Out of Mind by Stella Cameron Page A

most interesting man she had ever met.
    He turned away from her and she started when he shut the door.
    With his head cocked, he watched her and she couldn’t form a word. She finished the second glass of champagne and looked into the empty glass.
    “There’s more over there,” he said, nodding to a cabinet with a loaded tray on top. “I’m still thirsty. How about you?”
    Once more he took the glass, opened a fresh bottle and poured. He set the glass down a moment and stood with his back to her.
    Her legs locked. He was unbuttoning his shirt. Unbuttoning and stripping it off. She was faced first with his broad, tanned shoulders, and when he turned to bring her a fresh drink, the low light in the room sent a delineating sheen across his chest.
    He gave her an apologetic little smile. “Even with air-conditioning it’s too humid for me in this city. I get so hot.” His eyes flickered to hers again. “How about watching a movie? We could see what’s on.”
    Leaving was the only thing that made sense. This wasmuch more than she was ready for—not that she was a wilting virgin, but she was not experienced and she certainly shouldn’t be responding like this to a man who obviously expected her to spend the night with him.
    “You okay?” he said, screwing up his eyes. “What is it?”
    A steady hum set up in her head. “Nothing.”
    “You’re pale.”
    “I’m—” Her mouth was so dry she had to keep swallowing. “I’m fine. I should go… It’s time…”
    “If that’s what you want,” he said, disappointment evident in the sudden droop of his mouth.
    He wasn’t so clear anymore. She could see his blond hair against his shoulders, his face stark in the shadows. Movement took her attention to the hand he rubbed up and down on his chest.
    “Now you look hot, too,” he said.
    She shook her head.
    “Yes, you do. Geez, I’m never going to forgive myself if I’ve made you ill with the champagne. Did you have dinner?”
    Caroline couldn’t remember. She stared at him, at the way he shrank and expanded, then just expanded.
    A god , she thought and wanted to laugh. She couldn’t.
    She felt the glass leave her hand and John’s hands on her shoulders, shaking her slightly. His face was close.
    “I—” Her eyes closed.
    His mouth on hers sharpened her senses. She opened her eyes again. John kissed her, gripping her arms tightly, half lifting her from the floor. She heard his hard breathing, tasted champagne on his tongue when he kissed her.
    She stood there, letting him move her, letting him take off her clothes until she stood before him, naked. He seemedto smile, but she wasn’t sure. His touch, firm, almost hard, passed over her body, didn’t miss an inch of skin.
    Her chin tilted down to her chest because her head was too heavy, and too loud. Lying down was a relief. Stretched out with her eyes closed, things didn’t shift around her so much.
    But there were noises. Panting. Moaning—grunting. Her body jerked. Vaguely she knew he was having sex with her. Pushing himself inside, filling her up so tightly it stung. If she could have lifted her arms, she would have tried to push him away. He hurt her. The pressure of his weight crushed her breasts and pinned her down.
    He spoke, but she didn’t understand. But she knew when his mouth covered hers, covered not just her mouth but her nose.
    Her chest compressed and compressed. Emptiness rushed in. The air was being sucked out of her—by John.
    “John,” she tried to cry into his mouth.
    The sucking went on.
    Her skin prickled. Her mind dimmed.
    Drowning?
    No, suffocating.
    With a huge effort she got her eyes open again and tried to scream. The man spread on top of her was huge. He was John but much bigger and the light in his eyes was fierce, mad .
    The weight left. He stood beside the bed, bending over her, drawing on her mouth and nose while the world began to turn black for Caroline.
    Helpless, paralyzed, she could do nothing to stop this man