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The music made the wall behind Darcy vibrate. Adam leaned closer, his breath soft against her brow. The heat of his body was so tempting. She'd been cold for so long.
He kissed her brow, then her temple, then her cheekbone. She grabbed at his shirt. Desire pooled between her legs, making her ache with need. He drew her earlobe into his mouth and suckled.
She moaned. What was she doing? She'd sworn not to lose control again. And anyone could come down this hall at any minute. "No." She shoved at his shoulders.
He stepped back, his eyes burning with desire. "Why not?"
She inhaled a shaky breath. "This is a place of business. Someone could see us." She turned the sound button off.
"Then let's go to my place."
"No." Darcy strode down the hall. What a fool she'd been to get carried away. And what about Adam? Had he made a move on her because of the sexy talk and music? Dammit. "I didn't realize you were so easily turned on, Mr. Cartwright."
"I'm not." His voice sounded sharp as he followed her. "Look, I'm always turned on when I'm with you. But not with anyone else."
Her eye twitched. Good God, he was acting like they were a couple. She had to stop this before it went any further. "That was nothing more than a response to the most convenient body available."
"Holy shit. You think you were just convenient?"
She turned to look at him. "No, I'm saying you were convenient for me."
He halted with a jerk.
Damn, she felt cold. As cold as that horrible night four years ago. But this had to be done. It was for his own good.
His eyes simmered with anger, and he stalked toward her. "There is nothing remotely convenient about this relationship. It's damned near impossible."
She breathed sharply. Why did she keep getting the feeling he knew too much? There was something dangerous about him, but God help her, it only made her want him more.
He stopped in front of her. The rage in his eyes Flickered hot.
Oh God, she wanted that heat. She needed it.
"I still want you," he whispered.
She blinked away tears. He was so damned tempting.
Footsteps and voices echoed in the side hall. The strident voice of Corky Courrant rang out. Dammit. There was no way to get Adam out the back exit without Corky seeing him.
Darcy spun around, looking frantically for an alternative, and spotted a door. "In here." She shoved Adam inside.
"Gee, is this part of the tour?" he asked dryly.
"Yes." She closed the door, then fumbled for the light switch. The lights revealed row after row of clothing racks and shelves.
Adam wandered down an aisle between two long racks.
"This is the wardrobe department," she explained needlessly.
He plucked a hanger off a rack and smiled appreciatively at a skimpy red negligee. "Is modeling for me part of the tour?"
"No." She snatched the nightgown from his hand and jammed the hanger back onto the rack. "Mr. Cartwright, you have to stop flirting with me. This is a purely professional relationship."
His jaw tensed. "Have you kissed any of the other actors? In a purely professional sense, of course."
She folded her arms over her chest. "It's none of your business."
"Have you kissed any of them?" he gritted out. "Did you even want to?"
"No." She glared at him. "But that doesn't mean this flirtation should continue."
He stepped toward her. "This is a lot more than a flirtation, and you know it. What's happening here is special. It's damned frustrating and... beautiful."
Somehow, he always managed to say the right thing. Damn him. "There can't be anything between - "
"Hurry!" Corky's voice sounded outside the door. "In here."
With a gasp, Darcy swiveled toward the door. She gasped again when Adam grabbed her from behind and pulled her behind a clothing rack. "What - "
He covered her mouth with his hand. "Quiet," he whispered.
"Hurry!" Corky opened the door. More than one set of footsteps shuffled into the room. "Close the door," she hissed. "And turn off the lights."
"Yes, my darling," a low voice answered.
The male voice was familiar, though Darcy couldn't quite place it. Then the lights shut off, and she was left hiding in the dark with Adam. He still had one hand clapped lightly over her mouth and an arm around her waist like a band of steel. He was breathing rapidly, his broad chest stirring against her back. His hand released her mouth and skimmed down her neck. He rested his chin against her hair. They remained perfectly still and quiet.
Not so for Corky and her boyfriend. Their lips made loud smacking noises as they kissed. Their bodies crashed into clothing racks as they spun about. The clothes started swinging, knocking into Darcy.
With his hand splayed against her stomach, Adam guided her quietly back behind a second rack of clothes. She was extremely aware of her hips and bottom brushing against him as they moved.
They stopped against a wall of shelves. He pulled her close, her rump pressed against the front of his pants. With a swift intake of air, Darcy realized he had become fully engorged. Or at least ninety-five percent. A guy couldn't get much bigger than that, could he?
"My darling Corkarina, you drive me mad with desire," the male intruder murmured with a Latin accent.
Corky moaned. "Oh, take me, Don Orlando."
Darcy stiffened with a jolt. Oh no! The rumors were true. Poor Maggie. This was awful. Darcy sagged against Adam, and he instantly tightened his hold on her. Oh, my. He must have been at only seventy-five percent of his potential. There was definite growth in the last quarter.
She shifted her hips so he was nestled in the crevice of her derriere. Oh yeah, his stock was rising rapidly. And her heart was clanging like the closing bell. He lowered his head and nibbled softly on her ear. Luckily, there was no way they could be heard over the other more boisterous lovers.
Adam stroked the length of her neck with his long fingers. Then, his mouth moved down her neck with soft kisses. She leaned her head back onto his shoulder, allowing him better access. His fingers skimmed down her T-shirt. She shuddered when his palm covered her breast. Gently, he squeezed.
Don Orlando's voice murmured, "Oh, Corkarina, your boobies are like succulent mangoes."
Darcy slapped a hand against her mouth to keep from reacting. She didn't know whether to scream or laugh.
"And I have a hot tamale for you," he added.
Darcy clamped her lips together to keep from howling. This was Don Orlando, the world's greatest lover? Adam's chest vibrated against her as he stifled his own laughter.
Suddenly, the door burst open and a screech rented the air. "Don Orlando, how could you? You said you loved me."
"I do love you, Tiffany."
"What?" Corky screamed.
"I love all the beautiful women," Don Orlando explained calmly. "And they all love me."
"Then feel the love, you bastard." There was a loud smack. "I'll destroy you on my show." Corky stomped from the room.
"Corkarina!" Don Orlando ran after her.
"Slime ball!" Tiffany yelled. She paused, then ventured into the dark room. She fumbled past the racks of clothes until she reached the shelves against the wall.
Fifteen feet from her, Darcy and Adam froze.
She didn't notice them, for she was peering at all the shoes. "Oh, these look nice." She grabbed a pair and stumbled back to the hallway, closing the door behind her.
"Alone at last," Adam whispered. "I thought they'd never leave."
She turned around in his arms to face him. "I didn't realize it was going to be so lively here tonight."
"Yeah. I kinda expected it to be more... dead."
She glanced quickly at his face, but couldn't make out his expression in the dark.
He stuck a hand in his trouser pocket. "I've got something here for us."
"A hot tamale?" Darcy winced. She shouldn't have said that.
He chuckled. "Pardon me while I whip this out." There was a jangling of keys, then he turned on a small flashlight connected to his keychain. He pointed the light at her face.
She squinted and scrunched up her face.
"Lovely as ever." He lowered the light to her right breast, then her left.
"Do you mind?"
"Just making sure I didn't damage the succulent mangoes."
