her hips and buttocks as he molded her against his unyielding strength. Her senses exploded at the tantalizing scent of tobacco and musk and the taste of his tongue.
The profound need building within Carly was quickly becoming a physical ache. Her hard-won control vanished under the onslaught of his touch. Her cool, calm head—the one that before this had reacted appropriately to every situation—deserted her. Raw desire quivered through her, warming her heart and exposing her soul.
Breaking the contact, Brand’s eyes locked with hers. He seemed to be searching for some answer. Carly could give him none, not understanding the question. Together, their breaths came ragged and sharp as they struggled to regain their composure. Carly fought desperately for her equilibrium and pressed her forehead against the broad expanse of his chest.
“Are friends supposed to kiss like that?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Brand’s arms went around her as he rested his chin against the crown of her head. “Some friends do.” He didn’t sound any more in control of himself than she did.
“I’m … I’m not sure I’m ready for you to be this type of friend.” A rush of cool air caressed her heated flesh, bringing her gradually back to reality. Gently but firmly, she pulled free from his embrace. Suddenly she felt naked and confused. Kissing Brand was like striking the head of a match; their desire for each other overpowered common sense. They’d known each other only a short time and yet she was weak and without will after just a few kisses. Diana wouldn’t believe she was capable of such overwhelming emotion. Carly had trouble believing it herself.
“I’ve frightened you, haven’t I?”
Her arms were folded across her stomach. “Brand, I’m twenty-five years old. I know what to expect when a man kisses me.” Carly knew she sounded angry, but that anger was directed more at herself than at him.
His low laugh surprised her. “I’m glad
you
know about these things, because I feel as shaky as I did the first time I kissed a woman. It’s been over two years since I’ve made love.”
Carly’s hands flew to her ears. She didn’t want to hear this. Not any of it. With briskstrides, she walked to the other side of the room. Coming here today had been a colossal mistake. One she wouldn’t repeat—ever.
“Gee, look at the time.” She glanced at her gold wristwatch and slapped her hands against her sides. “Time passes quickly when you’re having fun, or so they say.”
“Carly?” he ground out impatiently.
She took a couple steps in retreat until she found herself backed against the front door. She turned, her hands locking around the doorknob in a death grip.
“I’ll talk to you later in the week,” Brand murmured, and just the way he said it told her that their next meeting wouldn’t end with her running out the door like a frightened rabbit.
* * *
The phone was ringing when Carly stepped through the door of her apartment. Thinking it might be Brand, she stared at it for several long seconds while she shrugged off her jacket. No, he wouldn’t phone. Not so soon.
“Hello,” she answered, a guarded note in her voice.
“Carly, it’s Diana.”
“Diana!” Carly burst out happily. Rarely had there been a time she’d needed her friend more. “You can’t afford these calls, but thank God you phoned.”
“What’s up? You sound terrible, and it’s not this crummy long-distance echo, either.”
“It’s a long story.” It wasn’t necessary to explain everything to Diana; just hearing her voice had a soothing effect. “Tell me what prompted this sudden urge to hear my voice.”
“I couldn’t stand it another minute.” Diana laughed lightly. “Your letter arrived and I didn’t want to have to write and wait for your reply. Tell me about him.”
Carly’s heart sank. “Do you mean Brand?”
“Is there someone else I don’t know about?”
Stepping over the arm of
The profound need building within Carly was quickly becoming a physical ache. Her hard-won control vanished under the onslaught of his touch. Her cool, calm head—the one that before this had reacted appropriately to every situation—deserted her. Raw desire quivered through her, warming her heart and exposing her soul.
Breaking the contact, Brand’s eyes locked with hers. He seemed to be searching for some answer. Carly could give him none, not understanding the question. Together, their breaths came ragged and sharp as they struggled to regain their composure. Carly fought desperately for her equilibrium and pressed her forehead against the broad expanse of his chest.
“Are friends supposed to kiss like that?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Brand’s arms went around her as he rested his chin against the crown of her head. “Some friends do.” He didn’t sound any more in control of himself than she did.
“I’m … I’m not sure I’m ready for you to be this type of friend.” A rush of cool air caressed her heated flesh, bringing her gradually back to reality. Gently but firmly, she pulled free from his embrace. Suddenly she felt naked and confused. Kissing Brand was like striking the head of a match; their desire for each other overpowered common sense. They’d known each other only a short time and yet she was weak and without will after just a few kisses. Diana wouldn’t believe she was capable of such overwhelming emotion. Carly had trouble believing it herself.
“I’ve frightened you, haven’t I?”
Her arms were folded across her stomach. “Brand, I’m twenty-five years old. I know what to expect when a man kisses me.” Carly knew she sounded angry, but that anger was directed more at herself than at him.
His low laugh surprised her. “I’m glad
you
know about these things, because I feel as shaky as I did the first time I kissed a woman. It’s been over two years since I’ve made love.”
Carly’s hands flew to her ears. She didn’t want to hear this. Not any of it. With briskstrides, she walked to the other side of the room. Coming here today had been a colossal mistake. One she wouldn’t repeat—ever.
“Gee, look at the time.” She glanced at her gold wristwatch and slapped her hands against her sides. “Time passes quickly when you’re having fun, or so they say.”
“Carly?” he ground out impatiently.
She took a couple steps in retreat until she found herself backed against the front door. She turned, her hands locking around the doorknob in a death grip.
“I’ll talk to you later in the week,” Brand murmured, and just the way he said it told her that their next meeting wouldn’t end with her running out the door like a frightened rabbit.
* * *
The phone was ringing when Carly stepped through the door of her apartment. Thinking it might be Brand, she stared at it for several long seconds while she shrugged off her jacket. No, he wouldn’t phone. Not so soon.
“Hello,” she answered, a guarded note in her voice.
“Carly, it’s Diana.”
“Diana!” Carly burst out happily. Rarely had there been a time she’d needed her friend more. “You can’t afford these calls, but thank God you phoned.”
“What’s up? You sound terrible, and it’s not this crummy long-distance echo, either.”
“It’s a long story.” It wasn’t necessary to explain everything to Diana; just hearing her voice had a soothing effect. “Tell me what prompted this sudden urge to hear my voice.”
“I couldn’t stand it another minute.” Diana laughed lightly. “Your letter arrived and I didn’t want to have to write and wait for your reply. Tell me about him.”
Carly’s heart sank. “Do you mean Brand?”
“Is there someone else I don’t know about?”
Stepping over the arm of
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