Always

'Why unfortunately?'

'Because combining a lawless gypsy philosophy like Mama's with Kira's temperament was like adding oil to fire.' He picked up his glass of wine. 'Explosive.'

'Fascinating,' Lisa murmured.

'If you like to play with dynamite.' He smiled. 'Personally I like my entertainment a little less volatile. Have I told you how lovely you look tonight? I like that caftan.'

'So do I.' She touched the peach-colored brocade of the bodice. She knew the color was good with her hair and eyes, and the richness of the material always made her feel festive. 'Though the style is more fitting to one of your Middle Eastern palaces than this castle.'

'Oh, I don't know. I imagine quite a few knights brought their ladies gorgeous garb like that from their crusades.'

'I hadn't thought of that.' She wasn't thinking very coherently of anything, she thought ruefully. Her palms were actually damp with nervousness. Good Lord, she was acting with all the sophistication of a teenage virgin. She should have seduced Clancy this afternoon on the plane. Then she had responded with complete naturalness and passion. Now that she'd had time to think how important tonight might be to her, she had developed a case of nerves.

'You're not eating again.' Clancy's eyes were twinkling. 'You mustn't disappoint Marna. She might put the evil eye on you.'

'Is that why you brought me here? So that Marna could accomplish what you and Galbraith couldn't?'

He went still. 'You know why I brought you here,' he said quietly. 'And it has nothing to do with that particular appetite.'

Her chest was suddenly so tight she was finding it hard to breathe. She could see the reflection of the candle flames in his eyes, but she doubted if that was what made them blaze. The room was charged with an electricity and naked desire that was unmistakable. Why were they sitting here indulging in this charade of social amenities when neither of them wanted to be anywhere but in each other's arms? She swallowed. 'You don't seem to be eating very well yourself. Shall we give it up and take the risk of incurring Mama's wrath?'

He threw the napkin on the table and stood up. 'If we can manage to escape before she comes back from the kitchen.' He was around the table, pulling her to her feet. 'Let's go!'

They ran from the room like naughty children, only to be confronted by Marna in the hall. Braking, they skidded to a stop.

'You do not wish dessert?' the housekeeper asked, raising a brow.

Clancy shook his head. 'Miss Landon needs some fresh air. We thought we'd take a walk on the battlements.'

The faintest smile touched Mama's lips. 'It is always wise to satisfy one's needs when they occur. It is unhealthy to do otherwise. Good night, Mr. Donahue.'

Lisa stared after her retreating figure. 'Maybe she is a witch. That had to be a double entendre.'

'She wouldn't have to be psychic to read our minds at the moment. There's a certain look…'

He grinned. 'Though I wouldn't swear that she didn't.' He took her hand and pulled her up the stairs. When they reached the landing he suddenly turned to her with a frown. 'Would you like to?'

She blinked. 'What?'

'See the battlements. I don't want you to think I'm rushing you off to the sack. And I suppose a stroll in the moonlight would be romantic.'

She gazed at him with exasperation and enormous tenderness. 'Clancy, you've done your duty. You've provided me with all the romance a woman could possibly want. Now for God's sake, will you take me to bed?'

A slow smile lit his face. 'Did I ever tell you how much I admire an aggressive woman? You're damn right I will.'

He rushed her up the second flight of stairs with a speed that had her choking with laughter. Then he swung her up in his arms and strode down the hall. 'One last romantic gesture. I was tempted to carry you up the stairs like Rhett Butler did Scarlett, but I thought you'd prefer to have me able to function when we got to the top.'

He opened the door of a room at the end of the corridor and carried her into a large bedroom much like her own. Several crystal candelabra bearing long white tapers were scattered about the room, and the flames cast dancing shadows on the walls. Lisa was vaguely aware of tapestries in muted hues covering those walls, Aubusson area rugs on the stone floors, and a huge canopied four-poster bed across the room.

'Romance isn't everything.' He set her on her feet and kicked the door shut behind him. 'In a situation like this, stamina counts for a hell of a lot, too.'

'Clancy…' She gazed up at him helplessly. Why didn't he realize how wonderful he was? 'Don't you know you don't have to act romantic? You are romantic. You're handsome, brave, and intelligent.'

'And sexy?' he suggested solemnly.

'And sexy.' She nodded. 'Oh, yes, very sexy.'

'Just testing. I wanted to be sure you appreciated all my attributes.' Suddenly he put his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. 'Oh, God, I didn't think I'd ever make it.' His hands moved feverishly on her back. His lips were on her ear, her temple, her cheek in soft, hot kisses. 'It seems as if I've been aching for this for at least a decade or so.'

Lisa could feel the hardness of his rigid muscles against her, but he wasn't close enough. She cuddled nearer, rotating in a sinuous little movement into the cradle of his hips. He inhaled sharply. His heart was pounding so hard she could detect the movement through his white dress shirt.

His tongue darted in her ear and she moaned deep in her throat, arching against him as if he'd jerked a hidden string.

'Naked,' he muttered. 'I've got to get you naked.' His unsteady hands were unfastening the barrette that held back her hair and then combing through the loosened tresses until they fell in a shimmering cloud down her back.

'Clancy, that barrette wasn't exactly a significant body covering.' Lia laughed shakily. 'If you'lllet me go for a minute, I'll see if I can improve on what you started.'

His hips moved slowly against her, rotating, stroking her sensuously, his hands cupping her buttocks to bring her in closer contact. Their lower bodies were pressed so close that she could feel the heat of his arousal with every breath. 'I don't want to let you go,' he said. She could hear his ragged breathing as he pressed his fevered cheek against her temple. Then he was pushing her away. 'Quick. For God's sake, be quick.'

He didn't need to urge her to speed. When he had pushed her away she'd felt an aching sense of loss, as if they had been joined and were now severed by a surgeon's scalpel. She needed that joining.

She moved swiftly, pulling the caftan over her head and then dispensing with her slippers and underthings with equal speed. Then she was back in his arms and was aware of the shock of naked flesh against her own. Clancy had stripped with the same frantic urgency she had.

'Clancy…' Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she rubbed her body against him with exquisite sensuous pleasure.

The cloud of hair on his chest was teasing her sensitive breasts, the hard muscles and bones of his thighs were locked and rigid with a leashed threat that was deliciously exciting. With every movement of her body he gave a little gasp that was almost a groan. She was gasping, too. Each breath was a shock of sensation as it brought her flesh in fresh contact with his. His left thigh Insinuated itself between hers, and she could feel the thickmuscles, lightly dusted with hair, pressing against her softness.

Her teeth clenched to suppress a cry that could well have turned into a scream. Heat. Wanting. His thigh moved with soft abrasiveness against her womanhood in an urgent, mindless rhythm that was making her mindless as well. 'No more,' she whispered. 'No more, Clancy.'

He nodded jerkily. 'No more,' he agreed. His chest was heaving with the force of his breathing. 'Come on.' He half pulled her across the room to the bed. Once there, he didn't wait to jerk down the spread but pushed her down on the cool satin surface. His eyes were glazed and almost blind as he followed her down and settled himself between her thighs. 'Are you ready for me? I hope to heaven you're ready.' He didn't wait for an answer but