“I don’t think Igor needed any more directions. He found the target just fine.”

“I’ll bet he’s one happy dog tonight: ‘

Gabe molded his hands around her bottom. “Poor old Igor. He must have trouble find inga lover that fits. And he’ll never have that kind of satisfaction with Gretchen again.”

“Not if I can help it: She nestled against him, her gray eyes turning smoky as he massaged her buttocks.

“Heartless woman.” His sex swelled beneath his jeans. She could bring him to the brink of desperation so fast it was scary.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” She reached her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to brush her lips against his.

Desire thickened his vocal chords. “Prove it.”

She slid out of his arms and turned to the dog. “Gretchen, lie down.” Gretchen plopped to the floor and put her head on her paws. “Stay,” Dallas instructed Then she turned back to Gabe and crooked one finger.

At that moment he would have followed her anywhere

Once inside the bedroom, she closed the door and leaned against it to take off her boots. Then, while he watched in an increasing state of arousal, she discarded her shirt and fringed shorts, until she stood before him in thong-style panties and a tease of a bra.

She motioned him toward the bed. “We’ll start with your boots .” Straddling his leg, she presented an enticing view of her backside as she pulled off his boot with practiced ease.

He ran a finger down her spine. “Seems like you might have done this maneuver before: He considered himself liberated when it came to former lovers, but he didn’t feel libe;ated when he contemplated Dallas taking off another guy’s boots.

“Yep.” She stepped over his other leg and repeated the process. Then she turned and sat astride his lap. He started to reach for her, but she grabbed his wrists. “You have a problem with that, cowboy?”

“Yes : The word was out before he could call it back.

“Too bad: Still astride him, she released his wrists and placed both hands on his chest. He allowed her to push him down to the mattress. Then she began unbuttoning his shirt, her hair falling around her face and over her scantily covered breasts. “I’ve had hundreds of lovers; she said, rocking gently against his groin.

“Liar.” He dug his fingers into her soft bottom.

“How do you know?” She scooted back just enough to unbuckle his belt.

“You think all Dave Fogarty and I do is play pool?” He gasped as she unbuttoned his jeans and reached in to stroke his bulging manhood. “He s told me all about you. Engaged once. Didn’t work out. You don’t even Damn , that feels good-” He groaned as she slipped her hand inside his briefs.

“I don’t even what?”

“Go out much.” He closed his eyes in ecstasy.

“Maybe I lied to Dave.” She paused in her fondling and braced her hands on either side of his head so she could lean down and nibble on his lower lip. “And why did you want to know, anyway?”

He grasped her by the waist and in one deft movement rolled over, sending her sprawling underneath him on the bed. “Lord knows why; he said, panting from excitement and the exertion of changing positions’I certainly didn’t expect to find a twenty-nine year -old virgin in this day and’ age Not one who looks like you, anyway. But damned if I like the idea of any other guy, even one, being inside you. “

Her gray eyes glowed. “That’s be inga bit possessive , Escalante.”

“I know.” He admired the way her breasts heaved beneath him. “Was he good? The guy you were engaged to?”

She licked her lips. “Great.”

“Damn you:’ He kissed her hard, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth. When he’d opened the front fastening of her bra he plundered her breasts, nipping with his teeth at her soft flesh. There may have been other lovers, but he was here now, and she would never forget him. Never.

She writhed beneath him, arching her hips upward until he reached down and pulled away the damp scrap of cotton between her legs. He resented the delay while he put on a condom. Finally he buried himself in her warm, moist center. There. He pushed forward a little more and felt her ripple of reaction rise up and enfold him. “you’re mine now; he murmured, drawing back and easing forward again, locking in on the center of her response. She quivered once again. “Mine.” He didn’t move much. He didn’t need to. She was trembling all over now, a volatile mixture ready to erupt all around him. He pressed forward insistently-seeking, seeking Her trembling grew more violent. His voice was hoarse as he repeated the word. His teeth raked across her throat.

Mine.

Then, with one final push he tapped into the epicenter of her passion, and her cry of affirmation rang in his ears. As her spasms guided him to his own shattering release, he accepted a truth his body had known since the first time he’d lain with her. She was his… and he was hers.

