He responded by tightening his arms around her and deliberately rubbing his groin against hers. She shuddered and clung to him, lifting her parted lips to his.

He kissed her, his tongue slipping inside her mouth in search of hers. The bulge between his legs got bigger and harder and her heart thumped in antic.i.p.ation. She groaned in protest when he suddenly drew away from her.

"Damon?"

He shook his head. "Don't tempt me beyond my endure, sweetheart." He brushed his mouth against her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow night?"

She rubbed her cheek against his chest. "Yes."

A week later as they sat through the intermission of a Broadway play, he asked her to spend a long weekend with him in the Poconos. She quickly agreed.

"Do you see any reason for separate bedrooms?"

She had begun to think he didn't want to make love to her again. Now she was pleased that he did. Not that it stopped her from being annoyed at his no frills way of asking her to sleep with him.

Of course, after the shameless way she'd behaved, it was ridiculous to expect him to treat her like a shy virgin. Stilla "No. No reason."

He studied her face for a moment, then reached over and stroked her cheek. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. That came out all wrong. I wanta"I need to make love to you again, but I didn't mean to be crude."

She was the one who had been crude, always thinking in terms of his c.o.c.k and her p.u.s.s.y. She pressed her face against his hand. "I want it too, Damon."

He gently tipped her chin up until he could gaze down into her eyes. "If we both feel the same way, there's no need to be shy with me. Although I have to admit your shyness is just one of the many reasons I find you so deliciously irresistible."

Deliciously irresistible? She blinked at him. No man had ever described her that way. Probably none had ever thought of her that way. Knowing he felt that way about her was a thrill. She sighed. But then he didn't really feel that way about her. He thought she was Karen. "Oh cowboy. If only you did."

"I do. I just told you that I do." He lifted her hands to his lips. "Are you sure there isn't something you need to tell me? I promise to listen to anything you have to say."

She wanted to tell him, but how long would his patience last when he learned the truth? He'd despise her. She pulled her hands away and shook her head. "No. There's nothing to tell."

They spent their weekend in the Poconos horseback riding, playing tennis, swimming, and taking long walks. She enjoyed doing all those things with him almost as much as she enjoyed making love with him and waking up beside him in the morning.

One night he rented a double sleeping bag and they spent the night on a mountain trail. Lying on her back with Damon deep inside her and the stars overhead added an extra spark to the lovemaking. Her climax was so intense, it left her totally breathless and lethargic. But he had a ravenous s.e.xual appet.i.te that night. After allowing her to rest for a few moments, he pulled out of her, gently rolled her onto her side, got behind her, lifted her leg, and pressed his big, still hard c.o.c.k slowly into her already satisfied p.u.s.s.y.

She moaned in helpless pleasure as he cupped one hand over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, fingered her c.l.i.t with the other hand, and buried his lips against her neck, below her ear. As he stroked his delicious c.o.c.k into her, he filled her ears with heated, love words. Just hearing him whisper how tight and sweet her c.u.n.t was, combined with the powerful movement of his c.o.c.k, and his gentle, but relentless a.s.sault on her c.l.i.t, sent her into a shattering climax in just a matter of minutes.

He came moments later, biting softly at her neck and clutching her tightly as he filled her with his seed. When he slumped against her back, she smiled sleepily, thrusting her hips back against him to keep his satiated c.o.c.k in her as long as possible.

As he pulled out of her, she felt their combined juices trickling down her leg. Feeling totally sensual and loving it, she smiled and turned in his arms. They kissed, stumbled onto the sleeping bag together, and tumbled in each other's arms.

On the verge of falling asleep, she knew she was letting herself in for heartbreak. But she couldn't give him up until she had to.

Their lovemaking that weekend was completely uninhibited and every fiber of her being told her she and Damon belonged together. She didn't know how she could keep him once he learned the truth, but she'd have to find a way.

Her eyes glistened with tears on the drive back to the city. She'd had a taste of paradise with him and she didn't want to think beyond the moment. But Karen's return would expose her. Then what?

