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their lot."
    "What?" Terri had stared at his brown hand on the white sheet so long that it began to blur. She blinked, knowing that she had to get him out of the room somehow—had to get him out before something happened that she would learn to regret.
    "They lived whatever life they had with vigor—with passion, Terri." The words were spoken softly, insinuatingly. "We could take a lesson from them. Life is still uncertain and fleeting." His hand moved slowly on her leg. "You are young and probably do not believe that yet, but you shouldn't waste such youth and beauty." The strong hand was lifted then and came to rest on her face. Supple fingers caressed her cheek, her neck, the sloping line of her shoulder.
    She sat unmoving as if she were hypnotized. His other hand went to her chin, tilting her face up so that she was forced to look into his eyes. She felt paralyzed, or perhaps bound by invisible cords so that she could not move—perversely, did not even want to move.
    Wings of fear fluttered inside her—and something else—a wanting. Wanting? What did she want? She didn't know. But she had to stop him. She moved suddenly, raising one hand to brush away his caressing fingers, which were straying toward the scooped-out neck of her gown.
    He caught her hand and held it, not tightly but securely nevertheless. He gazed deeply into her eyes until she felt as if she were drowning in brown depths. "Relax, Terri. You can learn many things from me."
    She caught her breath. He was still talking about the Aztecs, wasn't he? No, he wasn't! All at once she recognized the wicked light in his eyes.
    "No!" She struggled to break his grip on her hand. "I don't want to learn anything from you." Her hand came free and she grabbed hold of the sheet, puffing it up to her chin. "Leave me alone!"
    Still, he did not move to leave. Instead, he leaned closer, bracing himself with his hands on either side of her knees. "What are you so afraid of?"
    "I'm not afraid!" Hah! That was a laugh! She was absolutely petrified.
    Suddenly, he gripped her shoulder with one hand, and Terri had no strength to break free. Then one finger of the other hand traced the outline of her lips.
    Somehow Terri managed to gather breath enough to croak, "Don't. I don't like you touching me."
    "Really?" He pulled her toward him. "You're a terrible liar, Terri."
    They stared into each other's eyes for what seemed to Terri an eternity, their faces only inches apart. "You want me to touch you. Admit it, Terri. Say that you want it as much as I do."
    She would not! She would tell him to get out, never to come near her again! But the words stuck in her throat. She was mesmerized by those dark eyes. His face was coming closer. She hated being so helpless. How could she allow a man she despised to touch her like this? His hands were roaming over her back now, exploring where her bra would have been, had she been wearing one. Then one hand moved up to cup the back of her head, and the other moved lower to pull her against him. She closed her eyes as his lips came down on hers—but lightly, exploring tentatively, moving gently against hers like feathers that sent shivers down her spine.
    Her brain spun with a feeling that she imagined must be close to drunkenness. Without her even knowing when she moved, somehow her arms had crept around his neck. He raised his head to look down at her. "You see how nice it can be to let go?"
    Her lips tingled and she realized with horror that she wanted him to kiss her again—and again and again. She
wanted
him to! Her reeling senses suddenly snapped back into focus and she snatched her arms from around him, clasping the traitorous hands together tightly in her lap. He could take her breath away with his hands and his lips—and he felt nothing! He couldn't have felt anything or those dark eyes wouldn't be twinkling with amusement like that.
    He smoothed the tumbling waves back from her forehead, an enigmatic smile curving his lips. "Let's get