Family Man

great passions, she reminded herself desperately. But she could not ignore this shattering sensation. It occurred to her that she might never know this feeling with another man. If she did not seize the opportunity, she would spend the rest of her life wondering what she had missed.
    And she had already missed so many things in life.
    Katy made her decision.
    “Yes,” she said. “It's enough.”

CHAPTER

EIGHT
    L uke smiled at her. It was a slow, haunting smile that barely touched his mouth but turned his eyes into emeralds. It was a sorcerer's smile; a smile that conjured secrets she could only imagine; a smile that promised he would share the magic with her. Breathless in the face of her own daring, Katy looked up into his brilliant eyes and wondered what she had done.
    But it was too late to retreat, even if she had wanted to do so. Her whole being was already committed. Her soul was committed. She felt alive in a way she never had before, and she knew she was not going to back away from this fire, come what may. For once she was going to let passion rule, just like any Gilchrist.
    “Something amusing you?” Luke circled the nape of her neck with one hand. His thumb traced the line of her throat as if it were a vein of gold.
    “No.” Katy shivered at his touch. “Yes.”
    “Tell me.” He brushed his mouth lightly, persuasively across hers.
    “I was just thinking that I may have spent too many years surrounded by Gilchrists. I'm beginning to act like one.”
    “Do me a favor.”
    “What's that?”
    “I would appreciate it very much if tonight, just for once, you would avoid the generalizations. I'm the one who is going to make love to you. The rest of the Gilchrists have nothing to do with this.”
    She flushed. “I see your point. It's not exactly a group activity, is it?”
    “No. It's just you and me.” His fingers moved slightly on her throat, pushing aside the curve of her red hair. He leaned close again and kissed the place directly behind her right ear.
    Katy was amazed at how incredibly sensitive that particular spot was. She took a deep breath and touched Luke's jaw. He turned his head and kissed the vulnerable skin on the inside of her wrist. Katy's fingers trembled.
    Luke smiled his sorcerer's smile again when he felt the tremor go through her.
    “You want me tonight, don't you?” he asked softly.
    “Yes.”
    “That's how it's supposed to be. Not like it was last time on my sofa.”
    “Last time I wasn't sure I wanted to get involved.”
    “But tonight you're sure you do want to get involved?” His eyes gleamed.
    “No. But I'm going to do it anyway.” Katy smiled and lifted her arms to circle his neck.
    Luke laughed softly as he scooped her up into his arms. Taken by surprise, Katy instinctively clutched at his shoulders. He carried her as though she were weightless.
    “Where are we going?” Katy asked anxiously as he started toward the door with her in his arms.
    “Not far.” He stopped in front of the wall switch. “Turn out the light.”
    Katy glanced up at him and then obediently flipped the switch. The room was plunged into darkness, and the sultry intimacy of the moment was intensified a hundredfold. She was acutely aware of her body's reaction to being cradled in Luke's arms. Katy was no longer certain she could have stood on her own two feet if she had been forced to do so.
    She closed her eyes, luxuriating in Luke's strength as he carried her back across the room. She was certain he was going to put her down on the bed. She could already picture the next few minutes in her mind. He would lower himself down beside her and take her into his arms. She prayed he would not move too quickly, the way he had the other night. She needed time to adjust to this kind of passion. It was so new to her.
    Katy clung to Luke tightly as she sensed the shadows spinning around her. In a second she would feel the bed beneath her back. Please, not too fast , she whispered silently. I'm not like you. I'm not the type to explode into passion at a single touch. I need a little time. I think .
    But it was not the bed she felt when the world stopped shifting around her. It was Luke's hard, muscled thigh under hers. She opened her eyes and saw the rain-drenched lights of the city spread out before her like so many diamonds in the night. She realized that instead of setting her on the bed Luke had sat down in the chair in front of the window. His arms were warm and strong around her.
    “I'll