"Sweetheart, I was wondering if you'd given any thought to marriage?" he asked as they stood outside her apartment door saying goodnight. "To me, I mean. I know there's the difference in our ages, but without sounding immodest, I think I have a lot to offer you to compensate for that. I'm successful and I can give you anything you want within reason anda"a Her first reaction was one of utter jubilation. Then reality set in. It was Karen he wanted to marry. She pressed a finger against his warm lips. "Age is not the problem, Damon."

"But there is a problem?"

"Iawhy do you askaI mean about marriage?"

"Why do you think?" Although he smiled, he seemed unsure of himself. "I never expected to feel thisalevel of contentment and joy with another woman. Being with you makes everythingadon't you think we make a perfect pair?"

"Yes," she admitted. "And I'd like to get married, yesaa His smile vanished. "There's a but in your voice."

"I don't want it just yet is all," she lied.

"You don't want it just yet or you don't want it with me?"

She stared up at him. How could he ask that after she'd given herself so freely and shamelessly to him? "I don't want it just yet. You are a great guyaa "But?"

"No buts. You're a great guy, a fantastic lover, sweet, and considerate. What more could a woman want?"

"I don't know. You seem to want more." He looked doubtful. "Should I beadiscouraged?"

"Oh, no, Damon!" If only she could find a way out of the mess she'd made she'd marry him in a minute. Forget marriage. She'd live with him if he wanted.

"Are you sure, sweetheart? I'd rather know now if you're not interested in me that way. Ia"a Stretching, she leaned up and pressed her lips against his in a series of intimate open-mouth kisses. He responded with a pa.s.sion and desire that left her trembling with need.

"Does that feel like I'm not interested in you?" She stroked his cheek. "I am very interested in you, Damon, and I am very sure that you shouldn't be discouraged."

He sighed. "Okay, but I wish you'd give some serious consideration to marrying me."

She bit her lip and averted her gaze. "I will, Damon. Just give me a little time to get used to the idea that you want to marry me."

The night before Karen and Mike were due back from Vegas, she invited him on a dinner cruise.

"And you want to pick me up, pay for dinner, and drive me home? That'saso sweetaincredible."

His obvious pleasure at the simple invitation surprised her. "Haven't you ever been asked out by a woman?" she asked.

He shook his head. "None that mattered."

After dinner they walked along the riverfront in the moonlight, holding hands.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked suddenly.

She shook her head. Her whole world was about to come tumbling down around her and there was nothing she could do about it. Once he learned the truth, she knew she'd never see him again. "Wrong? Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"You've been preoccupied all night. I hope I'm not starting to bore you."

She was amazed that such a handsome, charming man could be so unsure of himself. "Bore me? No!"

"Okay, so I don't bore you. How do I make you feel?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

He stopped in the shadow cast by the docked boat and gazed down into her eyes. "If it were I wouldn't be asking, would I?"

"Damona" She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. "I love being with you."

"You're not bothered by the difference in our ages?"

She looked up at him. "For the last time, no. I like older men in general, I always have. I adore you in particular," she admitted. "I wouldn't care if you were sixty."

"I'm so glad to hear that because I'm in over my head with you, K."

She was thrilled by his words, but chilled by the fact that he hadn't called her Karen for some time. "Whyawhy did you call me K?"

His eyes narrowed. "I thought you'd prefer it to Karen."

He knew, of course. She'd been an idiot to think she could continue to fool him. She pulled away from him and immediately felt cold without the warmth of his arms around her. "Howahow long have you known?"

He looked surprised. "Since the first night, of course."

"The first night! But howa"how did you know?"

He shrugged. "I knew when I kissed you." He pressed a thumb against her mouth and she trembled. "Your lips are so much softer and so much sweeter than Karen's. And you're so refreshingly shy, blushing every time I came near you, even after we'd made love." He caressed her cheek. "Identical twins or not, the two of you are very different. Besides, Karen always called me counselor, not cowboy. I've never seen you with a camera or her without one. Since I knew you weren't Karen, you had to be Kelly."

He smiled mockingly and her shame turned to anger. "You took me to the sh.o.r.e and you made love to me under false pretenses," she said coldly.

