Family Man

shuddered in the throes of her first climax. A thrilling euphoria raced through her as her whole body sang the song of release. Somewhere in the shimmering darkness she heard Luke's guttural sound of masculine satisfaction. She felt his fingers close around her buttocks with urgency. And then a heavy shudder racked him.
    He was hers, she thought triumphantly. For this moment in time he belonged to her just as surely as she belonged to him.
    And then she was spiraling downward into a dreamy state that obliterated the earlier instant of infinite awareness.
    She barely noticed when Luke eventually lifted her in his arms and carried her over to the bed. When he came down beside her she reached for him, burrowing into his warmth. His arms closed protectively around her, and she slept.

    A long while later Luke lay propped against the pillows, one arm around Katy, the other folded behind his head. He gazed out at the rain-drenched neon night and did what he had learned to do exceedingly well during the past three years. He concentrated on the present.
    But the present was different now. He was no longer alone in it. The present meant Katy.
    He had not felt this good in a long time, Luke realized. Hell, he had never felt quite like this. Not even with his beautiful witch of a wife. Sex had been terrific with Ariel, but there had never been this sense of peace afterward. There had never been this feeling of completeness. It occurred to Luke that with Ariel he had always been hanging on the brink of uncertainty. Life had been exciting but wearing.
    With Katy there would be moments like this one, moments of peace and tranquillity. Serenity and calm without having to be alone. It was a novel thought.
    The present definitely meant Katy.
    It also meant problems.
    His mind drifted freely for a time, touching briefly on many things. He reran the meeting he had held that afternoon with the management team of Gilchrist Gourmet. Then he moved on to his most recent conversation with the computer investigator he had hired to ferret out the embezzler.
    For a time Luke's mind hummed softly like any good computer. Automatically, almost effortlessly, he compiled data in his head, analyzed it, processed it, searched for patterns.
    Then his thoughts shifted again. He frowned in the darkness.
    “Is something wrong, Luke?” Katy's voice was soft and slurred with sleep. She did not open her eyes.
    “No. I was just thinking.”
    “About what?”
    “A lot of things.”
    “You're thinking about the company, aren't you?” she accused softly.
    He smiled faintly. “How did you know?”
    “Lucky guess.” She touched him reassuringly. “It's going to be all right, Luke. You'll put Gilchrist, Inc. back on track.” She snuggled closer and yawned. “I have complete confidence in you.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Umm-hmm.”
    “What would you say if I told you I didn't give a damn what happens to Gilchrist, Inc. in the long run?”
    “I wouldn't believe you,” she mumbled. “You're a Gilchrist. You took on the job because you're a part of the family, and you'll do your best to save the company for the family.”
    “You'd better understand something, Katy. I didn't take on the job because of family loyalty. I took it on because of you.”
    “ Me ?” She opened her eyes at that. The glow of the night filtering in through the window revealed her expression of confusion. “What on earth are you talking about?”
    “You heard me.” He looked down at her, willing her to understand. “I'm here because of you.”
    “I don't believe it.” No one had ever done anything like that for her in her entire life. She was not the type of woman for whom men did such things.
    “Believe it,” he advised softly. “I didn't understand it myself at first, but I realized the truth soon enough. I wanted you. A part of me knew I wouldn't stand a chance of getting you unless I agreed to take over the company. So I made the bargain.”
    Her mouth opened in astonishment. She closed it quickly. “A bargain? Is that how you see it?”
    “We have a deal. It lasts for six months.”
    Katy gasped. Clutching the sheet, she levered herself upright and curled her legs under her, tailor fashion. “This is crazy. I don't understand. Are you telling me that when you forced me to agree to stay on for six months you were making some sort of bargain with me to be your lover?”
    “Right the first time.” Luke studied her with lazy hunger. He realized it gave him a deep