Lust and Lies 04 - Pretty Maids in a Row

don't—"
    "Get carried away? Well I do seem to recall your having the presence of mind to ask if I'm on the pill."
    "Yeah, but I'm not sure I would have stopped if you hadn't said yes. So, I guess that means you and Philip..."
    She smirked at him. "First, that's none of your business. But the truth is, I take the pill because of bad periods, not to prevent pregnancy."
    She hadn't really given him the information he was fishing for. "That's great. I mean, I just wanted to get the conversation out of the way. Officially." His erection had instantly softened with the mental picture of her in Philip's arms. He blocked out the image, pulled her against him and began stroking her once more.
    The most foolish notion had wormed its way into his thoughts since yesterday. He wanted to put his mark on her in a way that was unfamiliar to him. Their loving was alternately gentle and fierce, and he demanded everything she could give and more.
    David had no idea why it bothered him so much to think of Holly with another man. After all, he was hardly celibate. The difference seemed to be that he couldn't immediately remember which woman had been the last one before Holly. She was the only one he had been thinking of lately.
    For that night he chose to forget the fact that he had an ulterior motive for establishing a bond with her. He only wanted to gather as much of this sweetness as he could before it turned sour, as he knew it would once he uncovered her secrets.
    Perhaps she really was part witch.
    After he had satisfied her a second time, he curled himself around her spoon fashion and went still.
    "David?"
    "Mmmm?"
    "I'd like to go to sleep now."
    "So, turn off the light."
    "No, I mean, alone."
    He raised himself up on an elbow to look at her. "I beg your pardon?"
    "Aren't you going to leave?"
    "No."
    "But I never let, I mean, um—"
    "I'm staying, Holly. Turn off the light and go to sleep."
    "I always leave it on."
    "Fine." He fell asleep with two thoughts—she was not used to sleeping with Philip and she had a vulnerable spot in her psyche. She was afraid of the dark. He'd have to remember that.
    Holly sensed that an important change had occurred in their relationship. As before, he drove her wild with desire, then satisfied her to an extent she hadn't known existed, but he seemed to be more emotionally involved this time. She wanted to believe it meant she had put a dent in his arrogance, that he was beginning to care for her a little.
    He had to want to keep her by his side for a while. He had to want her more than the parade of women before her. Perhaps she should be unavailable the next time he asked her out. But how could she put him off, knowing how wonderful he made her feel?
    She had been certain she wouldn't even close her eyes, not with him literally wrapped around her. She fell sound asleep, though, only to be awakened again hours later by the most delicious dream turned reality.
    They were still on their sides with him behind her, but the hand that had been covering her breast was now stroking between her legs. Even in her sleep he had aroused her to the brink of explosion. When she moved against his hand, he slipped inside her without the slightest effort. They rocked together slowly, and came together quietly, and fell back to sleep, still together.
    In the morning, she was hardly surprised to discover that he had come prepared with a change of clothes in his car. He insisted they had to spend the day at the National Zoo as it was the only way to balance out an evening of fancy clothes and the symphony. They visited the giant pandas, walked the elephant trail, played in the children's area and ate too much junk food. And they held hands the entire time.
    For dinner he took her to a sports bar, where he and Harry often watched the big games of each season together on a big-screen TV. Instead of flatly informing him of her lack of interest in such a pastime, she was flattered that he wanted to share a favorite spot with her.
    They arrived during halftime of a pre-season football game and ordered steak sandwiches and draft beers while a film clip of bloopers was running. As they were eating, the two commentators discussed the teams that would be playing each other in the season's opening games next Sunday. One player's name caught Holly's attention—a name she hadn't known three weeks ago, but which now held meaning.
    "A lot of people were surprised to hear that Billy O'Day signed on for another season," the