She arched, offering herself blindly. His lips captured one burgeoning nipple with desperate hunger. He was murmuring something broken and incoherent as he nibbled, sucked, ran his tongue over her in a delirium of passion. She moaned, the sound barely audible.

Then his lips were gone from her breast. They were burning the valley between her breasts, the smooth skin of her abdomen, the fleecy nest that surrounded her womanhood. He lifted his head. His eyes were blazing in his pale face. "Zilah? Say yes. I can't take much more."

She nodded. She couldn't speak. At the moment she felt utterly mindless.

He took a deep breath and tried to still the trembling that was shaking him. "You're sure? It's got to be right for you this time."

She almost laughed aloud. "I'm sure," she said shakily.

He waited no longer. He was on his feet, stripping off his clothes with an impatience that was almost savage. He was almost savage, she thought dazedly as her eyes ran over the tight powerful buttocks and the iron-hard sinews of his calves and thighs. He looked wild and barbaric, a naked, virile giant with flaming hair and beard.

But there was nothing savage about the dark blue eyes that were looking at her with such glowing tenderness. "Lie back," he said gently. "I won't hurt

you. I'll never hurt you. We'll go slow and easy this time." He noticed her eyes on him and he smiled. "I want you. Would you like to see how much I want you? Do you want to touch me?"

She shook her head. "Not now." She smiled back at him. "Later, perhaps."

"I'll look forward to it." He pushed her down on the pillows. "Do you like my body?" He was over her, looking down at her. "Does it please you?"

"It. . . pleases me," she said haltingly. It was difficult putting words together when she was conscious only of his big hands parting her thighs and his narrowed eyes intent on her face. "You're beautiful, Daniel."

"I wasn't fishing for compliments." He smiled. "I know I'm no movie idol. I just wanted to make sure I didn't scare you. I'm such a big bastard."

He was doing it again. Why did he persist in thinking she would be frightened of him? "There's nothing frighten—"

He had entered her with one smooth plunge, taking her breath and mind and setting her body on fire. "Daniel!"

"I can't stand it," he grated. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes so beautifully sensual that she wanted to keep looking at him forever. "It's so damn good.'' He was moving slowly, carefully, filling her with himself, filling her with beauty. "We fit so well. We were meant to be together like this. Can't you feel that, love?"

She could feel him. She could feel the closeness and the fire and the wonder. Her hands ran over his chest, fluttering, searching mindlessly. Full, empty. Full again. Her breasts were full, too, and achingly taut with the need for more of him.

She suddenly surged upward, taking more of him. He froze. His eyes closed. His chest was shuddering with the harshness of his breathing. "I wish you hadn't done that. I was doing so well. I was almost civilized." His lids flicked open. "I'm sorry. I tried."

He went wild. Stroking, plunging, moving her. His words were fevered and sweet. His hands rough, yet loving on her body. It was all bold and hot and caring. It was blinding rapture. It was Daniel. Beauty, heat, and then a flame of glory.

He collapsed in her arms, his chest moving as if he were starved for oxygen. His big fist clenched and then hit the bed with a force that shocked her. "Dammit! I blew it!"

She was so dazed that at first she was totally bewildered. "Daniel?" Her hand tangled in the soft richness of his hair, caressing, soothing.

His face was buried in her throat and she could feel him shaking against her. "I'm sorry. God, I'm sorry," he whispered. "I tried so hard. Don't hate me,

Zilah."

"Hate you!" She shook her head as if to clear it. "Why should I hate you?"

"I wanted it to be beautiful for you, dammit. I wanted to be gentle and kind." He laughed. "I wanted to be a damn white knight."

"You think it wasn't beautiful for me?" She couldn't believe it. "Daniel, you're a complete idiot."

He lifted his head. "Don't try to make me feel better," he growled. "I was there, remember. I was rough as hell."

Her lips were twitching. "You're still there," she said demurely. "And you notice I'm not objecting."

"It's not funny. I don't see how you can laugh about it. I practically violated you." His lips were tight with pain. "No generosity can excuse that."

"Dammit," she said clearly. "Shut up." She framed his face with her hands and looked into his

eyes. "It was beautiful. It was a little rough, because that's a part of you. I wouldn't have done without that part of it any more than I would the gentleness and beauty that are a part of you too." She pulled his head down and kissed him hard. "I don't know where you got the idea I was so breakable, but it's not true. Understood?"

His eyes were oddly bright. "Understood," he said gruffly. His lips covered her own with a sweetness that made her a little dizzy. He lifted his head. "All the same, I'll do better next time."

She shook her head in exasperation. Heavens, he was stubborn. Then she felt him stir within her and she smiled delightedly. "It looks like you're going to get the opportunity very soon."

"You're damn right." The rhythm began again, deep and lazy but just as thrilling. "That was one of my very favorite daydreams. Loving you." His words were punctuated with a thrusting movement that took her breath away. "And loving you. Over and over. Deeper and deeper. Sweeter and sweeter. Hotter and ..."

She didn't know how much later it was when she felt his kiss on her temple. She was lying in perfect contentment, her head on his shoulder, watching moonlight filter through the fretted window across the room. The lamp was out now and there was only the darkness, the moonlight, and Daniel.

"Well, have you decided, old friend?" he asked softly.

"Decided?"

"Whether it's the end of the world or the beginning?"

She  cuddled  closer.   "Oh,   the  beginning." Rebirth, sunrise, the world remade in his arms. Definitely the beginning, Daniel."

Nine

Those blissful feelings of renaissance and warm contentment were still with her when she opened her eyes a few hours later. It was the gray hour before dawn and she was tempted to close her eyes and go back to sleep. It was so lovely to be held like this in Daniel's arms. She snuggled closer and felt those arms tighten around her in unconscious possession.

Last night had been wonderful and Daniel so loving. Even though no words of commitment had been spoken, surely their loving meant something. His words, when he had made love to her, had been of passion and possession. Still, later, when passion was spent, he had been so marvelously gentle and caring that hope had sprung into full bloom. But she mustn't ask for too much. She had been given the lovely seeds of friendship and desire. She would nourish them well and pray that they would grow into love.

The room was cool. Zilah pulled the sheet higher to cover Daniel's shoulders, careful not to wake him. She closed her eyes. Then they flicked open as a sudden memory pierced the mists of contentment. Pandora. She felt like groaning aloud. Oh, damn, it was almost dawn, and Pandora would be at the stables waiting for her.