Mitch didn't speak anymore, and Kelsey didn't either. They didn't remain still for long. Mitch's hands were at her hips and he pulled her against him as he began to move. Kelsey caught his rhythm, matched it, positively danced to it. Growing mindless as she met his every thrust, she felt the room begin to spin and became dizzy, thinking surely she could take no more.

Then all the sensations coursing through her body centered somewhere deep within her and began exploding, over and over until she screamed with the sheer rapture of it. Mitch's groan of satisfaction joined hers and together, still joined, they collapsed onto the bed.

A DELICIOUS MOIST WARMTH DELICIOUS MOIST WARMTH tickled the back of Kelsey's knee, and she stretched and extended her leg. She was only slightly awake. The ticklish feeling slowly moved up the back of her thigh, and she shivered, both with the pleasure of it and from the chilly air touching her skin. Gradually, languorously, she came more fully awake and noticed the pillowcase beneath her cheek was a smooth percale, not the flannel she was accustomed to. Of course, she remembered, she was in Mitch's bed. Remaining motionless, she sighed and enjoyed the feel of his mouth pressing kisses along her thigh. tickled the back of Kelsey's knee, and she stretched and extended her leg. She was only slightly awake. The ticklish feeling slowly moved up the back of her thigh, and she shivered, both with the pleasure of it and from the chilly air touching her skin. Gradually, languorously, she came more fully awake and noticed the pillowcase beneath her cheek was a smooth percale, not the flannel she was accustomed to. Of course, she remembered, she was in Mitch's bed. Remaining motionless, she sighed and enjoyed the feel of his mouth pressing kisses along her thigh.

"You're awake, aren't you?" he whispered against her skin, his stubbled flesh brushing against her and making her tingle.

"Uh-huh," she said with a sigh. "What time is it?"

It was still very dark in the room, the only light coming from the green neon bedside clock, which flashed twelve o'clock in annoying repet.i.tion.

"I have no idea," he said as he moved his mouth to her hip. "Do you care?"

"Not particularly," she replied.

Rolling over onto her back, Kelsey held her arms out for him, but Mitch would not be rushed. He took his own sweet time running his mouth across her flat belly. His exhalations flowed gently across her flesh, making her shiver more. He kissed his way up her body, inch by agonizing inch, skirting the areas she knew would make her go wild, as if he wanted to tantalize her for as long as possible before ending the wonderful torture. Kelsey was a quivering ma.s.s of nerve endings by the time he finally reached her face and began pressing light kisses on her jaw.

"Please..." she urged, not sure what she was asking for.

He continued his gentle a.s.sault. His hands were in motion now, stroking her thighs, her hips, her belly, still going nowhere near the pulsing core of her. She knew when he finally did touch her there, she would come apart all over again, and she writhed beneath him, nearly mindless.

Unable to resist, Kelsey began a reciprocal study of Mitch's body. He was hard, with long, muscular planes that she stroked and kneaded. Her fingertips danced across his supple skin, savoring the textures. He was ticklish at the ribs, sighed when she stroked his back, and hissed when she lightly bit his earlobe.

"Slow and steady this time, sweetheart," he whispered before dropping his mouth to hers for a long, slow, wet kiss.

Mitch could feel Kelsey shaking with her need. She was so beautifully responsive, arching into his hands, soundlessly pleading with him to bring her the release she craved. And finally he complied, sliding his hand down her body in one long, smooth caress and finding her heat.

Her heightened nerve endings exploded when he made his touch more intimate, and bolts of pleasure rocked through her instantly. She didn't even have time to come floating back to earth and suddenly he was sliding into her, building the pleasure all over again.

The loving was gentle and tender and so emotionally fulfilling that Kelsey nearly cried with the beauty of it.

THE PHONE WAS RIGHT by her ear and jarred Kelsey awake with its strident bellow. Not opening her eyes, she reached over to the bedside table and felt around until she found the receiver. by her ear and jarred Kelsey awake with its strident bellow. Not opening her eyes, she reached over to the bedside table and felt around until she found the receiver.

"h.e.l.lo?" she muttered, still not fully awake.

"Kelsey?" came the surprised response.

"Mom?" she muttered, finally opening her eyes and glancing at the phone. It wasn't hers. Her phone was white and streamlined, and this one was black and bulky. She sat up in bed, staring wide-eyed around the room, with its mahogany furnishings and burgundy bedding, and at the dark man who stirred in the bed next to her. Oh my G.o.d! Oh my G.o.d!

