Free Turn Back the Dawn by Nell Kincaid

budget; they felt the Trattoria wasn't big enough to devote that much ad money."
    Ben shook his head. "It may be the first department we advertise. Depending, my dear, on whether the food is truly as good as you say. Oh—by the way, Christina Casey over at my agency just finalized the arrangements for the campaign kickoff party. It will be at Xenon, downtown."
    "That's wonderful!" Kate said. "I feel as if it's all starting to fall into place."
    A few minutes later they were taking the employees' elevator up to the eighth floor, where Kate's office was, with bags filled with black forest ham, pâté de campagne, Jarlsberg, Montrachet, and Swedish fontina cheeses, Swiss peasant bread, Russian coffee cake, and fresh cold cider
    The halls were dark and quiet, lit only by red-and-white exit signs here and there.
    "I'm glad you're here," Kate whispered, taking Ben's arm. "I hate coming up here after hours."
    "You don't have to whisper," he said, smiling.
    She laughed. "You're right. But I do feel as if we're sneaking around."
    They reached her office, and she unlocked it and turned on the light* When they stepped inside, Ben closed the door and locked it, then took the bags and put them down on the conference table. Then he turned and took Kate in his arms, his strong hands deliciously warm at her waist, the pressure of his fingers sending a surge of pleasu through her. "Well, we are sneaking around, in a way," he said.
    "Oh, really?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I didn't know that."
    He nodded, the light of mischief in his eyes. "Oh, yes," he said softly. "After all, you're getting paid to be down stairs, dutifully talking to your loyal customers—not up on the eighth floor enjoying yourself with me behind closed doors."
    She smiled. "Locked doors, I hope."
    "Oh, yes," he murmured. "But why the concern?"
    His eyes were dark and cloudy with desire, heating her with need as she whispered, "Because I have an idea."
    "And what is that?" he breathed, lips only inches from hers.
    "Just this," she said softly, pulling him close as he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips parted instantly and she moaned, eager for the sweetness of his mouth, the urgency of his tender lips. His tongue played with hers, entering her mouth, drawing her in to the depths of desire. The kiss was deep, smoldering, sending surging desire to the center of Kate's soul, heating her body in radiating waves.
    "You look so beautiful tonight," he whispered. "God, Kate, to have you with me all evening without a touch." His fiery gaze roved downward. "You must have worn that dress to drive me crazy," he said huskily, moving his hands over the thin silk of her dress.
    "I didn't know you were coming," she said, her voice thick with desire.
    His fingers lightly circled, catching her nipples and tan- talizingly moving on, and Kate warmed under his touch and the heat of his gaze: he took such obvious pleasure in her body, in her responses.
    "You knew I'd come," he whispered. "You knew I'd come with the certainty my fingers have of you right now," he murmured. "And the certainty that's in your hands as you touch me, Kate, and know how quickly your touch arouses me."
    "Ben," she murmured thickly as he pulled her against him. She felt the hardness of his frame and moved her hands over his back and down his sides. She parted her lips to receive his scorching kiss while his hands traveled over her shoulders and down to her hips. She could have him now, she realized. She could have this lean, strong man
    bring her to the heights of fiery pleasure, to the exploding pitch of ecstasy. She knew the satisfaction deep inside would be greater than any she had ever felt. He needed her—in the urgency that lay just beneath his tenderness, she felt a force that matched the strength of her own desire. *
    "Kate," he muttered, placing a warm hand on her thigh, caressing it and dissolving her into mindless passion as his fingers became more insistent against the material of her