The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

themselves, so easily intimidated by strong women." Kate thought briefly of her ex-husband.

    "Do you prefer strong men?"

    "Most of the women I know prefer strong, centered men. I'm no exception."

    "Tell me something, Kate. Do you think you could ever stop doing battle with a strong man long enough to let him make love to you?" Jared asked softly. "Could you take the risk of letting such a man touch you?"

    Kate caught her breath. She looked up at him quickly and was dazzled by the sensual warmth in his gaze. "I'm not sure I should answer that."

    Jared gave a muffled exclamation that could have been part laughter and part oath. He drew her closer to his side, so close that Kate's hip brushed his muscular thigh and her bare shoulder grazed his arm. He was a hard, powerful man, and underneath the physical strength was an equally fierce sexuality. She could feel that raw energy radiating from him. It enveloped her, enthralled her, excited her. She sensed the primitive response deep within herself, and the knowledge that she was capable of such a reaction shook her to the core.

    "Maybe you're not quite as daring as you think you are," Jared said.

    Kate shrugged lightly in the low-necked gown and saw his pirate's gaze drift to the curves of her breasts. She felt suddenly very exposed. The gown was no worse than a swimsuit, she told herself firmly, but that didn't lessen the vulnerable sensation. "Maybe I just haven't had a lot of experience with strong men. There never seem to be very many around."

    Jared drew her to a halt in the shadows of a wide-leafed tree that towered over the path. "Women like you are rare, too. Maybe we both have a few things to learn."

    She looked up at him and experienced another jolt of awareness. She was startled to feel herself trembling with anticipation. "Are you going to kiss me?"

    "Yes," Jared said slowly, as if he had reached an important decision, "I am. I have to do it. I've been thinking about this for two solid days and it's been driving me crazy."

    He bent his head and brought his mouth slowly down on hers. There was no hurry about it. It was as if he was content to take his time and discover all he wished to know about her.

    Kate closed her eyes as the compelling fantasy in which she was moving suddenly became as solid as reality. A deep, sensual tug in the pit of her stomach caused her to almost lose her balance. Instinctively she wrapped her fingers around Jared's upper arms, seeking support.

    He groaned in response and eased her back against the trunk of the tree. His mouth was warm, strong and searching, and when he moved close, Kate could feel the heat in his body. The fire in him was lighting a blaze within her.

    She sensed his hands moving up from her waist, gliding along her rib cage until his thumbs rested just beneath the curves of her breasts. The touch was exquisitely intimate, inviting a response.

    Kate parted her lips and surprised herself by nearly panicking for a brief, nerve-shattering moment. The hungry, captivating manner in which Jared took deep possession of her mouth was a revelation to her. She had never had any man's kiss jangle her senses this way. It set off distant alarm bells.

    The panic subsided almost at once, to be replaced by a longing unlike anything Kate had ever known. Her arms tightened around Jared's neck, and she whispered his name in a small, choked voice when he freed her lips. She clung to him more tightly and kissed his throat.

    "You're full of surprises," he muttered, as if making an important discovery. He nibbled passionately on her earlobe. "A man never knows what he's going to encounter next."

    "You're not quite what I expected, either." She pulled slightly away from him, searching his gaze in the darkness.

    She could see nothing beyond the glint of moonlight in Jared's eyes. It occurred to her that she was just as well hidden from him. There was something reassuring about the sense of anonymity provided by the masks. It was as if they were both unaccountably free to play this reckless game tonight.

    "Well, Madam Expert, what's the verdict? Am I truly a pirate?"

    "Yes, my lord, you are. There is no doubt about it."

    "Then that makes me an expert," Jared said with a slow smile.

    "On what?"

    "Ladies like you, of course."

    It was Kate's turn to smile. Never had she felt so full of such sweet, seductive, feminine power. It gave her a heady thrill. "Your logic is very profound."

    "The way I see it, contrary to your