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Carol lowered her arms, her dress fell back into place and Steve breathed norht he was safe from further temptation until she twisted around Her ripe, full breasts filled the front of her dress, their shape clearly defined against the thin fabric If he’d been guessing about the bra before, he was now certain She wasn’t wearing one

"I’m ready for another ornament," she said softly

Like a blind lass bulb He handed it to her and did everything within his power to keep his gaze away from her breasts

"How does that one look?" Carol asked

"Fine," Steve answered gruffly

"Steve?"

"Don’t you think that’s enough decorations, for God’s sake?"

His harsh tone was as much a surprise to him as it obviously was to Carol

"Yes, of course"

She sounded disappointed, but that couldn’t be helped Steve moved to her side once more and offered her his hand to help her down His footof the chair because it jerked forward Perhaps it was so she did, Steve wasn’t sure, but whatever happened caused the chair to teeter on the thick carpet

With a small cry of alarm, Carol threw out her ar, Steve’s hands shot out like bullets to catch her The chair fell sideways onto the floor, but Steve’s grip on Carol’s waist anchored her fir was labored, and Steve sighed with relief that she hadn’t fallen It was on the tip of his tongue to berate her, call her a silly goose for not letting hi such a fool She shouldn’t put herself at risk over so as nonsensical as a Christazes were even, her haunting eyes stared into his and said his name as clearly as if it were spoken Carol’s feet remained several inches off the floor, and still Steve held on to her, unable to release her His heart was pounding frantically onder as he raised a finger and touched her soft throat His gaze continued to delve into hers He wanted to set her back on the carpet, to free therip before it th to let her go

Slowly she slid down his front, between his braced feet, cri the skirt of her dress between them Once she was secure, he noted that her lower abdohs The throbbing in his groin began again, and he held in a groan that threatened to eed to kiss herin his life, and only the greatest strength of will kept hi her sweet mouth with his own

She’d betrayed him once, crippled him with her deceit Steve had sworn he would never allow her to use hiuments burned away like dry timber in a forest fire

His thuh the action would be enough to satisfy either of theony even more powerful His heart leaped into a hard, fast rhythm that made him feel breathless and weak Before he could stop hilided over hers Softly Moistly Satin against satin

Carol sighed

Steve groaned

She weakened in his arms and closed her eyes Steve kissed her a second tiue deep into herit threatened to consuht by a vise and carried there against his will He cupped the rounded flesh, and his finger teased the nipple until it beaded and swelled against his palain Had to know for hih, he reached behind her and peeled down her zipper She was as eager as he when he lowered the top of her dress and exposed her naked front

Her hands were around his neck, and she slanted her ht into his Steve’s mouth quickly abandoned hers to explore the curve of her neck and then lower to the rosy tips of her firue traced circles around the pebbled nipples until Carol shuddered and plowed her fingers through his hair

"Steve…oh, I’ve missed you so ain, but the words didn’t register in his clouded mind When they did, he went cold She ered for his touch, but she hadn’t been faithful The thought crippled him, and he went utterly still

Carol must have sensed his withdrawal, because she dropped her ar in a heated race His own breathing wasn’t any ular

Abruptly Steve released her and stumbled two paces back