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He lifted his head and leaned across Alanna to replace the telephone receiver on its cradle When hehim above her He lazily studied her flushed cheeks and the feverish violet of her eyes

"Nohere e?" he murmured

Much later, Alanna lay in the crook of his ar and falling at last in even breathing The drealow of satisfaction softly curved her mouth If she didn't move for a thousand years, it would still be too soon

But the e her that she hadn't eaten since noon yesterday and she doubted that Rolt had either Reluctantly she moved away from the warht shining brightly on her naked curves and Rolt's eyes watching her, she walked self-consciously to theover the back of a chair and put it on, tying a knot in the sash at the waist

"Where are you going?" Rolt asked in a lazy, caressing voice

"To fix breakfast" Alanna turned, brushing the hair away from one side of her face with a nervous hand

He was propped on his side, an elbow beneath him, the bedcovers down around his waist His bare chest and shoulders gleaht, contrasted by the white of the sheets and pillows The dark light in his disturbing gaze made her blood run swiftly

"Come here"

Alanna walked to within a few inches of the bed and stood His hand caught at the ends of the sash and drew her forward until her knee was bent on the mattress Her senses threatened to whirl her into abandonain

"You didn't have dinner last night You ry," she murmured in semi-protest

"My appetite doesn't seem to be for food" He released one of the ends of the sash and pulled at the other to loosen the knot, watching the front of the robe open "I think I'll burn all your clothes and lanced at her reddened face, "except that I'd probably never leave the house"

His gaze held hers for heart-stopping seconds The hungry ru of her stomach snapped the invisible thread that bound them Rolt smiled suddenly

"You'd better fix that breakfast I don't want you fainting on me"

Alanna was at the botto When Rolt came down, he had showered and shaved, and was dressed in a business suit The save her when she set their plates on the table contracted her heart The difference was so great when histhe olden and wonderful

Rolt finished his third cup of coffee and glanced at her "It's time I left"