Conflict of Interest by Jayne Castle Page A

later.“
    His lighthearted, enormously pleased expression was difficult to resist and Kali wasn’t in a mood to try. „You’re like a kid taking delivery on a lot of toys before Christmas actually arrives!“ She laughed.
    „And enjoying every one of them,“ he agreed cheerfully, pulling her close. „But you’re the best one I’ve unwrapped so far…“
    He lowered his head to brush her mouth, a wealth of recent memory and future anticipation in his kiss. Kali couldn’t begin to assess or analyze the power of his attraction. She only knew that there in his arms, her body soothed and stimulated by the foaming water, her mind determined to block out the reality of what she was doing, she couldn’t resist him.
    Slowly, languidly, they led each other through a recuperation period and then, inevitably, toward a new arousal. When Lang’s hands began gliding along her body with a new urgency, Kali closed her eyes and nestled close in the roiling water.
    „Do you know,“ he growled huskily, his hand moving along the inside of her thigh with a delicate finesse, „the first time I saw you I had an urge to tear away all your cool poise and self-control and get you into this tub!“
    Kali turned her face into his shoulder, her fingers trailing over his knee under the water. „It didn’t take you long, did it?“ There was a hint of wry resignation in the words which he caught immediately.
    „Kali, are you going to fret about that aspect of the situation?“ he asked with quick worry. He lifted her head from his shoulder, forcing her eyes to meet his. „Is it going to bother you tomorrow that we came together so easily and so soon?“
    She tried to find a cool, sardonic approach but her eyes were beginning to fill with the knowledge of the truth the morning would hold. „Shouldn’t it?“
    „No!“ The gritted denial was emphatic. „Trust me, Kali. It’s working out like this because everything is right. You’re here tonight because, under all the layers of games and business and maneuvering, we’re fascinated by each other. We want each other…“
    „I’d rather not talk about it,“ she said very quietly, and reached up to put her fingertips under his firm jaw. Lifting her face, she said very close to his lips, „The morning will take care of itself.“
    He hesitated and she knew that part of him wanted to argue and another part wanted to take the invitation of her mouth. With the sensual impulse of the water and the rising desire flowing between them, Kali was fairly certain which side of his nature would predominate. She was right.
    Lang kissed her, standing up in the water as he did so. Without releasing her mouth, he slipped the towel from her hair and began drying her body. By the time he had finished they were clinging together, the fever of need high in both of them.
    Lang spoke only once more as he carried her back to the huge bed.
    „Nothing will change in the morning, Kali. You belong to me now and I’m not going to let you go.“
    Still she said nothing. There was nothing to say. As he settled her on the quilt Kali reached up to pull him down to her with an urgency which carried overtones of a deeply hidden fear…
    She awoke a long time later, aware of the weight of Lang’s arm across her breasts. Her body felt exhausted and replete. There was also a deep twinge here and there which told her she was going to be a little sore in places in the morning. Lang’s lovemaking had been deep, demanding, and complete. He had indeed carried her off into the night.
    He might as well have used a large steed so he could have added the final touch of tossing her over the saddlebow, she thought with a mind that had miraculously cleared during sleep.
    Carefully, aware of the need to rescue herself from a situation she couldn’t believe she had allowed to happen in the first place, Kali eased out from under the weight of Lang’s arm. His hand on her breast tightened for an instant and she went very still,