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　behin