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him.
    “Don’t do that. He’s merely looking out for his sister. I respect the hell out of him for it. Besides,” he pushed her back against the wall of the building, caging her in with his arms by her head, “you probably do need protection from me.”
    “Ah, the Big Bad Wolf, are you?” she teased.
    “Yep, and I’ve come to eat you up.” He leaned down and kissed her again, forcing her lips apart to invade her mouth with his questing tongue. She certainly felt as if he could devour her. He’d been driving her crazy for weeks. She ran her fingers through his thick hair, marveling over the softness. She’d dreamed night after night of touching it and now he was here, kissing her. She felt as if she could ride on this cloud forever.
    He pulled away far too soon and sighed. “Damn, you tempt me, Miss Collins.”
    “I think I like the sound of that,” she replied.
    “There’s nothing I’d like more than to keep you out here all night, kissing those lovely lips of yours.”
    “I definitely like the sound of that,” she added, attempting to pull his face down to hers.
    He turned at the last minute, giving her only a chaste kiss on the cheek. She frowned, prompting a laugh from him.
    “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at seven,” he said, pulling away.
    She nodded.
    “Wear something pretty. I’m going to take you out for a fancy dinner and show you off.”
    38
    Come Monday
    She bristled slightly at his comment before she closed the feeling down.
    “Keira, look at me.”
    She gazed up at his face and saw him studying her intently. “There are many reasons why I’m attracted to you, but your beauty falls rather low down on that list.
    Don’t misunderstand me, I like looking at you, but I love talking to you.” Yep, he was definitely a mind reader. “How did you know?” He grinned. “You shared your feelings regarding outer beauty in a poem you wrote. I understand that you’ve spent quite a bit of your life feeling as if you have to prove you’re more than just a pretty face. Besides, everything you think shows in your eyes.”
    The damn poem. She really had shared more than she’d realized. Then she considered his last comment and decided in that regard, he was wrong. “No one else seems to have this amazing ESP ability of yours when it comes to reading my mind.”
    “Perhaps I’m more alert or simply more in tune with you. I’m fascinated by you and that feeling terrifies me just a bit.”
    “Why?”
    “The new, the unknown, can always be a bit frightening.” She could understand that. Her feelings toward him scared the hell out of her and yet, she couldn’t resist his pull. He was the force field to her starship and she couldn’t wait to be engulfed in his power. She shook her head slightly, trying to dislodge her odd thoughts. She’d be a fool to hand herself over completely to such a formidable man.
    His finger touched her cheek gently. “I won’t hurt you.” She was only confused for a moment until he added with a smile, “Your eyes were speaking again.”
    “I can see I’m going to have to develop a poker face with you or start wearing sunglasses.”
    He shook his head. “No, absolutely not. I need to know what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling if we’re ever going to get this relationship off the ground.” 39
    Mari Carr
    “Relationship,” she repeated, loving the sound, the idea of that single word.
    “Good night, Keira.”
    “Good night, Will.” He kissed her once more, softly, and then he was gone.
    Will let himself into his apartment and dropped down onto his couch. What the hell was he doing?
    He’d convinced himself his fixation on Keira had been based on the forbidden fruit theory. He’d been certain he’d only wanted her because—as his student—he couldn’t have her. He’d gone to the pub tonight to prove it to himself so he could move on, move forward, get her out of his head.
    One look at the woman had blown that theory out of the water. His