SHE’D WANTED TO BE claimed. She couldn’t deny it, all her feminist rhetoric to the contrary. When he’d demanded her allegiance, she’d had no choice but to grant it. That didn’t give him the right to tell her what to do. That didn’t give him domiruon over her life. But it gave him her loyalty and her fidelity.

Perhaps she’d known from the beginning that he could wrest such a promise from her, and she’d feared the power that implied. In the end, it was an easy promise to make. How could she ever welcome another into her bed after experiencing such total commuruon with Gabe?

Still breathing hard, he raised his head to look into her eyes, as if searching for confirmation. Without speaking, she met his gaze.

His breath caught, and he swallowed. “Once I told a woman that I loved her; he began. “What I felt was a soft emotion. Sweet. And so.. pale compared to this: He touched her cheek. “I don’t know what this is :

‘


“Neither do I.”

“I thought maybe…” He smoothed a strand of hair back from her cheek as he seemed to grope for words. “Maybe it was just plain old lust.” His wry smile squeezed her heart. “But I’ve lusted after centerfolds in magazines, and I never had the urge to-This will really sound chauvinistic-I want to brand you somehow , so that no man will ever even think about the prospect of having you.” His voice dropped to a husky whisper. “He’d have to kill me first .”

Stirred by his intensity, she cradled his face in her hands. “you’re right. That’s not very politically correct”

“But it’s honestly the way I feel .”

She met his gaze, all pretense stripped away. “That’s how I feel about you. Any woman who wants you has to get past me. And, Gabe, I fibbed about the man I was engaged to. He doesn’t hold a candle to you.” She paused. “No one does.”

“That’s good, because your days of experimenting are over.”

She decided to go for broke. “Do you realize what you’re saying?”

“Yes.” His eyes smiled into hers, bringing joy surging through her. “Which doesn’t mean all the rough parts are worked out of this arrangement; he cautioned’ It just means they will be.”

“You sound so sure .”

He shrugged. “It’s simple, really. I caxi t stand the idea of someone else making love to you. you’re a vibrant , healthy woman with lots of years of lovemaking ahead of you. So if I’m ruling out anybody else satisfying you , I guess the job falls to me.”

“What a noble sacrifice; she said, laughing.

“Isxi t it, though?” He leaned down and kissed her softly. “I need you, mi guerida.”

“Oh, Gabe.” She savored the gentle message conveyed by his kiss. Maybe they could make it, after all.

They held each other in contented silence for long moments. Finally he propped his head on his fist and gazed at her. “How about some rehozen ice cream? I’m starved.”

“Not me. But you go ahead.”

“Thanks, I will: He rolled away horn her and stood. “you’re sure? I’ll bring it to you.”

“No, thanks.” She levered herself up and watched him pull on his jeans and shirt. “I use that ice cream for comfort food when things aren’t going well : ‘

He glanced at her. “Since you had me pick it up this morning, I guess you anticipated needing some comfort”

“I wasn’t sure what would happen between us .”

“I’m still not sure.” He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “But that’s okay. Come on in and keep me company while I eat the ice cream.” ,

She grabbed a robe from the closet. By the time she entered the kitchen he was already scooping ice cream into the mug that said Hair Stylists Get You All Lathered

Up. Gretchen stood close by, looking hopeful.

“Couldn’t find a bowl?” she asked, lea rung against a cupboard.

“I’ve been wanting to use this mug ever since last night : ‘

“Was it only last night?”

He stopped scooping and turned to her. “Yeah, incredible as that seems” Then he continued filling the mug.

She could hardly believe that the same man who had stood in her kitchen and seemed so remote the night before could be the same guy who stood barefoot in front of her sink, his shirt hanging open, his hair tousled horn their lovemaking. “What a difference a day makes .”

He winked at her. “That’s for sure.” Then he tossed the scoop in the sink and took a spoon out of a drawer.

“I usually give Gretchen a little in her bowl.”

“Okay.” He picked up the scoop, dug out a generous portion and flicked it into Gretchen’s bowl. She immediately lowered her head and started lapping. Then he returned the scoop to the sink and put away the ice cream.

Dallas started over to rinse the scoop and put it in the dishwasher.

Gabe caught her eye just as she reached for the scoop. “Why not leave it?” he asked casually.