desire。 〃Do you know what I want； Chloe？ I want to feel you。 I want to know every inch of your body。 Half measures never worked for me with you。 I need to be inside you。 Can you accept that？〃 His gaze flickered over her flushed features。 〃Will you hate yourself tomorrow？〃 The question took her by surprise。 She didn"t want to think about tomorrow。 Her eyes filled with the tears of a deep； emotional yearning。 〃I don"t know what I"ll feel tomorrow； but I know what I want now。 I know what I need。〃 〃Why now？〃 It was another surprise question。 〃Eleven years ago it was rebellion。〃 〃Not rebellion。〃 〃Then why？〃 he asked more gently。 She took a deep breath。 The scent of his skin gave her strength。 〃Yes； you were different。 The other men we"d known had been handpicked。 Our brothers were as fussy as our parents。 But there was more for me。 You were new。 Refreshing。〃 〃A challenge？〃 〃Maybe。〃 〃Do I challenge you now？〃 〃Yes； but that"s only part of it。〃 Need loosened her tongue。 〃The pull is there； just like it was eleven years ago。 Don"t make me try to explain it； because I can"t。 Lord only knows I didn"t want to feel anything for you！ You were the one who showed up uninvited； remember？〃 He smiled dryly。 〃So you"ve told me。〃 〃You bring back memories。 Maybe what I need is to wipe out those memories with new ones。〃 His smile turned wry。 〃You are using me。〃 When Chloe pushed herself up； his hands fell away。 She was on her own； as she had been all those years。 And she knew what she wanted。 〃Yes； I"m using you！ I"m using you to show me that I can feel and live。 I"m using you to help me put the past to rest。 You"re right。 I have to do that。 But don"t you see；〃 she ended on a note of pleading； 〃that you"re the only one who can help me？〃 For long moments； silence was as thick in the air as the lingering heat of passion。 Finally Ross lifted a hand to her cheek。 〃I want to believe it； Chloe。 Want it bad。〃 〃Then make love to me。 You show me what love should be like。〃 With a low animal sound； he reached out and pulled her under him； kissing her fiercely； erasing everything but the here and now。 Chloe put herself into his hands。 Trusting him fully； she lost all inhibition and returned his kiss with everything she had。 His lips moved on her neck； inching down into the dip of her dress。 〃I"ve been wanting to do this all night；〃 he whispered moments before his mouth found the bottommost point。 He kissed her there； wet； openmouthed； then rose again。 His mouth was ready when he cupped her breasts and lifted them there。 Chloe sighed softly。 She squeezed her eyes shut； buried her fingers in his hair； and held him closer。 With excruciating slowness he drew back her bodice； freeing her breast bit by bit。 Her insides quivered when her nipple was bared。 His breath was hot； the air cool。 Arching closer； she watched his tongue touch the pebbled tip； circle it； touch it again。 〃Ross！〃 she gasped； straining beneath him； needing more。 〃Love is torment； Chloe。 It"s wanting and wanting and wanting until you would do anything to get。 Be patient。〃 She tried； but it was a torment； indeed； to watch him pull his shirt from his pants and release every single last button。 She bit her lip to keep from reaching out to touch him。 He could have been sculpted in clay by a master； he was that beautiful； more beautiful even because he was real。 He was human； manly； alive。 Her patience was pushed even further when he drew her up； reached behind to slide her zipper to her waist； then pulled her dress down； easing her arms from their sleeves。 Bare to the waist； she needed his touch； but his eyes caressed her first。 Her breasts swelled； begging to be cupped and held。 〃They"re not the same；〃 she whispered falteringly。 〃I was much younger then。〃 A sound came from deep in his throat。 It gave credence to his words。 〃Maybe younger then； but better now。〃 His eyes said it was true。 With trembling hands； he palmed her breasts with such soft； gentle motion that she nearly cried out again。 Patience slipped slowly away。 When she thought she"d seen the last of it； Ross drew her to him； crushing her breasts against his chest in a move that stole her breath。 He made another deep sound； this one very male； very satisfied。 His hands moved over her back； covering every inch of its smooth surface； and Chloe followed his lead。 Eyes closed； she savored the feel of him； letting her palms play on his back； then drawing away to glory in his chest。 His nipples were as flat and hard as hers were raised and swollen。 His neck was as strong as hers was slender。 His skin was as tanned as hers was creamy。 Their bodies were so different； but the light in his eyes matched that in hers。 She saw desire there。 It was hot and heavy。 Chloe could barely breathe； much less speak。 She was as aroused as she had ever been； and more with each touch of his fingers or tongue。 The beat of her heart skipped rapidly on； driving heated blood through her veins。 She was free。 She was alive。 She wanted to belong to Ross then more than anything in the world。 Sensing her urgency； he pulled her up。 As she stood； her dress slid past her hips to form a pale blue circle on the floor。 Aware of the admiration in his eyes； she stepped out of it wearing nothing but a pair of small silk panties。 When he held out his arms； she went to him and wrapped hers tightly around his neck。 Her breasts were crushed against his hairy chest。 She burned from within。 〃Chloe 。。。 Chloe 。。。 Chloe。。 。〃 he chanted softly； reminiscent of that soft September breeze in New Hampshire。 But she couldn"t think back； not with his fingers skimming her hips； then moving up her sides and around。 He was exquisitely tender。 She felt cherished； desired； and loved； if only for the night。 〃Hurry。〃 She arched against him； her body aflame with need。 〃Hurry。〃 Setting her back； he unbuckled his belt and undid his pants。 His eyes devoured her hungrily as he pushed everything off； then knelt to remove her panties。 She was trembling with excitement when he dragged a cushion from the sofa to the floor。 He lowered himself