Cinderella's Big Sky Groom by Christine Rimmer

her cheekbone, to her ear. “Ten o’clock,” he whispered. “Nothing. Early.” His hands cupped her breasts, which floated just near the surface, the nipples pointing pertly at the ceiling, the bubbling water covering them, then sliding away to reveal them with each pulse of those lovely massaging jets.
    â€œNothing.” She sighed. “Ten o’clock is nothing….” With a sinuous flexing of her whole body, she rolled so she was facing him and braced herhands on his shoulders. She felt like a mermaid, a mermaid adrift in a hot, bubbly sea.
    He hooked a hand around the back of her head and brought her mouth to his.
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    By ten-thirty they were back in his bed. The clock struck so distantly, sounding so far away. They smiled at each other. Only ten-thirty. They still had time.
    By eleven they’d wandered downstairs to raid the refrigerator. He was feeding her vanilla bean ice cream straight from the carton. He held the spoon poised an inch from her mouth as the eleven chimes marked the hour.
    When at last the clock was silent, he gave her the ice cream. And then he kissed her, urging her to open her mouth and share the treat with him.
    She did.
    And soon enough, both of them forgot all about what time it was.
    Eleven-thirty?
    That went by without Lynn even knowing it. They’d gone back upstairs. To the big bed. And the things that they did there were terribly distracting. If the clock did chime, Lynn certainly didn’t notice it.
    But she heard it at midnight.
    She’d been dozing, drifting in and out of sleep, all wrapped up in Ross’s arms. At the first faint, deeply melodious sound, she came fully awake.
    She sat up, clutching the covers to her breasts, and counted off each chime, right up to the magic number.
    Ross sat up beside her.
    She turned to him. “Midnight.” She felt…dazed. How could it be over so soon?
    She shook herself and started to rise from the bed.
    He grabbed her arm. “Time for my pop quiz.” His voice sounded joking, totally offhand, yet his grip on her arm was anything but.
    â€œRoss. I really can’t stay any longer.”
    He gave up trying to tease her. “You can. For a while. For hours. We have hours yet.”
    â€œNo. It’s too dangerous. It really wouldn’t be wise.”
    â€œTo hell with ‘wise.’ Stay.”
    She could have resisted the command in his voice. But the plea in his eyes? How could she resist that?
    â€œStay,” he said again.
    â€œNot for too long…”
    He muttered a low oath and pulled her against him.
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    Lynn woke to the distant sound of the clock striking.
    She turned her head and looked at the clock by the phone on the nightstand.
    Six o’clock.
    It couldn’t be.
    But the room was growing light.
    Oh, God.
    She pressed her eyes shut again, but it didn’t help. Memories from the night before assailed her. All the bold things she’d said. All the brazen, shocking things she had done. She had sipped brandy. She’d drunk champagne. She’d begged a man to make love with her.
    And he had. Repeatedly.
    Her eyes popped open again. Keeping them shut wasn’t helping.
    She turned her head slowly.
    The man beside her lay on his stomach, his face turned away from her. The sheet was rumpled at his waist, revealing a broad expanse of muscular back.
    Still asleep.
    He was still asleep. And it was six o’clock in the morning. Dawn was breaking. She had to get out of there.
    She sat up. Her heart was beating so fast it scared her. Adrenaline raced through her system.
    Think, she commanded her panicked mind. Think logically.
    But she just couldn’t stand to think. Not right then. If she started thinking, she’d only realize what an awful mess she’d gotten herself into.
    She’d only start picturing his face, what it might look like—when he opened his eyes and saw her in his bed in the harsh light of day. Maybe he’d