Instead, with just the very tips of his fingers, he traced the swollen curves, circled the aching peaks. Patience shuddered-and sank deeper against him. His hands left her; she felt him reach out. She forced her eyes open. From under weighted lids, she watched as, with one hand, he traced the bare breast of the maiden, lovingly caressing the cool stone.

Leaving the maiden, his fingers traileH lightly in the clear water in the marble bowl. Then he raised the same fingers to her heated flesh-and touched her as he'd touched the maiden-delicately, evocatively. Enticingly.

Patience closed her eyes-and shivered. His fingers, cool, wet, trailed and traced-exquisite sensation lanced through her. Pressing her head back against his shoulder, she bit her lip against a moan, and flexed her fingers on his thighs.

And managed to gasp: "This is..."

"Meant to be."

After a moment, she licked her parched lips. "How?"

She sensed the change in him, the surge of passion he immediately leashed. Her flaring response, the urgent need to have him take her, completely and utterly, and give himself in the same way, stole her breath.

"Trust me." He reached around her again, moving closer; his strength flowed around her, surrounded her. His hands closed about her breasts, no longer delicately teasing but hungry. He filled his hands and kneaded; Patience felt the flames rise-in him, in her.

"Just do what I tell you. And don't think."

Patience mentally groaned. How? What...? "Just remember my dress."

"I'm an expert, remember? Grasp the rim of the bowl with both hands."

Bemused, Patience did. Vane shifted behind her; the next instant, her skirts, then her petticoats, were flipped up, over her waist. Cool air washed over the backs of her thighs, over her bottom, exposed to the moonlight.

She blushed hotly-and opened her mouth on a protest.

The next second, she forgot about protest, forgot about everything, as long, knowing fingers slid between her thighs.

Unerringly, he found her, already slick and swollen. He traced, and tantalized, teased and caressed, then evocatively probed her.

Eyes closed, Patience bit her lip against a moan. He reached deep, stroking into her softness; she gasped, and gripped the marble bowl more tightly.

Then he reached around her, one large palm sliding under her dress and petticoats, gliding over her hip to splay possessively over her naked stomach. The hand shifted, fingers searching boldly through her curls. Until one found and settled against her most sensitive spot.

She couldn't find enough breath to gasp-let alone moan or scream. Patience desperately drew air into her lungs, and felt him behind her. Felt the hot hard length of him press between her thighs. Felt the wide head nudge into her softness and find her entrance.

Slowly, he sank into her, easing her hips back, then holding her steady, bracing her as he slid fully home. And filled her.

Slowly, deliberately, he withdrew-and returned, pressing so deeply she rose on her toes.

Her gasp hung like shimmering silver in the moonlight, eloquent testimony to her state.

Again and again, with the same relentlessly restrained force, he filled her. Thrilled her. Loved her.

The hand at her belly didn't shift, but simply held her steady so she could receive him, could feel, again and again, his possession, the slow repetitive penetration impinging on her mind as well as her body, on her emotions as well as her senses.

She was his and she knew it. She gave herself gladly, received him joyfully, obediently struggled to hold back her moans as he shifted and sank deeper.

Tucking her bottom firmly against his hips, he moved more forcefully within her, thrusting more deeply, more powerfully.

The tension-within him, within her, holding them so tightly-grew, swelled, coiled. Patience swallowed a gasp- and clung to sanity. And prayed for release while dazedly wondering if this time she really would lose her mind.

Again and again he filled her. The golden glimmer she now knew and desired glowed on her horizon. She tried to reach for it-to draw it nearer-tried to tighten about him and urge him on.

And suddenly realized that, in this position, her options were limited. *

She was at his mercy and could do nothing to change it.

With a gasp, she lowered her head, her fingers tightening on the bowl's rim. Pleasure, relentless, passionate, rolled through her in waves, rearing every time he sank into her and stretched her. Completed her.

Patience felt a scream building-and bit her lip-hard.

Vane sank into her again and felt her quiver. He remained sunk in her heat for a fraction longer, then smoothly withdrew. And sank into her again.

He was in no hurry. Savoring the slick, scalding softness that welcomed him, the velvet glove that fitted him so well, glorying in all the heady signs of her body's acceptance of him-the natural, abandoned way the hemispheres of her bottom, glowing ivory in the moonlight, met his body, the slick wetness that made his staff gleam, the total absence of all restraint, the completeness of her surrender-he took time to appreciate it all.

Before him, she tightened, and tensed, and helplessly squirmed.

He held her steady. And slowly filled her again. She was close to frantic. He withdrew from her, nudged her legs wider, and filled her even more deeply.

A muted squeal escaped her.

Vane narrowed his eyes, and took firm hold of his reins. "What brought you here? To the conservatory?"

After a fractured minute, Patience gasped, "I told you-the amenities."

"Not because you saw me come in here with a lovely young lady?"

"No!" The answer came back too quickly. "Well," Patience breathlessly temporized, "she was your cousin."

With his free hand, Vane reached around her, filling his palm with the swollen fullness of her breast. He searched and found the tight bud of her nipple-and rolled it gently between thumb and finger, before squeezing firmly. "You didn't know that until I told you."

Patience valiantly swallowed her scream. "The music's stopped-they must all be at supper." She was so breathless, she could barely speak. "We'll miss it all if you don't hurry."

She'd die if he didn't hurry.

Hard lips caressed her nape. "The lobster patties can wait. I'd rather have you."

To Patience's relief, he tightened his grip on her, held her even more rigidly, as he stroked more powerfully. The flames within her roared, then fused and coalesced; the bright sun of release drew steadily nearer. Grew steadily brighter. Then he paused.

"You seem to be missing something here."

Patience knew what she was missing. The bright sun stopped, three heartbeats away. She gritted her teeth-a scream welled in her throat-

"I told you-you're mine. I want you-and you alone."

The words, uttered softly, with rocklike conviction, drove all other thoughts from Patience's head. Opening her eyes, she stared unseeing at the marble maiden, shimmering softly in the moonlight.

"There's no other woman I want to be inside-no other woman I crave." She felt his body tense, gather-then he thrust deep. "Only you."