The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

was alive with her own desire and infinitely aware of his. The combination was electric. Kate wondered why there were no visible sparks flaring in the darkened room. The invisible ones were everywhere, igniting a wildfire.

    Jared's hands moved hungrily on her, tugging off the red dress, the red shoes and the panty hose. When she was wearing nothing except the silver collar and moonlight he sat up and unfastened his jeans. He stepped out of them in a series of quick, jerky movements that spoke volumes about his restless impatience. When he was free of the denims he stood beside the bed for a long moment, staring down at her. His body was heavy with arousal.

    "You want me, don't you?" he asked.

    "Yes."

    "Don't ever again say it's just good sex," he ordered as he came down beside her. His palm closed over her breast.

    "That really bothered you, didn't it? Why?"

    "Because it's a lie and I won't let you lie to me."

    "But it's all right for you to lie to me?" she asked.

    "I've never lied to you, but there are some things you don't need to know." He stroked his hands through her hair. "You'll just have to learn to trust me."

    "Jared—"

    "Hush. Not now." He cut off her words with a hot kiss, his tongue plunging between her lips. His fingers roamed over her, awakening her nipples and moving lower to find the dampening warmth between her legs.

    Kate's head was spinning with the euphoric excitement. She touched him wonderingly, loving the feel of his beautifully contoured back and the sleek muscles of his thighs. She let her nails slip into the rough hair below his waist and when she found the hard, thrusting shape of him she circled him gently.

    "Yes," Jared said, his voice hoarse with barely controlled need. "Touch me. Harder. That's it. So good. So damned good."

    She raised herself on one elbow and pushed him gently onto his back. He went over easily, watching her through hooded eyes as she leaned down to kiss his throat.

    His fingers kneaded her shoulders as she trailed small, damp kisses over his bare skin. She felt his hips lifting urgently against her.

    In this, at least, there was totally honesty between them, Kate told herself. Jared made no effort to conceal his desire. The wanting in his eyes was blatant and implacable.

    The excitement roared through both of them. Kate could feel her own passion feeding off Jared's. The energy of their lovemaking dampened their skins with as much perspiration as if they had been engaged in a battle.

    Jared, apparently growing impatient with the sweet warfare, finally shifted onto his back and pulled Kate across his thighs. He guided her down, pushing himself slowly up into her softness until he was deep inside.

    Kate sank her nails into his skin, closed her eyes and gave herself up to the white-hot passion. Jared's hands were all over her, moving on the insides of her thighs and up into the hidden places. He seemed to know exactly how to touch her. His fingers thrummed gently and she cried out.

    "Come on, honey. Let me see you come apart for me. You know you will. You know you want it. That's it. That's it . Tight. Tighter. So beautiful. Yes ."

    Kate gasped and collapsed against his chest as the sweet, shattering finale took her. Jared's damp hands clenched into her rounded buttocks and he lifted himself against her one more time. He bared his teeth, caught his breath and shuddered heavily.

    Afterward they lay together for a long while without speaking. Kate had her head on Jared's shoulder and his arm was around her, pinning her close to the length of him.

    "I can't stay," Jared said at last, his reluctance to leave clear in his voice. "I have to get back to the house. Beth won't be able to watch David all night."

    "I know."

    "He won a dollar today betting you wouldn't leave the island."

    "I think everyone had a bet on whether or not I'd get on that plane."

    "They all wanted you to stay."

    Kate sighed and moved her head restlessly against the pillow. "They don't understand. They think we had a simple lovers' quarrel and that's all there was to it."

    "It was just a simple quarrel. Given your stubbornness, I expect there will be plenty of others."

    "Not a cheerful thought."

    "We don't have to argue, you know." Jared sat up slowly and reached for his jeans. "I'd much rather make love with you."

    She lay watching him as he dressed. "Would you?"

    He fastened his jeans and leaned over the bed to cage her between his hands. "Yes," he said. "I would. But if