"Oh no I didn't. You were the one pretending. Did I ever once call you Karen when we made love?"

"No." At least not that she'd noticed. Of course when they made love, her thoughts were usually scrambled within seconds of being kissed and feeling his c.o.c.k hardening.

"That's right because I knew who I was making love to every time I touched you. Whereas you were obviously content to toy with me."

"I didn't! DamonaIa" But of course that was how it must seem to him. "It wasn't like that at all."

"Then how was it? Why did you pretend to be Karen? When were you planning to tell me the truth? Or were you ever going to tell the truth? I gave you several opportunities to confess, but you obviously preferred deception to the truth."

She felt sick. He sounded as if he despised her. "I never intended to deceive you."

"Then why did you? Why didn't you just tell me who you were the night we met? Where is Karen? Is this something you two do regularly? How long did you intend to string me along?"

"I wasn't stringing you along! Karen eloped three and a half weeks ago with a man she was engaged to a couple of years ago. He showed up unexpectedly and they got married. She asked me to tell you. That's why I came to your house that night. But before I could say anything, you kissed me anda"

Her eyes filled with tears. "And I just knew I wanted you. I guess I went a little crazy. You were everything I'd always wanted and needed in a man, and so I thought, why can't I have him?"

She bit the inside of her jaw. The tears slid slowly down her cheeks anyway. "She didn't want you anymore, but I did. I'm sorry. I know you must feel betrayed and must hate me. I know it was Karen you wanted."

"Yes, I wanted Karen," he admitted.

She gulped in a breath and felt fresh tears flowing down her cheeks. She tried to pull away when he moved closer, but he cupped her face in his hands and caught and held her gaze. "But remember, you're the one I proposed to."

"Yes, but that was only because you thought I was Karen!"

"Was it?"

She bit her lip. "Wasn't it?"

"How could it have been when I've known all along that you weren't Karen?"

"I don't know. I'm confused. Damon, were you and Karen everawere you lovers?"

"Does it matter, Kelly?"

What little pride she had left screamed at her to say yes. She answered with her heart. "No."

He stroked a finger down her cheek. "Not to worry, sweetheart. Karen and I never went past the kissing stage."

"But you would have if she'd come that weekend instead of me."

He shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. Don't forget that she and I spent a weekend at the sh.o.r.e without doing anything more than sharing a few kisses. So if it's all the same to you, I'd much rather talk about you than her."

"She's the one you really find attractive," she insisted.

All right," he said in exasperation, trying to dry her face. "I did find Karen attractive. I find you attractive too. And let's not forget that it's you that Ia"

"That you what?"

"That I love, my sweet, sweet, Kelly."

"What? Youa"love me? Are youasure?"

"Oh yes." He gathered her in his arms and held her so tightly she could hardly breathe. Not that she cared. "This isn't the first time I've been in love, but it's the most intense. I've been waiting for nearly a month for you to become fond enough of me to tell me who you were." He bent his head and pressed a long, sweet kiss against her mouth, allowing her to feel his c.o.c.k stirring against her.

"If you could learn to love me just a little, I'd be satisfied," he whispered. "Just a little."

"Learn to love you a little? Damon, I do love you. I have from the night we met."

"You do? You have? Wow." He buried his face in her neck and she realized that his cheeks were damp.

She touched his head. "Damon?"

He lifted his head and she saw there were tears in his beautiful, blue eyes. "I didn't think you cared, Kelly."

"You didn't think I cared? Buta"how could you have thought that? Why else would I have let you make love to me?"

His smile was warm and tender. "You really are very sweet, aren't you? That could have been just a physical thing. People have s.e.x all the time without being in love or loving."

She blushed. "Maybe people do, Damon, but I don't."

"I didn't know that then, sweetheart. All I knew is that I needed more than that from you."

She smiled, slipping her arms around his waist. "You can have anything you want from me, cowboy. Anything at all. As much as you want. All night long."

"I want everything, Kellya"your intelligence, your beauty, and of course, your sweet p.u.s.s.y night after night. But before you commit yourself I'd better ask how you'd feel about having a seventeen-year-old step-daughter who can sometimes be difficult."