"Honey, I want it to be so beautiful for you," he whispered. His face was beautifully sensual. "I want to be so gentle and loving. Lately I've been lying awake at night thinking of how I would touch you. All the moves and ways I'd make it good for you." His eyes were dark and glazed with heat. "But I'm hurting so much that I don't know if I can do it."

"Then let me make it good for you." Zilah smiled lovingly. "Giving is even more beautiful than taking."

He took a deep breath. "God, you're sweet. How did I get so lucky? I'll try." His hands slid from her shoulders to her nape. "I'll try my damnedest not to take more than I give." He tilted her head up; his hands tangled in the thick length of her hair. His lips lowered slowly. Too slowly. She wanted his mouth with a wildness that shocked her. She arched into his body and pressed her lips to his with a little moan of need.

He froze. Then ice turned to flame as he groaned and took her lips with a passion that was close to savagery. He brushed and stroked back and forth against her mouth. He bit her lips and then soothed them with a warm, sensual tongue. He devoured her as if he were famished. Yet she heard him give a low groan of hunger deep in his throat, even as he feasted.

She was vaguely aware that his hands had returned to her shoulders and were pushing the white robe off her arms. It fell into a silken pool on the carpet and his hard, warm hands were moving down her spine in feverish exploration. "I'd watched you ride ahead of me on that gray mare," he muttered.  He cupped her buttocks, kneading their softness in his big hands. "And I'd think what a pretty bottom you had and how much I'd like to do this."

"Did you?" She could barely get the words out Her chest was so tight she couldn't breathe. Her breasts were crushed against the crisp cotton of his blue shirt and she could feel his heat beneath it.  "I

didn't realize that. I guess you thought I was pretty dumb."

"Blind," he murmured. "You had to be blind." He buried his face in the side of her throat and nuzzled the smooth flesh gently. "I couldn't even look at you without going into an erotic daydream."

"What about?" She scarcely knew what she was saying. Her head was whirling. His hands were so big and powerful yet they were cupping and squeezing her with such gentleness.

"I intend to describe every one," he assured her with a husky laugh. "Complete with demonstration." He was suddenly lifting her and rubbing her against his loins. "This is one I had often. Do you like the feel of me, Zilah?"

Her fingers were digging into his shoulders. "Oh, yes," she said faintly. Her eyes closed and her head fell languidly against his chest. His heart was throbbing hard against her ear. Very hard. "I like that daydream very much."

"No dream now. Reality." He slowly let her slide down his body inch by inch. She could feel the readiness of every muscle and tendon. Then her bare toes touched the floor and he was backing away from her. There was a slight smile on his face and his eyes were smoldering. "Reality for both of us. Have you had a few fantasies too, Zilah?"

Color flooded her cheeks. "Yes, I suppose I have." She felt so vulnerable standing there before him naked while he was fully clothed. Vulnerable and shy. He leaned back against the door. She knew how aroused he was. Yet his pose was deceptively lazy, his shoulders resting against the door, his jean-clad legs  slightly spread. The faded denim clung  the powerful muscles of his calves and thighs. His feet xere bare except for the brown sandals he wore, and his feet looked as strong and hard as the rest of him.

"What would you like to do to me?" he asked softly. "Any way I can please you, I will. I'm at your disposal." His eyes were on her face, lingering on the wild flush that touched her cheeks and the bruised softness of her mouth. "Are you shy? Would you like me to start?"

She nodded. "I feel..." She shook her head helplessly. "Strange."

He smiled gently. "You won't for very long. It will all come together. Okay, my fantasy first. Walk over to the bed—slowly. I want to watch the play of the lamp light on your body and watch your hair move and shine against the naked flesh of your back."

She did as he asked. She could feel his eyes on her as she crossed the room. It was almost as if he were touching her. She could hear the sound of his breathing in the quiet room. It had roughened in the last few minutes, and she knew it was because she was arousing him. It sent a thrill of pleasure through her that dissipated the awkwardness she had been experiencing. She stopped by the bed and tossed back her hair so that it fell in a shimmering stream down her back. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Like that?"

"Like that," he said thickly. "Now sit down on the bed." His eyes were still fixed on her as he took off his sandals. "Damn, you're beautiful." He was moving toward her across the room, his bare feet making no sound on the carpet. "Sleek and soft and womanly." He stopped before the spot where she was sitting on the side of the bed. "Now part your thighs." He knelt before her on the floor between her thighs. His eyes were watching her expression searchingly. "Your turn." His voice was deep and quiet in the stillness. "Here I am. What do you want from me?"

Everything. He was so close yet not brushing her with so much as a fingertip. Every nerve in her body transmitted a need that was almost painful. "I want ... to touch you." Her tongue moistened her lips. "I want to see you. It was so dark in the cave."

"Then touch me." His smile was utterly sensual. "Look at me. I'm not as pretty as you, but what there is belongs to you." He picked up her hands and brought them to his chest. "You'll have to get rid of this shirt."

Her fingers were trembling as she unbuttoned the dark blue cotton shirt. They trembled more when he became impatient with her fumblings and decided to amuse himself by cupping and fondling her breasts in his palms. "You're so ripe and lovely." His eyes were hot and intent as he watched the pink crests spring into prominence. "Such sweet, firm cushions. Remind me to tell you about another fantasy that just came to mind."

"I can't keep up with them," she said shakily. She pushed the shirt down over his shoulders. "And I can't think when you do that."

"Good. If you can't think, then you certainly can't feel shy." He looked up, his eyes glowing softly. "Touch me, Zilah."

Her hands were trembling as she placed them flat on his chest. Hardness, heat, vitality. The cloud of red hair tickled her palms. She found his nipples in that nest and heard him gasp, and then he stiffened against her. She felt a little thrill of triumph as she slowly bent her head and licked with catlike delicacy and felt the nipple firm to hardness. His breathing was uneven but he made no other sound as she licked and even nibbled playfully for the next few minutes. It was only when she glanced up at his face that she noticed his jaw was clenched and his nostrils flared with strain. "Don't you like it?" she whispered.

His laugh held a touch of desperation. "Oh, I like it. It's just driving me crazy." He took her hand and

placed it on the knotted hardness of his stomach. "See?" His arms went around her waist and he laid his cheek on her breast. "Give me a minute. I'm wanting you so much. So much." In spite of his words he was rubbing his cheek wildly against her softness as if he couldn't resist the temptation of her naked breasts. His beard was erotically abrasive against her. His lips were warm, his breath hot.