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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 wanted to see if it would work。〃
〃See if what would work？〃
〃If I could wake you up by willing it。 I've been sending brain waves。〃
〃Brain waves didn't wake me。〃 She yawned。 〃I'd have woken anyway。〃
He stretched and grimaced。 〃I feel well used。〃
〃That's one way to put it；〃 she said； but she was thinking ahead。 How
not to？ Morning was here。
She rolled away； but he rolled her right back and held her in place with
an arm on either side。 〃Don't。 After last night you can't turn away。〃
〃Can't？〃
〃Won't。 Let's talk；〃 he said gently and sat up。 His eyes wandered to her
hair； which was spread on the pillow； then the sheets； which bunched at
her navel。 He looked at everything in between as though it were
priceless。 At last； in a deep voice； he said； 〃I love you； Chloe。〃
She reached to cover his mouth； not ready for that； but he caught her
hand and pinned it to the pillow。 Leaning down； he gave her a long；
silencing kiss。 When his mouth left hers again； he said； 〃I love you and
want to marry you。〃
She shook her head。
〃I do；〃 he insisted。
Her heart ached。 She wasn't ready； wasn't ready at all。 〃Last night we
made love。 Saying 'i love you' is something else entirely。〃
Ross didn't budge。 〃Argue as much as you want； but you won't change
this。 I love you。 I wish I could say that I loved you eleven years
ago…it would all sound romantic。 I wanted you then。 I knew that there
was something in you…deep in you…that intrigued me。 But I didn't get to
know you。 A few hours is too short a time。〃
〃It's hardly been much more than that now；〃 she protested。
〃It's been more than two weeks。〃
〃It's been less than two days。〃
〃Tell me you didn't think of me。〃
She recalled those long hours after New Hampshire。 〃I can't。 I thought
of you。 But in order to love a person you have to spend time with that
person。〃
〃You're clutching at straws。 I love you。 If you were honest with
yourself； you'd tell me that you love me； too。〃
That was what she feared most。 There was no place in her life for that
kind of love。 〃You don't know what I feel。〃
〃I know what I felt last night。 You couldn't have faked your reactions。
Sorry； Chloe； but you responded out of love。 That's all there is to it。〃
〃No。 Not all。〃 She needed time。 She knew what she had to say。
〃'responded to you out of need。 Call it lust or physical desire； but
don't call it love。〃
〃You're afraid；〃 he announced。
There was a deathly silence。 The air pulsed between them。
〃You're afraid to let go of the past；〃 he went on。 〃It's so much a part
of you that you're terrified to live without it。〃
〃That's not true；〃 she cried。
〃Then why don't you try？ You did it for a night…why not for a week？
A month？ A year？〃 He softened。 〃I'm not asking you to renounce your
past； just to accept it and move on。〃 He paused； suddenly a shade
unsure。 〃You did enjoy last night； didn't you？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 she breathed so quickly that her words stopped dead for lack
of a follow…up。
His smile filled the gap。 It was a full； warm curve of the firm lips
that had given her such pleasure through the night。 His gaze dropped to
her breasts； then her bare middle。 When he bent to kiss her navel； she
clutched his hair。 But to push him away？ Or to hold him there？ Lord； she
didn't know。
After a night of beauty； the morning was dreary and dark。 After a night
of clear…cut emotions； the new day's emotions were muddy and dense。 She
needed time； needed space。 Turning her face into the pillow； she let her
hands slowly slide from his hair。
〃I want you to work for me； Chloe。〃
Her eyes shot back to his。 〃Work for you？ How can I do that？ I have my
own business。〃
He brushed a tendril of hair from her cheek。 〃I mean； I want to retain
your firm。〃
She was startled。 She hadn't considered this twist。 〃For what？〃
〃They cater our board meetings；〃 he drawled facetiously。 〃e on； you
know what you do。 I'd like to hire ESE as a geological consultant；
starting with a set of revised plans for the Rye Beach plex。〃
Business； then？ Suddenly self…conscious； Chloe drew the sheet to her
armpits and