of.

If I suddenly took up with a beautiful young girl and started acting like a

randy young swain at my age, my partners would think that I'd gone off my

nut,

and I wouldn't blame them. So please, let's just forget about this and

pretend

it never happened."

"No," she said in a low voice, and with a deft motion she shrugged out of her

dress and let it fall to the floor. She was stark naked underneath, save for

a

thin gold chain around her hips.

Royce caught his breath. He tried to swallow, but there suddenly seemed to be

an

obstruction in his throat. His heart started to hammer away inside his chest

like a wild thing trying to claw its way out. He had never in his life seen

anyone so lovely, so carnally sensual, so incredibly desirable....

"Royce," she said, her voice sultry, "I want you."

He bit his lower lip and shut his eyes. A little voice within him seemed to

say,

"Go on! Are you insane? My God, man, she wants you! Look at her, for Christ's

sake! When will you ever have a chance like this again? Go on, for one last

shining moment, be young again!" But with a supreme effort of will, the same

strength of will that had made him the success he was, he ignored that voice

and

backed out through the doorway, shaking his head, keeping his eyes shut, not

daring to open them for fear of losing what little self-control he had

remaining.

"Royce!"

He turned and ran back down the spiral stairs.

Terri stood there, stunned, unable to believe what had just happened. There

was

the sound of a soft chuckle behind her, and she spun around to see him lying

on

the canopied bed, one black-leather-clad leg stretched out straight, the

other

bent at the knee. He wore high-heeled black boots and a loose-fitting black

silk

shirt open at the neck to reveal a gold, upside down crucifix on a thin gold

chain. His hands were clasped behind his head, and a thick shock of flame-red

hair hung down in his face.

"And lo, how the mighty hath fallen," he quoted, laughing. "Well, I suppose

this

is what I get for sending out a girl to do a woman's job."

She stood there, not bothering to cover herself, her face flushed with fury.

"Don't! Don't you dare laugh at me! Don't ever laugh at me or—"

He stopped laughing and gave her a look that sent shivers down her spine.

"Or what?" he said softly.