Don't　make　me　try　to

explain　it；　because　I　can't。　Lord　only　knows　I　didn't　want　to　feel

anything　for　you！

You　were　the　one　who　showed　up　uninvited；　remember？〃

He　smiled　dryly。　〃So　you've　told　me。〃

〃You　bring　back　memories。　Maybe　what　I　need　is　to　wipe　out　those

memories　with　new　ones。〃

His　smile　turned　wry。　〃You　are　using　me。〃

When　Chloe　pushed　herself　up；　his　hands　fell　away。　She　was　on　her　own；

as　she　had　been　all　those　years。　And　she　knew　what　she　wanted。

〃Yes；　I'm　using　you！　I'm　using　you　to　show　me　that　I　can　feel　and　live。

I'm　using　you　to　help　me　put　the　past　to　rest。　You're　right。　I　have　to

do　that。　But　don't　you　see；〃　she　ended　on　a　note　of　pleading；　〃that

you're　the　only　one　who　can　help　me？〃

For　long　moments；　silence　was　as　thick　in　the　air　as　the　lingering　heat

of　passion。　Finally　Ross　lifted　a　hand　to　her　cheek。　〃I　want　to　believe

it；　Chloe。　Want　it　bad。〃

〃Then　make　love　to　me。　You　show　me　what　love　should　be　like。〃

With　a　low　animal　sound；　he　reached　out　and　pulled　her　under　him；

kissing　her　fiercely；　erasing　everything　but　the　here　and　now。　Chloe　put

herself　into　his　hands。　Trusting　him　fully；　she　lost　all　inhibition　and

returned　his　kiss　with　everything　she　had。

His　lips　moved　on　her　neck；　inching　down　into　the　dip　of　her　dress。

〃I've　been　wanting　to　do　this　all　night；〃　he　whispered　moments　before