Linked by Barbara Huffert Page A

was rubbing his hands over her exposed skin. “And your nightwear isn’t designed for warmth although I must say how much I like it.”
    Tori glanced down at her shorts and tank top and realized how well-defined her stiffened nipples were in the flimsy cotton of the tight pink shirt.
    “Oh God,” she groaned.
    “Christ, could I have said anything more inappropriate? Hey, at least I haven’t lost my mind entirely or I’d be touching them instead of just wishing I were.”
    At his declaration, Tori felt the peaks tighten even more. She watched his glance drop and knew he’d seen the change. When his gaze returned to hers, she saw that his eyes had darkened. Wordlessly, she caught one of his hands and drew it to her breast, pressing herself against his palm. For a long moment, he cupped her.
    “Guy.” Tori made his name sound like a plea.
    With a sigh, Guy slid his hand to her shoulder and rested his forehead against hers. “You could tempt a dead man.”
    “But not you, huh?”
    “Oh, I’m plenty tempted. If you don’t believe me, shift your hip and you’ll be able to feel just how tempted I am. As much as I hate to do it, I’m going to beg you to go put on a robe or some sweats or anything less revealing, not that it’ll do much good now that I’ve seen you like this.”
    “But—”
    “No, Tori, don’t. I know it would be pure heaven, spending the next month exploring your body, after which we’d spend the following year making love in every way imaginable but that’s not something we can start tonight.”
    “Not even if I tell you I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone?”
    “Oh Christ.” Guy ran his thumb along her collarbone. “Don’t do this, Tori, please. I’m trying to be decent and not take advantage of the situation. You say you want me now but what about tomorrow? You’re the one who questioned my attraction to you, remember? I won’t do something that you may regret later. You’re too important for me to chance that.”
    Tori studied his eyes and saw more emotions than she expected. “All right, Guy. You wouldn’t be taking advantage but okay. I won’t beg you to show me if those big strong hands of yours feel as good as I think they will.”
    “Tori.”
    “Just trying to make you feel better by not being the only one who says inappropriate things.”
    “Thanks, I think.” Guy stood her on her feet. “Go put on more clothes and stop looking so damn desirable.”
    “You’ll be here?”
    “Until you tell me to leave.”
     
    “Do you really want to stay and talk?” Tori asked when she returned, dressed in her most comfortable sweats and a heavy pair of socks. Not looking at Guy, she raised the thermostat and turned off most of the lights.
    “Absolutely. I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t willing.”
    “Want some coffee or cocoa or something?”
    “Cocoa please,” he answered, following her into the kitchen. “Cozy,” he said. “Friendly, like the living room.”
    “Thanks.” Tori was unreasonably pleased by his comment. “That’s why I bought this place. The whole thing feels warm. Not at all like the house I grew up in.”
    “No?”
    “Not even close. Picture the quintessential Beverly Hills mansion and the one I lived in was ten times more so. Everything in it was about image. My parents have a salon that caters to the in-crowd. If you’re not one of the crème-de-la-crème you could wait months for an appointment if you even managed to get one. The décor there and in the house shifted with whatever was trendiest at the moment. Whenever they redecorated, they’d have an intimate soiree with, oh, fifty or sixty of whoever was on top that week. That way everyone knew how with the times my parents were.”
    “Doesn’t sound like you enjoyed it.”
    “I hated it. The house was cold and impersonal and the people were stuck up and phony. My brother and sister loved giving command performances for the A-list but I dreaded every minute of it. After I