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she said, feeling suddenly shy. "Next time let me know it's you following."
    "There may not be a next time now that I know how capable you are," he drawled, his eyes on her mouth.
     

Chapter 3
     
    Kit stared at her for an endless moment as time seemed suspended. He longed to feel those soft lips against his. Feel the heat he knew was in her, the passion her fiery words promised. In the past he'd never hesitated, never questioned. He took what he wanted, giving pleasure as he sampled women the way most men only dreamed of. But that had all changed two long years ago.
    He hadn't touched a woman since Althea. Gone was the carefree, cocky cowboy of the old days, for all Kelly apparently thought differently. In his place now was a cripple. A man who was only partially a man, scarred and limited.
    No one wants to be tied to a cripple. The hateful words Althea had screamed at him in the hospital echoed over and over.
    He turned from the temptation of Kelly Adams and reached for his crutches. Jamming his hat on his head, he slowly stood, steadied himself and started for the door.
    "You've done your good deed for the week, Miss Adams," he said mockingly as he started down the hall.
    "What does that mean?" Kelly followed slowly, reluctant to have the evening end, knowing he should go before she did something silly, like ask him to stay. Like ask him to kiss her. She didn't even know the man.
    But she wanted to.
    "Come on, pretty lady, the last thing you wanted tonight was some cripple going on and on about a cattle spread that is only nominally his anymore." He couldn't hide the bitterness. Though the fault was his own, he hated the twist of fate that had landed him in this situation. Hated it even more the past few days than before.
    She reached out and stopped his progress toward the door with a warm hand on his arm. He swung around and cocked an eyebrow in question.
    Kelly tilted her head to see him better as he took a step closer. Stepping away from his overwhelming masculinity, she backed against the wall, acutely aware of the smoky hue of his eyes, aware of the tension radiating between them. She was unable to look away as she felt herself melting in a dark blue gaze that devoured her. Her heart began a shudderingly slow pounding. She could feel the heat from his body encompass her as she leaned against the wall. When he stepped even closer, her tongue darted out between her lips to moisten than.
    He leaned toward her, his eyes narrowed in consideration. "One good shove will knock me down, if that's what you want." He waited a second, then slowly lowered his head and put his mouth over hers.
    Kelly trembled slightly at the delight of his touch, releasing a soft sigh. His lips were warm and firm, provoking an unexpectedly deep response from her. Her knees grew weak and she was glad of the wall behind her for support. His touch was melting her through and through.
    When he felt her response, he pressed against her. His hard chest crushed against her breasts, his long legs moved to capture hers. His lips opened hers to tease her into a deeper kiss. When his tongue explored the soft reaches of her mouth, he heard a faint moan from her throat. He felt her shyly open her mouth wider, giving him permission for whatever he wanted from her.
    The weight of his body pressing against hers was heaven. Her hands brushed against his chest, over his strong arms, moving, questing, as they found the strong column of his neck, and at last felt the springy texture of his hair. Threading it in her fingers, she held him close to her, acknowledging the deepening kiss.
    She delighted in the sweetness of his thrusting tongue, his lips moving in sensuous satisfaction against her soft flesh. She lost all concept of time, drowning in endless delight and floating bliss. She strained to get closer, moving her lips against his, her hands touching, his mouth hard against hers, her body molding itself against the length of his.
    Endless moments passed before