The Ties That Bind

whispered. "Not that one. That's my studio. The next one."
    He tightened his grip on her and walked through the next door into her bedroom. Shannon's bed stood waiting in the shadows, its silk-screened quilt and huge pillows beckoning invitingly. Garth stood Shannon on her feet and smiled down at her. In the darkness she could see the desire that was flaring in his eyes and the sensual tension that edged his smile.
    "When you look at me like that," he said, "I feel as if I'll come apart if I don't get you into bed."
    She leaned against him, aware of a melting feeling that made it difficult for her to stand. "I didn't know," she managed.
    "Until I kissed you tonight in the ice-cream parlor?"
    She nodded. "I didn't realize until then that you wanted me."
    "I want you. Shannon," he told her softly. His fingers went to the buttons of the turquoise silk blouse she wore with her jeans that evening. Deliberately he slipped each one open until the garment came completely undone.
    Slowly Garth pushed the silk from her shoulders, his fingers sliding up under the hem of the camisole she had put on underneath the blouse. Shannon felt his thumbs gliding over the tips of her breasts as the undergarment was lifted over her head. Then she was naked to the waist and achingly conscious of his pleasure in her nudity. Garth cupped one small, gently rounded breast in his hand.
    "So soft and delicate," he said wonderingly. "And so sleek and sexy."
    Shannon gave a husky, nervous little laugh and pressed herself against him, burying her face in his shirt. "I'm very glad you're not hung up on the Playboy centerfold type."
    "I'm hung up on the real and genuine type. The honest type. There aren't many of them around. But you're one of them, aren't you. Shannon?"
    She lifted her head, sensing the dark shades of meaning behind the words but uncertain of exactly what he was trying to say. It was important that she understand, she realized. Somewhere in his comment lay a key she needed to fully comprehend this man. There was so much she didn't know about him yet.
    But tonight was not a night for asking questions. The passionate urgency flowing between herself and Garth was the dominant force at the moment. He wanted her and she knew, even though she hadn't realized it at first, that she wanted him. Instead of trying to answer his odd question, she lifted her palms to his shoulders and turned her lips to the strong column of his throat.
    "Ah, Shannon, you're so sweet. My God, how did I go this long without you?" Garth tugged at the fastening of her jeans, sliding them down over her hips and drawing the lacy scrap of her panties off with the denim. When she stepped free of the last of her clothing he clenched his fingers into the flare of her buttocks and groaned as he pulled her close.
    For a long moment he seemed content to hold her like that, but when she stirred restlessly against him Garth laughed shakily and set her free. Then he tugged down the quilt. Shannon slipped between the sheets, her eyes never leaving Garth as he stripped off his own garments.
    His body was hard with his desire, sending a primitive thrill through Shannon. In the shadows the utter maleness of him was both intimidating and enthralling. The strong planes of his chest and shoulders tapered to a flat stomach and muscular thighs. When Garth slid into bed beside her, reaching for her, Shannon was fiercely glad that she was capable of making him want her to this extent. She could feel the need in him and longed only to satisfy it.
    "Garth, I want you," she whispered, wondering at the intensity of her own desire. "I didn't realize until now. I didn't understand why I had to keep trying to get to know you. It's never been like this with any other man."
    He leaned over her, kissing the hollow of her throat while his hands began exploring her body. "By tomorrow morning you'll know me as well as I'll know you. I swear it."
    Garth wanted to reassure her even more, but right now he couldn't find any other words except the ones he needed to tell her how sweet and hot and sensual she was. All his instincts were clamoring for him to slake the sudden thirst that was driving him. It had been building during the past few days, simmering deep inside him without his fully realizing the extent of it. But this evening when, on impulse, he'd silenced her with a kiss, Garth had nearly been swamped with his own need. If they hadn't been sitting in an ice-cream parlor full of laughing playgoers