Local Hero

over his head to feast on the warm, taut flesh beneath. Her teeth nipped into his lip, insisting, inciting, until he was dragging the jacket from her and fumbling with the buttons that ranged down the back of her blouse.
    His touch wasn’t as gentle when he found her, nor was he as patient. But she had long since thrown caution aside. Now, pressed hard against him, she gripped passion with both hands. Whether it was day or night no longer mattered. She was where she wanted to be, where, no matter how she struggled to pretend otherwise, she needed to be.
    Madness, yes, it was madness. She wondered how she’d lived so long without it.
    He unfastened her skirt so that it flowed over her hips and onto the floor. With a groan of satisfaction he pressed his mouth to her throat. Four days? Had it only been four days? It seemed like years since he had had her close and alone. She was as hot and as desperate against him as he’d dreamed she would be. He could savor the feel of her even as desire clamped inside his gut and swam in his head. He wanted to spend hours touching, being touched, but the intensity of the moment, the lack of time and her urgent murmurs made it impossible.
    “The bedroom,” she managed as he pulled the thin straps of her lingerie over her shoulders.
    “No, here. Right here.” He fastened his mouth on hers and pulled her to the floor.
    He would have given her more. Even though his own system was straining toward the breaking point, he would have given her more, but she was wrapped around him. Before he could catch his breath, her hands were on his hips, guiding him to her. She dug her fingers into his flesh as she murmured his name, and whole galaxies seemed to explode inside his head.
    When she could think again, Hester stared at the dust motes that danced in a beam of sunlight. She was lying on a priceless Aubusson with Mitch’s head pillowed between her breasts. It was the middle of the day, she had a pile of paperwork on her desk, and she’d just spent the better part of her lunch making love on the floor. She couldn’t remember ever being more content.
    She hadn’t known life could be like this—an adventure, a carnival. For years she hadn’t believed there was room for the madness of love and lovemaking in a world that revolved around responsibilities. Now, just now, she was beginning to realize she could have both. For how long, she couldn’t be sure. Perhaps one day would be enough. She combed her fingers through his hair.
    “I’m glad you came to take me to lunch.”
    “If this is any indication, we’re going to have to make it a habit. Still want that sandwich?”
    “Uh-uh. I don’t need anything.” But you. Hester sighed, realizing she was going to have to accept that. “I’m going to have to get back.”
    “You don’t have an appointment until after two. I checked. Your barter exchange transactions can wait a few more minutes, can’t they?”
    “I suppose.”
    “Come on.” He was up and pulling her to her feet.
    “Where?”
    “We’ll have a quick shower, then I need to talk to you.”
    Hester accepted his offer of a robe and tried not to worry about what he had to say. She understood Mitch well enough to know he was full of surprises. The trouble was, she wasn’t certain she was ready for another. Shoulders tense, she sat beside him on the couch and waited.
    “You look like you’re waiting for the blindfold and your last cigarette.”
    Hester shook back her still damp hair and tried to smile. “No, it’s just that you sounded so serious.”
    “I’ve told you before, I have my serious moments.” He shoved magazines off the table with his foot. “I had some news today, and I haven’t decided how I feel about it. I wanted to see what you thought.”
    “Your family?” she began, instantly concerned.
    “No.” He took her hand. “I guess I’m making it sound like bad news, and it’s not. At least I don’t think it is. A production company in Hollywood just cut a deal with Universal to make a movie out of Zark.”
    Hester stared at him a moment, then blinked. “A movie. Well, that’s wonderful. Isn’t it? I mean, I know he’s very popular in comics, but a movie would be even bigger. You should be thrilled and very proud that your work can translate that way.”
    “I just don’t know if they can pull it off, if they can bring him to the screen with the right tone, the right emotion. Don’t look at me that way.”
    “Mitch, I know how you feel