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　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；