Page 9 (1/2)

Sated, she shifted off of him and curled up at his side He wrapped an aredly They lay like that for a long tiet the wine At least it gave hihts back on and take her all in when he returned There was a faint sheen of sweat on her brow, and her cheeks were flushed from her own cliht she looked more beautiful now than she had prilass of ith tre moments, amazed at how she co looks either He’d meant what he said: She re contradictions A castal princess An avenging Valkyrie That kind of puzzle hat he lived for, a turn-on in and of itself

Froave Justin, he kneasn’t the only one captivated here They were each other’s undoing "Why does a devastatingly beautiful wohts off?" he asked "I’ve knoomen who need to do that You aren’t one of theently with his fingertips and had the satisfaction of seeing her shiver with desire They’d taken their ti "You really have walls within walls around you, don’t you?" His fingers moved down her neck and then on to trace the curve of one of her breasts "What are you afraid I’ll see with the lights on?"

"Everything," she said siuessed "And you’re afraid for me--or anyone--to see you lose it To see your erew "You believe in souls?"

"I believe the next ti on"

"You sure have a high opinion of yourself, thinking it’s going to happen again"

"Well, why not? You didn’t seeot anywhere else to be?"

She hesitated "No I don’t think so"

"Then it’s settled" He rested back against the headboard "We’ll have a nice wine break, and then--lights on"

That earned hihts"

"Gladly"

"I don’t think you’d win"

He set the wineglass on the bedside table and leaned toward her "Then I’ll tie you up and keep you down"

She seeued Her pupils were dark and dilated with desire She could do it again right now, he realized "Hope you tie a good knot"

"I tie an excellent knot And then I’ll drag things out as long as I want, do whatever I want You don’t beg much, do you? But you will…you will, and you’ll love it" He trailed his lips along her cheek, and his arousal had returned He was already i her face when she came with him inside her "And all the while, I’ll look at you as hts on--your body, your face when you come…all those emotions you won’t let anyone see…"

Mae’s breath ca onto the floor He didn’t care His lips found hers again, and all that ain and--

A soft chiht and pull away With more of that remarkable speed, she sprinted from the bed and out the door She returnedin the palht of her naked body to notice o

Careful, said Horatio Dashing Eastern Alliance diplomat Huan Korokov wouldn’t even blink an eye at that

I know, I know, Justin said

He wished he could get a better look but knew Horatio was right Telecoh getting a good portable phone, let alone anything as sophisticated as an ego It governed a Gemman’s life It edwithout one for four years had been a huge adjustrown up with people and information instantly accessible, and that lack had only increased his feeling of isolation in exile

Mae sighed and looked up froan hunting around for her dress "I’allant, but there was a sinking feeling welling up in him, not unlike when Huan had announced his departure "I’m honored to have even had such a brief ave hied the dress up "You already hadon the charer smile He found a robe and walked her to the door She opened it and then lingered in the doorway, looking at hied to be both bold and shy at the sa to make you happy"

"I already did," he assured her

"It really doesn’t stop with you" She gave hiood-bye, one even she was reluctant to break "If I ever get back here, I’ll look you up again"

He smiled "I look forward to it"