She almost screamed. Almost. Until she saw the expression in his eyes.

His gaze devoured her breasts. Her chest heaved up and down with her quick breathing, and when he palmed her stomach she stiffened.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Fire curled in her loins as his big hand moved with the slightest caress over her bellybutton. Soothing, the motion also aroused. Her nipples tightened in response. An ache started in her core, her body longing to grip and hold a man's cock. Her fingers gripped his shoulders tighter.

His touch slipped down, dipping under her waistband. For one frightening, yet thrilling second, she thought he might unbutton and unzip her jeans. And to her horror, she wanted his touch between her thighs, over her breasts. Anywhere she could imagine he would claim and give.

An image expanded in her mind, and she groaned as she arched her back and her eyes closed with delight. This wild, reckless man slid between her thighs, naked and willing.

His cock probed at her wet folds, tantalizing her as she arched her hips.Oh, yes. Oh. Her lips parted as her breathing increased and her chest rose and fell.

OhGod, yes.She wanted desperately to feel his cock inside her, to know the mystery he provoked.

Clarissa's eyes snapped open, her body trembling.

Blazing with seductive light, his eyes drew her into a world containing only them. He licked his lips. "I see what you see, Clarissa. Is this what you want? Do you ache as I ache? I want to know what your wetness feels like tightening around my cock. I want to know what it feels like to slide in and out of you slowly, then fast until you scream in ecstasy."

Although some of the glowing yellow temperature subsided from his striking eyes, his gaze held a lambent, sensual haze that made her want to writhe in pleasure rather than fear, but she couldn't relinquish power to this stranger. Had she gone insane? What if hewas the serial killer?

When she squirmed with panic, his lips touched her brow with tender deference. "Hush.

Easy. Easy. I'm not a serial killer."

"How do I know that?" Her voice trembled. "Only a crazy man invades a woman's room and forces himself on her like this."

"Well, in truth I've been called a crazy man before." When she continued to struggle, he said softly, "Calm down. What do you feel in your heart?"

In her heart she sensed heady sexual turbulence, a raging need almost out of control, but never with the intent to injure or humiliate.

"That's it." His voice dipped even lower, a balm on her tender nerves. "Stop and listen to me. You honestly believe I would've saved you last night if I wanted to rape and murder you?"

It didn't make much sense, but neither did his actions now. "What do you expect me to believe? You turn up at my bedside, you kiss my...my jaw. You lay on top of me. You start fondling me. I don't evenknow you."

An arrogant, sultry smile covered his lips. "You will know me. Very well. In your dreams, in your fantasies we are intimate. As I read your mind earlier, I saw your vision of me between your legs, ready to thrust inside you."

His words burned her, heating her to overwhelming need. Clarissa's breathing quickened as his words turned her on.

"Is it of things to come, sweet Clarissa? Do you see the future? For it is surely not the past." The mysterious man removed his touch from her stomach, sliding his fingers under her sweater to rest between her breasts. "Your heart is pounding but not from fear."

Damn his black Irish heart.

She rarely used crass language in anger, but the words erupted in desperation. She pushed against his shoulders again. "Fuck you."

He laughed, throwing back his head. Rich and deep, his mirth served to excite her so much she couldn't help the restless little squirm she made with her hips.

"Oh yes," he said. "Make no mistake. I do want to fuck you."

She blushed like a schoolgirl and hated it. "How dare you?" Enraged by his overblown ego, her anger overran previous trepidation. "You bastard."

To her surprise, regret and maybe even shame touched his gorgeous face for one moment. Then it disappeared like a light bulb extinguishing. He moved off her and stood near the side of the bed. As she levered into sitting position, she tugged her sweater over her belly.

"I've frightened you."

"I'll say." She sat on the edge of the bed and jammed her feet into her boots. She laced them in a hurry. She wouldn't get caught barefooted if she had to make a quick escape.

As she glanced at the digital bedside clock, she groaned. "It's almost nine o'clock in the morning."

"To be sure my timing is off, but this can't wait." He reached in his pants pocket and withdrew a piece of paper and handed it to her. "ErinGreenway's number. You can call there anytime today."

Silence hovered like a shroud, dark and somehow filled with apprehension.

"And?" she asked.

He cocked one dark eyebrow. "They want to see you. Would you have dinner with me- with them-tonight? We'll meet at ErinGreenway's home."

The ire simmering in her blood cooled. "All right. I'm busy today until about six."

"What are you doing?"

Ronan's nosiness astonished her, but it shouldn't have considering his earlier behavior.

"Again, that's not your business."

His eyes brightened, the fiery yellow tempered by warm brown. For the first time she realized his long leather jacket lay on a chair by the desk. A blood red sweater enhanced the burnished red highlights running through his chocolate hair. Black wool gabardine pants fit him as if specially tailored. All his clothes looked Italian designer, expensive and right for his powerful body. In the graveyard he'd looked dangerous and incredible, but casual. Now his attire screamed confidence. He didn't wear any jewelry, and for some reason she liked that. Maybe because the last man she'd dated had been obsession with gold necklaces and earnings she didn't appreciate.

She tried to remember, despite her annoyance with him, if she'd ever seen a more striking male specimen in her life.

No.

As she perused Ronan his gaze stirred hotter and appreciative. While she'd been looking him over, he'd done the same with her. He licked his lower lip and the sensual gesture jolted like electricity in her belly. Desire sparkled, refusing to react to her displeasure and concentrating in her loins.

Oh, man. If he could read her thoughts right now-

He took a step forward, and the movement startled her. She stood up, ready to run.

Instead Clarissa found she couldn't move. Ronan's potent gaze pinned her to the spot.

What's happening?

He whispered in her mind.We are happening.

She shivered. "No. You aren't in my mind. I must be losing it."

As a comforting glow surrounded her body like a blanket, he said out loud, "Please don't be afraid."

"What are you?Who are you really?"

"You've asked me that before."

"And you didn't answer."