Witchcraft

settle down after something that traumatic."
    "You seem to understand."
    "I do." She thought about the way he had come through the door with the gun in his hand. "You've been through this kind of scene before," she said softly. "No, never quite like this," Cavenaugh denied flatly. "I've never walked into a room and found my woman facing an armed punk."
    "You didn't exactly '' into the tasting room. You and Starke came through that door like the U.S. Marines." His arms tightened around her and Kimberly snuggled gratefully into his embrace. Inside she savored the words "my woman."
    "Don't ever do that to me again, Kim," Cavenaugh ordered harshly. "Believe me, I didn't set out to do it to you tonight!
    Or to myself."
    "You shouldn't have gone out into the garden alone."
    Kimberly lifted her head. " Cavenaugh ," she protested. "No one ever said anything about not going out onto the patio or into the garden.
    That electronically rigged rock wall was the only barrier!" He groaned, pushing her head back down on his shoulder. "Technically, you're right.
    What I'm really trying to say is, don't wander out of my sight again.
    Understand?" She smiled faintly in the darkness, inhaling the earthy, masculine scent of his skin. "I understand. I'm not sure how practical that will be, but I understand."
    "Damn it, Kim, I wasn't going to yell at you tonight."
    "No? You were going to wait until morning?"
    "Yes, as a matter of fact I was. I still intend to wait until morning. This isn't the time."
    "Why not?"
    "Because you're in shock. I told you, I know what the reaction feels like."
    "How is it you know so much about it?" she asked softly. "Just what sort of import-export company did you run before you returned to Cavenaugh Vineyards?"
    "A perfectly legitimate and profitable one." She sensed him smiling against her hair. "Rugs and trinkets and doodads from all over the world?"
    "Something like that," he agreed absently. "Do you still own the business?"
    "No, I sold it two years ago when I came back here." "Do you miss it?" she . "All the travel and freedom and everything?" She felt him hesitate. "No.
    That part of my life is over. I'm content making my wine. It's a very satisfying kind of work, Kim."
    "I know what it's like to have a satisfying career. I'm very lucky to have my writing." Again she sensed a hesitation in him and then Cavenaugh said quietly, "It won't always be enough for you, Kim. I realize that you think it will because right now your life seems to hold everything you need. But you're a warm, sensitive woman. You weren't cut out to spend your whole life alone."
    "I don't intend to spend it completely alone." His hand moved impatiently on her thigh. "I know. You're looking for your real-life Josh Valerian. The perfect man, unencumbered by family and responsibility. But he's not out there, Kim. He doesn't exist except in your books. And you're far too passionate and real to be content with a fictional lover." Surprised by the vehemence in his voice, Kimberly didn't argue. "I agree with you.' she said simply. "What?"
    Green eyes narrowing, Cavenaugh rolled her over onto her back and trapped her beneath him. "I said, I agree with you." Smiling up at him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Make love to me, Cavenaugh . I need you."
    "Not half as much as I need you," he groaned huskily, lowering his head to taste the sweet skin of her shoulder. "Oh, God.
    Not half as much as I need you. But I won't stop trying until you realize you want me more than anything else on this earth!" He slid his hands up along her sides, pushing the T-shirt out of the way. When her bare breasts were revealed in the shadows he tantalized the tips gently with the palm of his hand until they became firm. Kimberly felt the hardness of his arousal as he pressed himself strongly against her thigh. When he drew one of her hands away from his neck and guided it down to his manhood, she moaned in soft wonder. "Such gentle hands," Cavenaugh muttered achingly. "You drive me out of my mind, sweetheart."
    He let his fingers glide teasingly along the inside of her thighs until she was arching against his hand. Then he touched the dampening heart of her and Kimberly gasped aloud. Cavenaugh lifted his head from her breast to drink in the sight of her parted lips and luminous eyes. She caught at his shoulders, pulling him to her. "love me, Cavenaugh . I love you so much!"
    "Kim!" She heard t he ravishing hunger in his voice and then he was forging into her,