Mitch, not really awake either, was about to answer the phone when the intrusive summons stopped in mid-ring. He rolled over and prepared to go back to sleep. Then he heard Kelsey's scratchy voice, saying h.e.l.lo and calling someone "mom." Mom? Mom? He bolted up. He bolted up.

"Oh, no, Mom...yeah, you probably misdialed," Kelsey said breathlessly, shooting Mitch an apologetic look. "No, that's okay. What time is it? No, the electricity went out last night and my clock's not working. Eight-thirty? No, that's fine, honestly."

Mitch ran his fingers through his mussed hair and listened to Kelsey's side of the conversation. He could not believe she had answered the phone, and, of all times, it was her mother calling! Marge Logan had only called twice in the past several weeks, and never this early on a Sunday morning.

Kelsey finished the call quickly and hung up the phone. She looked at him, biting her lip uncertainly. "Mitch, I'm sorry. I just wasn't thinking."

"What did she say?"

"She thought she dialed the wrong number. I imagine she'll be calling you back shortly."

Kelsey watched him frown. She couldn't stand to see the look of guilt on his face. She quickly reached to a chair next to the bed and grabbed the shirt he'd worn to the ball the night before. She slipped it over her head just as the phone rang. No way did she want to stick around and watch Mitch close up on her again, overcome with guilt while he talked to her mother. Not after last night. She got up and rushed to the bathroom.

"h.e.l.lo?" she heard him answer before she shut the door with a click.

Kelsey studied her face in the bathroom mirror. Her makeup, which she'd neglected to take off the night before, was smeared on her face, and her hair was a wild, tangled mess. Her lips were swollen, so well kissed she didn't know if she'd ever stop feeling his mouth was still on hers.

"Of all the rotten timing," she muttered.

They should have been slowly waking up together, touching each other, sharing gentle kisses. There should have been that brief moment of embarra.s.sment when they saw each other unclothed in the bright light of day. They ought to have had a long morning of loving to overcome any last vestiges of that embarra.s.sment.

But that wasn't going to happen.

MITCH SAT IN THE MIDDLE of his bed after hanging up the phone, shocked at the conversation he'd just had with Marge Logan. Kelsey walked back in the room, her face a little cleaner, her hair combed down. She bit her lip uncertainly and held her hands behind her back. She wore his white blousy pirate shirt, and nothing else. His heart pounded harder in his chest and his mouth went dry. All she needed was a pair of high heels and she'd look like every man's number one fantasy. of his bed after hanging up the phone, shocked at the conversation he'd just had with Marge Logan. Kelsey walked back in the room, her face a little cleaner, her hair combed down. She bit her lip uncertainly and held her hands behind her back. She wore his white blousy pirate shirt, and nothing else. His heart pounded harder in his chest and his mouth went dry. All she needed was a pair of high heels and she'd look like every man's number one fantasy.

And she was his.

"You know, your mother is one smart woman."

Kelsey slowly approached the far corner of the bed and gingerly sat down, not saying a word.

"I answered, and the first words out of her mouth were 'I hit the redial.'"

Kelsey groaned. "What did you say?"

"What do you think I said? I told her the truth. I've never lied to your parents and I'm sure as h.e.l.l not going to start now."

Mitch watched her eyes widen, thoroughly enjoying the thought that for once she she was the one who was speechless. He let her stew for a minute, then asked, "Has was the one who was speechless. He let her stew for a minute, then asked, "Has everyone everyone known that you've been crazy about me for years?" known that you've been crazy about me for years?"

"What?" she screeched, jerking back so hard that she slid off the silky sheet and fell from the bed with a loud thump.

He jumped up, ran around the bed to see if she was all right, and found her laughing on the hard floor. He started laughing too, as he reached to help her up.

"She said your father and your brothers have been placing bets on how long it would take you to get what you wanted...namely, me."

Kelsey didn't know what to say. The oh-so-rigid college professor should have been in the middle of a panic attack. But this Mitch...oh, this was the Mitch of her dreams, the Mitch of last night. His eyes sparkled, and a huge grin creased his lips.

"What exactly did you tell my mother?"

"Exactly? I'm not sure of the exact words. But I let her know that little Kelsey had finally roped herself a man."

Kelsey grabbed a pillow off the bed and smacked him in the head with it. He held up his hands protectively in front of himself, laughing as he fell back on the bed.

