. She curled her fingers through the silken strands, holding him tightly against her.

His hands slipped beneath the shoulders of the robe and pushed it easily from her shoulders. The sensation of silk sliding down the backs of her legs sent more tremors through her already trembling form.

She gasped as his lips moved lower, his nose nuzzling against her skin. His hand came up, slipping around her ribs. His fingers fumbled with the clasp of her bra for a moment before releasing it. He drew back only far enough to bare her to his hungry gaze, his eyes going smoky. He allowed the lacy garment to fall unheeded to the floor, his eyes hungrily drinking in bared skin.

A bold smile formed on her lips. This is my dream, she reminded her muddled mind. Mine, which meant he was hers. Kora closed the distance between them, her hands greedily exploring his shoulders and chest, her lips following the paths of careless fingers over his chest, lingering over spots that made his breath catch or his hand tighten in her hair. Kora closed her eyes, allowing herself to become lost in the sounds of his pleasure, her pleasure.

She lingered over a male nipple, studying it with her tongue. His breath grew ragged against her hair. She felt his fingers shift. He gently pulled her away from his skin to capture her lips with his own.

They kissed wildly for a long moment, her hands moving restlessly over his form, skimming the edge of the dark pants he wore. The row of silver buttons gave under her curious fingers. The startled gasp that fell from his lips brought her eyes back to his.

Kora jerked away from him suddenly, the sound of an alarm clock forcing its way into the haze of her mind. It took only a moment for gray twilight to fade into nothingness and him along with it. Kora shifted reluctantly to wakefulness, her body still tingling from her dream lover's touch. She sighed, laying back in her bed and staring at the ceiling in annoyance.