She was trembling with excitement when he dragged a cushion from the sofa to the floor。 He lowered himself and held out a hand； and for a minute she couldn"t move； couldn"t take her eyes from his body。 It was perfect in every way； thoroughly masculine and fully aroused。 Eleven years ago she had been too shy to study him； but she wasn"t now。 He seemed to stretch forever； one long limb connected to another by firm sinew。 Had she been an artist she would have drawn him。 But she was only a woman。 〃Chloe？〃 She took his hand and stretched out against him with a soft moan。 He felt wonderful against her。 When she began to touch him； he sucked in a breath。 〃Oh； God；〃 he whispered gruffly； 〃oh； God； that"s it。〃 His chest rose and fell； lungs labored。 〃Feel it； princess？〃 There were two kinds of feeling； the physical and the emotional。 Chloe experienced both。 High on the fullness； she moved freely over his body。 Her fingers found delight with every touch； her heart satisfaction。 She reached his most electric parts as he reached for her。 〃Now；〃 she begged； desperate and demanding。 〃Kiss me first；〃 he murmured thickly。 When she turned up her face； he moved over her； slipping between her open thighs。 She cried into his mouth when he thrust forward。 Anything she might have remembered of the past was gone then； paling in the light of the present。 Her body exploded and flamed； burning hotter with each thrust of his hips； with each progressively deeper peration。 She rose and rose； straining higher； higher； until her body burst into spasms of something akin to heaven。 She cried out again when she heard Ross"s cry。 She felt the tightness of his muscles； the pumping of his hips； then； joy； a grand pulsing inside her。 He held her as tightly as she held him； and there was joy in that； too。 For what seemed a glorious forever； they lay that way。 Finally； his body damp； he slid out to lie beside her。 The night air was broken by ragged breathing； both his and hers。 Chloe lay stunned。 Then； suddenly and inexplicably； she was overe。 Pressing her cheek against Ross"s drumming heart； she began to cry。 In a frightened voice； he asked； 〃What； princess？〃 〃Just hold me。 Hold me tight。〃 He gathered her to him as though she were the most precious thing in the world； and held her while she cried。 She couldn"t explain why she did it； and he didn"t ask。 He simply held her； stroked her back； whispered sweet nothings of fort and support against the top of her head。 Gradually her eyes dried and her pulse grew steadier。 〃I"m sorry。 I don"t know what came over me。〃 〃How do you feel now？〃 〃Better。〃 She took a last jagged breath and rubbed her cheek against his chest。 〃Satisfied。〃 She thought about that and finally tipped up her head。 〃I actually feel great。 That was the most beautifull…〃 Her words died when her throat constricted again。 Ross turned them so that they lay on their sides； facing one another。 He traced the slim lines of her cheek and jaw； then ran the tips of his fingers down her neck to her collarbone。 Chloe felt a stirring inside。 She must have looked startled； because he laughed。 〃Didn"t think you could feel it again so soon？〃 When he slid a leg between hers； she moved against it； but he didn"t tease her。 He was suddenly serious。 〃It was beautiful； princess。 Even more so than before。 I"ve lived all these years wondering whether I had imagined it。 I tried for it over and over。 And here； in one shot； you"ve done it again； and more。〃 〃Not me。 Us。〃 She touched him lower。 He gasped。 〃You"re gonna do it again；〃 he said and kissed her。 This time was slower； more leisurely。 Ross was the connoisseur； showing Chloe how to tease and withhold； playing the martyr when she did。 She took delight in learning the nuances of holding； caressing； leading him to the brink； staying there； and； incredibly； the force of the passion was even greater。 This time； when it was done； there were no tears。 Eyes closed； she nestled against him； replete and happy。 She didn"t have a care in the world。 Oblivious to the steady rain that beat down on the roof of the house； they slept。 Their twined bodies offered warmth； the soft rug offered fort。 It was nearly four in the morning when Ross gently woke her。 〃Let"s go upstairs；〃 he whispered； kissing her ear。 Groggy and disoriented； she reached for him。 〃What is it？〃 He was on his knees； gathering her into his arms。 〃Nothing。 I just want to take you to bed。〃 〃You"re not leaving？〃 Her arms tightened around his neck； but he chuckled。 〃I want to take you in bed…〃 〃Are you 。。。 again？〃 〃Shhh。 I want to be able to remember what your bed feels like； for all those long lonely nights ahead；〃 he drawled。 He crossed the living room and took the stairs with her in his arms and a minimum of effort。 〃I want you to be haunted the same way；〃 he added； less humorous now。 〃You"ll lie in your bed and remember the feel of me until you"re ready to burst。〃 Fully awakened； Chloe was warm all over。 Her breast was snug to his chest； her hip nestled against his naked belly。 It was still night。 Under cover of darkness； she could do anything。 Her lips turned recklessly to his shoulder； her tongue moistening a spot； her teeth leaving a mark。 〃Heeeey！ Watch that！〃 He put her down； letting her slide slowly over the length of him。 His hand stayed at the small of her back； pressing her against a full erection。 To Chloe"s amazement； she was just as aroused。 Their lips met； open now and sure。 There was no limit to this pleasure； only the need for more and more。 〃The bed；〃 she croaked in haste； tearing herself away to pull back the quilt。 She fell onto the sheets with him； and there was a fury to this union； a blend of yearning； fear； and unbridled greed。 Morning was ing。 They couldn"t get enough of each other。 When they finally climaxed and collapsed； their bodies were slick and exhausted。 Again they slept。 When Chloe opened her eyes next； it was to the gray light of a soggy morning and； more brightly； to Ross。 His dark hair was disheveled。 He was staring down at her。 Breaking into a smile； he said； 〃I wan