Eye of the Beholder

applies to this situation."
    "Okay, I'll bite. What is it?"
    "Life is short. Eat dessert first."
    His smile was slow and deliberate. "That kind of metaphysics I can grasp."
    He bent his head and brushed his mouth lightly across hers. Alexa held her breath, but she did not resist. She was conscious of the heat in him. She could feel the pulse of her own desire.
    He put one knee on the bed. "You were right when you said my seduction line was lousy tonight. You were also right about something else."
    "What's that?"
    "I do have a serious hard-on. How did you know? Was I that obvious?"
    "Uh-huh." She settled her hands on his waist. "You forgot to zip your pants."
    He glanced down, groaned, and rested his forehead on hers. "Just call me Mr. Cool."
    She moved her fingertips lower, until she touched the heavy, rigid length of him. "I think hot would be a more accurate description."
    "You can say that again." He eased her onto her back and sprawled heavily on top of her. "Does this mean that you're willing to overlook my crummy line about the art collection?"
    "It's the thought that counts."
    He kissed her, long and deep. A light, delicate shiver passed through her. A curious euphoria bubbled up inside.
    "My thoughts were pure," he said against her throat.
    "Were they?"
    "Sort of."
    She kissed his bare shoulder, and then she moved her lips through the crisp hair on his chest.
    She made the kisses last. She experimented with making them wet. And then she used her teeth, very lightly. A shudder went through him. She felt the sleek muscles of his back flex and grow taut.
    She savored the knowledge that she could have such an unmistakable effect on him.
    Wild woman lives.
    He slid one hand up along her leg to the inside of her thigh. She felt open and vulnerable. Probably because she was open and vulnerable, she thought. But it was okay. For now. Wild woman could handle it.
    He sank two fingers into her.
    Her whole body convulsed.
    "On the other hand," she got out in a thick whisper, "my thoughts aren't pure at all."
    "I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that."
    He rolled onto his back and took her with him. A glorious excitement spiraled through her. She flattened her hands on his chest, rejoicing in the heat and strength in him.
    After a while she kissed a path down his body, all the way to his sleek belly and beyond. He groaned and sucked in air.
    He caught her up and pulled her down so that she sat astride him.
    He eased himself into her, filling her and stretching her until the sensation became unbearable, until something inside her exploded in a shower of brilliant sparks.
    The part of her that had felt open and vulnerable earlier, reveled in the sense of feminine power that swept through her now.
    "You were wrong about one thing," he whispered. "I'm definitely going to be thinking about getting laid again tomorrow."

    Trask stirred a long time later. He opened one eye and saw that it was still dark outside. He closed the eye and gently shifted the weight of Alexa's soft, warm body until she nestled more snugly against him. He could get addicted to the scent of her, he decided. Maybe he was already hooked.
    "Alexa?"
    "Hmmm?"
    "Are you awake?"
    "No."
    "I just wanted to make a point."
    "Keep it short."
    "I will." He fell silent.
    "So?" She stretched out one leg and wriggled her toes against his calf. "What's your point?"
    "You can't call it a torrid one-night stand anymore."
    It was her turn to go quiet for a while.
    "You're right," she said eventually. "Is there a term for a torrid two-night stand?"
    "Yeah." He leaned over her and kissed her until he knew that he had her full attention. "It's called a relationship."

25

    Alexa felt Trask leave the bed shortly before dawn. She opened her eyes. He was headed toward her bathroom.
    "Trask?"
    He paused in the doorway. "Go back to sleep."
    She saw that he had his pants in his hands. "Where are you going?"
    "I have to take care of some business." He continued on into the shower.
    "Business? At this hour? What are you talking about?" She tossed aside the covers and bounded out of bed. "Hold it right there, that's my bathroom. You're not going in there until you tell me what's happening here."
    He switched on the light and scowled at her. "I was going to leave a note."
    "Oh, sure. A note. That's just great. Saying you'll leave a note is right up there with promising to call me sometime."
    "Okay, okay." He rubbed his stubbled chin. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice that I was