Witchcraft

her body with elemental passion, giving her all of himself in return.
    The rhythm of his lovemaking claimed her and she was meshed in perfect harmony with his own pulsating desire. When her body tightened in warning of the impending climax, Kimberly called Cavenaugh's name and he buried his mouth against her breast. She felt his teeth against her skin and the sensation sent her over some invisible edge. "Oh, my God, Cavenaugh !"
    "Now, Kim. Give me everything now. I'll keep you safe."
    She shimmered beneath him and before the delicate convulsions had rippled completely through her body he was following her, huskily shouting his own release. Kimberly sank down into a gentle oblivion, unaware of the hard floor beneath her, unaware of the unromantic surroundings provided by the old shed. She knew only that she had shared the most profound sense of intimacy that she had ever experienced. It might prove a fleeting thing, but while it lasted it was incredible. And in that warm, vulnerable moment she was certain that Darius Cavenaugh had felt everything she had felt. The relationship between them was changed for all time. Cavenaugh slowly released himself from her body, moving onto his side so that he could gather her against him. His cradling arm felt warm and comfortable and strong. "Are you going to be furious with me later?" he asked evenly, green eyes poring over her love-softened face. Mutely she shook her head. "For making love to me? No, Cavenaugh . It felt ... right." His mouth crooked gently. "I knew it was going to be like this."
    "Did you?" She twisted lazily in his arms. "You should have told me."
    "I think I tried to on a couple of occasions but you weren't listening."
    "Ah, Cavenaugh . How was I to know?" she asked simply. He leaned down and brushed his mouth against her lips. "In the future you'll just have to trust me to know what's best for you." She smiled mischievously. "I wouldn't dream of putting so much responsibility on your shoulders. You've already got more than enough to worry about."
    "More than enough?"
    " Ummm ." She ran her fingers through his silver-tinged hair. "I've seen the way everyone in the household and on the estate turns to you for advice and help on even the most trivial matters. And you always stop and give it. It's a wonder you have time to get any of the winery's real business done." He exhaled slowly, as if enjoying the lingering moment of total relaxation.
    "I suppose you're right in a sense. When I arrived two years ago everything was in such chaos that I had no option but to become totally involved both with what was left of the family and the business. People had been floundering. Julia's marriage was in a mess, Scott was having emotional problems because of his father's rejection of him, Aunt Milly was distraught over my father's death, the employees feared for their jobs and the wine wasn't doing well in the markets. On top of that, the estate was going into bankruptcy."
    "So you stepped in and took over responsibility for everything and everyone. You did your family duty, and now you're trapped by that duty." The brackets at the edges of his mouth tightened slightly. "I don't see myself as trapped, Kim. I chose to do it." Instantly she was sorry she'd phrased her words the way she had. "It doesn't matter whether duty chose you or you chose it. Your life has been completely changed by it. What was it like during the days you ran that import-export business?"
    "I'm sure you'd describe my life-style back then as considerably freer than it is now," he said easily. Absently he stroked slow circles on her arm. "A lot of traveling with basically only myself and Starke to think about. And Lord knows Starke can take care of himself."
    "Where on earth did you find him?"
    "In the middle of a street riot in some miserable little country in the Middle East. I was in town making a deal for some rugs and Starke was there to ... well, another kind of deal. We were both in the wrong place at the wrong time. Things got nasty and by the time it was over we were partners. Two years ago when I decided to take over the winery after my father died, he opted to come with me."
    "You must be close friends."
    "Depends how you describe close friends, I guess. I probably know him as well as anyone, but there's a hell of a lot no one will ever know about Starke."
    "Why did you go into business for yourself? How did you escape being groomed to take over the winery?" Kimberly asked. "I had no interest