Hold Back the Night by Abra Taylor Page B

seriously. 'I heard you, you know. I always hear you.'
    He looked shaken by that, so she added, 'Well, not the words or anything, just the bed. I can't help it, I have the bedroom directly below.'
    'Mother of God,' he muttered, staring.
    'You haven't promised to marry her, have you?' Domini asked anxiously. 'If I thought so, I'd never have made the suggestion. The other boarders told me you were just having an affair, and the landlady mentioned you'd had several mistresses before Nicole. It made me think you must be very good at making love.'
    Sander groaned to his depths and swivelled on his heel, putting his back to her and moving another step away in one single fluid movement. Then he flexed his shoulder muscles deeply as if to ease stress, a slow, effortless motion that only accentuated their power and male grace and made Domini feel sure he wasn't quite as immune as he pretended. Nor did she think there were any promises between Sander and Nicole, who often flirted with other boarders in the house.
    'I'd like to be taught by you,' Domini said. With that she stepped forward and touched him lightly on the shoulder, a contact that caused a cataclysmic chain reaction. He started violently, shoulder blades springing backward as if she had scalded him, and rounded on her like lightning. Enraged, he swept her towards the door.
    'Out!' he roared. 'Out! And don't come back, or I'll spank your backside till it burns!'
    The next day, when they happened to meet in the hall outside her bedroom, he stopped long enough to exchange a brief, reserved greeting. 'I'm not always so angry when people walk in on my work,' he said. 'But the first cut is the worst. Another time, I might not even have noticed you.'
    Encouraged, Domini smiled, the engaging, eager smile that her father's paintings had captured so often. 'Does that mean you're not angry at me now?'
    'No, I'm not angry. I've been thinking about it. I realize you meant no harm.' His expression eased marginally, returning some of the warmth in Domini's. 'In fact, if you want, you can come out to the shed this morning and have a look at those sculptures. It's a little messier today ... chips and marble dust all over the place. But you're welcome, if you want to see.'
    'I've been thinking about it too,' sighed Domini. 'I realize I made a bad mistake yesterday.'
    Sander looked definitely relieved. 'We all make mistakes.' He shrugged.
    'Can you come into my room for a minute? I want to show you something.'
    He looked briefly taken aback but then smiled in quite friendly fashion. 'I'll give you one minute,' he agreed, stepping in at Domini's invitation. 'That's all I can spare. Nicole is waiting for me in the shed.'
    Sander walked into the room. Evidently assuming that she was about to show him some of her work, he strolled over towards an easel where one of Domini's watercolours rested. Domini closed the door, leaning on it so he could not leave until his minute was up. At once she started to unbutton the shirt that topped her casual jeans, hurrying because she had so little time. She had been taught no false modesty, but all the same her fingers trembled a little and she was biting her lower lip with nervousness as she looked down to negotiate the fastenings. Would he like what he saw?
    'What in God's name are you doing!' Sander exploded. He had turned, and his eyes were riveted by the sight of Domini's young breasts. She had thrown the top aside and was starting to unzip her jeans.
    'I'm showing myself to you,' she said, her hands pausing in their task. Troubled, she gazed at the black fury blazing out of those eyes, the silver pinpoints of anger fastened on the soft curves she had revealed. What had made his mouth turn so grim this time?
    'I realized I should have shown you before,' she said hesitantly. Her heart was palpitating in extraordinary fashion. She had not expected to be embarrassed by a man's eyes sweeping her like that, but she was, and embarrassment was a new sensation for