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No one, thank God

"Did thatin his ar answer The correct one would have been, What man? I didn’t see any man There was no ht me out here?" She looked to the sky and shivered "Perhaps we should go back inside"

"No" He cinched his ar her close "We can’t"

"Why not?" In the dark, her pupils ide and inquisitive

He had to do it He had to supply so her out here, and he had to stop the flow of questions from her lips Really, it was the only way

He dipped his head and brushed his lips against hers "Kiss ht, teasing caresses of his lips against her estions of a kiss She went soft in his arh of pleasure

"Kissthe sea her what he wanted in clearer terms than spoken words "Lethis brow to hers Their breath ap between their lips He wanted to kiss her again He wanted so much more than that God, hoanted But if this went any further, it had to be because she wanted it, too

Kiss me, he silently pleaded The realfor clubs or parties or the current style Thewhere you are and what you’re doing and what it is you’re thinking Themore in this life than to come ho and everything you have to say before sweeping you off to bed

Kissher neck, she pressed her lips to his, just softly Then retreated Teasing him as she’d been teased

"That’s it," heback He nuzzled closer, letting his breath warm her cheek and lips "More"

And there came an instant--a blissful instant--where the air around theree with revelation So to happen

Still, he wasn’t prepared for it to happen so fast

She flung her arht off-balance, Julian stuhtened her arifted him with a warm, passionate, open-ue between the his mouth with an innocent, fearless passion

He was, honestly,

He let her have her way, forcing hiainst his, over and over again So delicious She tasted of wine and that essential Lily sweetness he’d sa new in this kiss Determination had replaced curiosity She kissed him not only to satisfy needs of her own, but to incite need in hi he’d ever known That y that had fueled their escape--rather than dissipate, it took new purpose, surging all through his body and centering in his groin Julian couldn’t think; he could only act He kissed her back, taking control of the e his hands in the heavy wool of her cloak and pulling her tight against his chest

"Wait," she said, tearing her ers went to the ties of her cloak "This thing is unbearable"

"Don’t You’ll catch a chill" He turned his palm to the heavens in demonstration, and a few droplets of rain collected in his hand

"You’ll keep round The instant it hit the cobblestones, Julian knew the gar

"There’s no one to see," she said "No one but you" The brilliants and pearls sewn into her gown sparkled and flashed "I want you to see I only wore it for you"

He groaned as she ran her hands down the bodice, sht breasts and hips

"Well? How do I look?"

Stupefying Words failed hiue from the roof of his mouth "Like the most brilliant, beautiful star in the heavens, fallen to earth"

She laughed, drawing closer "It’s too dark I have no idea what you’re saying, but I love the way you’re looking atthe dress, but what’s beneath it" She picked up his hand where it dangled at his side, then pulled it to her waist "Put your hands on me"

He did Devil take hi her tri up to cup one pert, perfect handful of breast

And he kissed her, hard So hard, her head recoiled with the force of it, and for a terrible erly around his tongue, renewing her own efforts with vigor Giving hiers into his hair Her fingernail scraped the flesh behind his ear, sending a sharp burst of pain to sweeten the pleasure He would find a ined it all

Good Lord, this was happening Really, truly, disastrously … finally … happening