His thumb lifted to gently caress her hand in welcome. He pressed a kiss to her cheek. Then his hand got to work. Caressing and squeezing her like he was taking measurements—charting topography; kneading her like a lothcat; following invisible ley lines along her skin with skimming fingers. He ran them along the underside, to replace them with his palm, which caressed and warmed and seem to catch her heartbeat and throb it back to her. …And then his face left hers as he bent down and lowered his lips and tongue to her nipple.