"It's really incredible, isn't it?" Stark raised her voice above the wind, her eyes bright with a shimmer of tears. She could write that off to the effects of the wind, but the tightness in her chest wasn't due to the weather or the elevation. All she could think as she stood on the edge of Wonderland were the quiet words of the woman beside her. I want to remember two things about tonight: seeing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower and making love with you.

Renee wasn't looking at the view. Stark's face glowed with youthful enthusiasm as her dark hair whipped about her face. Her fingers gripped Renee's tightly, and her voice had been husky with emotion. I hope you never learn to hide your feelings.

"Beautiful." Renee moved closer and threaded her arm around Stark's waist beneath her jacket and leaned her head against the sturdy shoulder. You 're so beautiful

Stark slid her arm around Renee. "I'm really glad you let me ride the elevator. If you hadn't, I probably would have had to lie down when we got up here, and then I would have missed the view."

"I'm sure you could have made it," Renee assured her, "but I really didn't want to tire you out so soon. I have other plans for doing that."

Stark gave a slight jerk, then turned her face from the view and met Renee's eyes. "You know, I'm constantly excited when I'm near you. Actually, I'm constantly excited most of the time just thinking about you. So it would be good if you didn't remind me of it too often, because I think I'm starting to get tissue damage."

Renee cupped her hand behind Stark's head and drew her close. She kissed her, unmindful of the occasional person passing by. Part of the reason she had been able to wait as long as she had before dragging Stark into bed was that kissing Paula Stark was an experience in itself. Stark's lips were full and warm and incredibly inquisitive, coursing over Renee's in a continuous wave of soft caresses and tender sucks. Every now and then, she'd feel a tiny pinpoint of pain that was quickly soothed by the gentle stroke of a warm tongue, and she'd realize that she'd been bitten. The surprise, the pleasure, the shifting sensations, first gentle then demanding, settled deep in her core and made her ache with wanting. But the hunger was so enjoyable that she was happy to let it rage unanswered. At least she had been. Now with every passing second it was becoming more and more difficult to hold her need at bay. She pulled her head back, gasping. "I want you. God."

Stark rested both arms gently around Renee's waist, their thighs lightly touching. They were alone again in their small section of the monument, with all of Paris at their feet. She couldn't quite believe that this incredible woman wanted her. If Renee only knew that she hadn't a clue as to how to please her, or even how to begin to show her how much she wanted to be with her. Other than a few less-than-memorable forays into relationships with men, which she had been more than willing to set aside when she entered the training academy, she'd had one night of true passion. And that night had been with a woman she did not love and who did not love her. It had been unforgettable—an epiphany, both physical and emotional—and she couldn't honestly say now that she regretted it. It had been an important part of her self-awakening, but the fevered lust had been an inferno, leaving nothing in its wake but ashes. And in those few heated hours, she'd done little more than allow herself to be consumed. "There's something I have to tell you."

Hearing something close to self-recrimination in Stark's voice, Renee tilted her head, then shook it slowly. "No, there isn't. Unless there's someone else, right now, there isn't a thing you need to tell me."

"There isn't anyone. That's what I wanted to say. There never has been anyone. A few hours, once, but—"

"Are you trying to tell me that you're inexperienced?"

Mutely, Stark nodded, glad for the darkness to hide her humiliation. "I want.. I want tonight to be everything you hope it will be. And I—"

"Oh God," Renee murmured. She framed Stark's face in her hands. "Sweetheart, it already is what I hoped for. More, even." In the moonlight, she saw the fleeting look of consternation cross Stark's face. "You don't know, do you?"

Feeling more inept every second, Stark shook her head again.

"When I'm with you," Renee said gently, stroking the bold, strong angle of Stark's jaw, "everything is new. Because of you... because of your kindness and your tenderness and your honesty. Nothing before tonight matters, because tonight—with you—will be the first time it's ever been right for me."

Stark's heart fluttered, and she was glad for the hold she had on the woman in her arms, because, for an instant, she felt as if she could fly. "Would you mind if we left now? I just don't think I'll be good for anything else until I can hold you with nothing between us."

"That sounds just exactly like what I need."

Arms around each other's waists, they cast one last glance at the City of Light, then headed for the elevator and the promise of the night.

