his kisses blaze a trail from her lips
to the base of her neck where her pulse throbs,
hard with longing for so much more,
his hands exploring, moving lower than it did
before

do you want me to stop? he asks just when she thinks
she can’t take any more.
do you want me to keep going
till you’ve reached the limits
of passion’s shores?

where your edges shall be smoothened,
and the raging of the waves calmed?
do you want me to keep on going,
my dove, and leave no stones
unturned?