her. Compassion. That, too, she'd sensed in him. But to feel it now, to have him give her the gift of it, was more precious than diamonds. She was lost in him again, not in the frantic race she'd become used to, but in a slow, lengthy search she already knew would lead her where she had always wanted to go.
He caressed where he'd once taken greedily. Her skin was like satin and shivered under his touch. There was a fluidity to her now rather than a frenzy, a quiescence that had taken the place of energy.
His fingertips skimmed over her, and he delighted in making discoveries in territory already conquered. The same woman, yet a different one; her generosity was still there, but merged now with a vulnerability that humbled him. He found her flavor somehow sweeter. When he pressed his lips to her breast, he felt her heartbeat. It hammered fast, not with the heady, energetic rhythm of their past loving, but quick and light.
Experimentally he ran a finger over the inside of her wrist, feeling her pulse beating there, as well. For him. Curling his fingers through hers, he brought them to his lips to kiss and caress them one by one.
The bottom seemed to drop out of her world. With each touch she had fallen deeper, still deeper, into his. Into him. Now, as he did nothing more than brush his mouth over her fingertips, she tumbled headfirst into the dark, trusting him implicitly to catch her.
He could have asked her anything, demanded anything. In that moment her love was so overwhelming that she would have granted any wish without a thought to self or survival. It wasn't possible for her to gather him close and take their loving to another plane. He had a prisoner. Though he might not know it, she would stay enslaved as long as he'd have her.
He only knew that something had changed yet again. He was protector now as well as lover, giver as well as taker. The excitement that knowledge brought was tinged with a trace of fear he struggled to ignore. He couldn't think about tomorrow and tomorrow's consequences when he wanted her, possibly more, impossibly more, than he had only moments ago. She wouldn't object if he took her quickly, if he dragged them both to the top without preamble or delicacy. Perhaps it was because of that, because he understood that she would accept him on any terms, that he found himself needing to give her everything he could.
Slow loving. Almost tortuous. Tender stroking. Lazy tastes. There were quiet sighs that rippled the air until even the sunlight seemed to dim. If it had been possible, he would have had flowers for her, a banquet of them. Soft petals, shimmering fragrances; he would have poured them over her skin. But he only had himself.
It was enough. He was more than enough for her. She showed him that in the way her lips parted, in the way her arms encircled him. No dream she'd ever indulged in, no wish she'd ever given herself, could compare with the reality of him cherishing her.
His hands were so cool, so calm, on her skin. With each touch she felt herself glow. The heat came from within her now, so that it was possible to bank it, to prevent it from becoming overpowering. Just flickers of flame, burning softly.
As gentle as he, she reached for him, offering the pleasure and temptation of unconditional love. When she trembled, he murmured. In reassurance. And she, who had never believed she would need a man to watch over her, understood that she would wither to dust without him.
Generosity, given without restrictions. That she offered, openhanded, was no longer a surprise to him. But to discover that he could give equally, to find that he was compelled to match her, was something new.
He slipped into her, and the tenderness remained.
Slow, harmonious movements. A breath caught, then sighed away like the wind. With his mouth on hers, they continued. Like a Viennese waltz, their dance was light and elegant. When the tempo increased, they surged with the music, spinning, whirling, their eyes open and locked together.
The dance ended as gently as it had begun.
The sun was higher now. Contentedly, her body curved into his, Jackie watched the curtains move with the faint breeze. If she concentrated hard enough she could catch the light fragrance of flowers from the garden below. Nothing identifiable, but a mixture of scents that spoke of spring and new life.
Every moment of the hours they'd had together were lodged firmly in her mind. She knew she would take them out often and enjoy them over and over.
'You know what I'd like?' she asked him.
'Hmmm?' If he hadn't been so dazed, it would have amazed him that he could be dozing in bed this close to noon.
'To stay here, right here in this bed, all day.'
'We've got a pretty good start.'
Her grin wicked, she turned to face him. Nose to nose, she leered. 'Why don't we-' She swore when the phone rang. 'It's the wrong number,' she told him, climbing over his shoulder as he reached for it. 'It's just a woman with a squeaky voice who's going to tell you your name's been selected in a sweepstakes and you've won ten free magazine subscriptions as long as you pay $7.75 a month for handling.'
He hesitated a moment because when she said it it was too easy to believe. 'What if it isn't?'
'Ah, but what if it is? Do you have enough willpower to resist ten free magazines a month? Be sure, Nathan. Be very sure.'
He put a hand over her face and shoved her back against the pillows. 'Hello.'
'You were warned,' Jackie said in a voice that spoke of doom. This time he put the pillow over her face.
'Carla?'
'Carla?' Her voice was muffled by the pillows. Jackie tossed it aside and sank her teeth into his shoulder.
'Ouch! Damn it! No, Carla, I- What is it?' To protect himself, Nathan rolled and trapped Jackie under him. 'Yes, I was expecting that.' Ignoring the flailing arms and muttered curses beneath him, Nathan listened. 'All right, we'll push up the schedule if necessary. No, I've already taken care of that from here. Set this up for tomorrow. Nine. Ten, then,' he said. 'Contact Cody. I'll want him there. Fine, Carla.' Jackie wriggled beneath him and made loud gasping noises. He ignored that, as well. 'Yes, I've enjoyed having a few days of relaxation. See you tomorrow.'
When he leaned over to hang up the receiver, Jackie managed to squirm out from under him. Face flushed, pulling in exaggerated gulps of air, she thudded a pillow over his head.
'So,' she began. 'You decided to smother me so that you could run off with the Italian countess and make mad, illicit passion in the Holiday Inn. Don't try to deny it,' she warned. 'The signs are all too clear.'
'Okay. Which Italian countess was that?'
'Carla.' She slammed the pillow at him again, aiming lower, then had to bite back a laugh when he grabbed her around the waist. 'No, don't try to make up, Nathan. It's too late. I've already decided to murder both you and the countess. I'll electrocute you while you're sharing your bubble bath. No jury would convict me.'
'Not if they did a psychiatric profile first.'
She made another grab, this time for a very vulnerable area. He avoided her by throwing her onto her back and once again using his body to shield and protect himself. Arms locked, they rolled. Nathan was just beginning to enjoy it when her momentum sent them tumbling to the floor.
Out of breath and rubbing his shoulder, he narrowed his eyes. 'You are crazy.'
Jackie straddled him and planted her arms on either side of his head. 'Okay, Powell, if you value your life, come clean. Who's Carla?'
He considered her. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed with amusement. Her wide, incredible mouth was curved. Casually he cupped her hips in his hands. 'You want the truth?'
'And nothing but.'
'The countess Carla Mandolini and I have been having a blazing adulterous affair for years. She fools her husband, the elderly and impotent count, by doubling as my secretary. The fool actually believes that the twins are his.'
He really was adorable, Jackie decided as she leaned closer. 'A likely story,' she told him just before her mouth covered his.
Chapter Nine