CHAPTER TWELVE

S tark stared at the numbers on the rectangular panel to the right of the elevator doors as they slowly ascended. Renee stood silently beside her, the fingers of her right hand lightly wrapped around Stark's forearm. She could feel the heat even through the brushed cotton of her blazer. 12... 13... 14...With each passing floor, her heart rate accelerated and the roiling in her stomach ratcheted up a notch.

I'm going to blow it. I don't even know what she likes. I'm not even sure I'd know how to do it even if I did know what she likes.

The elevator glided to a stop with a barely perceptible hitch. For what seemed like an eternity, Stark thought the doors might not open. Then she found herself in the hallway outside room 2010 watching Renee slide the key card through the lock. She cleared her throat and resisted the urge to shuffle her feet. Instead, she dutifully followed Renee inside and stood waiting while Renee reached behind her, removed the Do Not Disturb sign, and hung it outside on the door handle.

Oh my God.

Uncertain of the next move, Stark remained statue-still while Renee locked the door, set the security chain in place, and moved around the room to turn on a few lights. Mouth dry, heart jackhammering in her ears, Stark searched frantically for something to say.

My legs are numb. I can 't feel my hands. Jesus, what if I can't come. She'll think I don't like it. Don't like her.

Renee twisted the dimmer switch until the lights in the sitting area were barely a faint glow. Then she crossed back to Stark and slipped both hands inside the edges of the dark blue blazer, resting her palms against Stark's chest, her fingertips riding the edges of her collarbones. She gently smoothed her hands back and forth.

"This isn't a test. There's no right or wrong way to do it. There's just us...together...touching."

The sound of Renee's calm, kind voice, the brilliant light in her eyes, the warm welcoming touch of her hands—those were the things that quelled Stark's anxiety and left her smiling. She cupped her palm to the back of Renee's neck and leaned forward, skimming her lips over Renee's. Lost in the soft heat of Renee's mouth, she didn't think beyond the next caress or any further than the small nip of flesh and the moan of pleasure the gentle bite elicited. She couldn't be nervous when Renee was all she knew.

Wrapping her arms around Stark's solid waist, Renee sighed and tilted her head back, her eyes liquid. "You're so damn good at that."

"What?" Stark's voice was husky as she slowly worked her hand between Renee's sweater and the blouse beneath, circling her palm over Renee's lower back, loving the way the strong muscles tensed beneath her fingers through the thin covering of silk.

"Kissing. You're an amazing kisser."

"Yeah?" Stark grinned. "Then I have a suggestion."

Renee struggled to follow the conversation as the lower half of her body turned molten under Stark's hands. It wasn't even an intentionally seductive caress, just a steady massage of fingertips along her spine, and yet, her thighs trembled. What will happen to me when those fingers finally touch my skin? She moaned softly, then sharply caught her breath at the rapid flutter of excitement in the depths of her belly. She forced herself to focus. "What?"

"Since I'm doing okay in the kissing department, let's just lie down and start there."

"Good idea." Renee took Stark's hand. "I don't know why I didn't think of it myself." Except none of my brain cells seem to be firing at the moment, and all the blood in my body is headed in the opposite direction.

Renee left the lamps off in the bedroom, but enough illumination filtered through from the room beyond to light their way. Once at the bedside, she lifted off her cashmere sweater and tossed it onto the back of a nearby chair. Since she was in Paris on vacation, she wasn't carrying her weapon. But Stark was, and after removing her blazer, she slid the holster from her waistband with the kind of practiced move that was automatic and set it on the night table. Renee kicked off her shoes as Stark sat on the side of the bed and removed hers.

Stark looked up to find Renee watching her with a half-smile on her face. "What?"

"Still nervous?"

"Some."

"We don't have to rush."

"You don't have to go slow just for me, you know. I might fumble, but I'll keep up."

Renee moved closer to stand between Stark's parted thighs. She worked her fingers into the seated woman's hair, slowly drawing the thick dark strands between her fingers. "I have every confidence that you won't drop the ball, Paula." She tilted Stark's head back and leaned down, starting her own exploration of Stark's full, sensuous lips. She sucked lightly before sliding her tongue along the inner surfaces, closing her eyes as a wave of heat and longing washed through her. Her mouth still brushing Stark's, she murmured, "I'm going slowly for me."