"Well, maybe I was a little little more tactful," he admitted as she advanced on him threateningly with the pillow. He grinned and slid farther back until he'd reached the top end of the bed. "I told her we weren't sure what was happening between us yet, and she very gracefully told me she'd mind her own business. I didn't come right out and proclaim we're lovers." more tactful," he admitted as she advanced on him threateningly with the pillow. He grinned and slid farther back until he'd reached the top end of the bed. "I told her we weren't sure what was happening between us yet, and she very gracefully told me she'd mind her own business. I didn't come right out and proclaim we're lovers."

Lovers. She liked that word on his lips. And she positively adored that he didn't mind saying it. The fact that her parents understood helped tremendously. Of course, that would probably only hold true as long as they believed Mitch and Kelsey were going to be married. And Kelsey didn't imagine Mitch had started thinking that far ahead yet. But Kelsey had. She'd fantasized about it for years. She'd fooled herself into thinking she suffered only from a major attraction for Mitch. But the truth was, she'd been in love with him for a very long time. Now, in the morning, in his bed, still feeling warm and drowsy and slightly tender from their delicious intimacy, she could admit that to herself. But she didn't think he was quite ready to hear it. She'd give him a little while to get used to the whole situation.

Mitch couldn't believe how his life had changed in the past twelve hours. Only last night he'd been telling himself that getting involved with Kelsey would betray her family. Now, not only had he experienced the most erotically pleasurable night of his life, but he'd gotten her family's tentative blessing, as well. Mitch chuckled out loud, still marveling at how perceptive Kelsey's mother was. She'd come right out and told him she'd wanted them to be together for years, that she and Ralph had decided long ago that Mitch and Kelsey made the perfect couple.

It seemed he was the only one who'd had trouble coming to that realization. Remembering the night before, he knew he'd never regret it. In the dark, stormy depths of the night, coming together with Kelsey had been as elemental as the weather. He hadn't questioned it, hadn't second-guessed it, and had loved every minute of it.

"Last night was amazing," he said.

She smiled gently, admitting, "I thought so, too. I never imagined...I mean, Lady Love might sound like she knows everything, but to tell you the truth, Mitch, I never knew such feelings were possible. I didn't know something could be so pleasurable, so totally mind-consuming. I've been wanting to make love with you for the longest time, but until last night, I didn't even know what making love really was."

Mitch noted that nothing was as arousing to a man as knowing how completely he satisfied his woman. And at that moment Kelsey looked like a well-contented cat who'd licked clean a huge bowl of rich cream. His body responded instantly.

"So, we've given in to this incredible attraction that's been building for weeks," he said softly. "What now?"

"Well," she said playfully, sliding his shirt off her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor, "we could give in again."

Her green eyes narrowed and she crawled toward him from the foot of the bed. Mitch crawled to meet her halfway.

10.

"I WANT TO TELL YOU MY FANTASIES WANT TO TELL YOU MY FANTASIES."

Kelsey leaned closer to the microphone, dropping her voice to a sultry whisper. "Those delightful little vignettes we imagine, those interludes we allow ourselves to dwell on for brief moments during our day, or for long hours at night, are our fantasies. Those scenes we picture as we're slowly waking from a long night of evocative or haunting dreams. They taunt us, floating in the outer reaches of our minds, and we sometimes don't even remember them when we are fully awake. But they're there, waiting to visit us again, waiting to tantalize us with their seductive promise when we are ready to surrender our minds to them."

"d.a.m.n!" MITCH MUTTERED as he stared in frustration at his gray slacks, which he'd just coated with half a can of spray starch. Kelsey's voice and words had completely distracted him. He'd been standing in his living room late Monday night, figuring he'd do some ironing while he listened to her show. He planned to wait up for her. He'd hated to watch her leave earlier that evening. They'd been inseparable since Sat.u.r.day night. as he stared in frustration at his gray slacks, which he'd just coated with half a can of spray starch. Kelsey's voice and words had completely distracted him. He'd been standing in his living room late Monday night, figuring he'd do some ironing while he listened to her show. He planned to wait up for her. He'd hated to watch her leave earlier that evening. They'd been inseparable since Sat.u.r.day night.

Glancing at the slacks, he realized there was no point in even trying to continue ironing. He'd have to wash the pants again, anyway, unless he wanted to walk around as stiff legged as a flamingo.

When Kelsey broke away for her first set of commercials, Mitch unplugged the iron, turned down the lights and sat heavily on the couch. He took a sip of his drink and settled back. He could not even try to do anything else but listen to her, whispering to him in the dark.

"FANTASIES COME IN MANY FORMS. There are wishes for the future that masquerade as fantasies. For instance, I fantasize that Night Whispers Night Whispers goes into syndication and gets picked up nationwide." goes into syndication and gets picked up nationwide."

Kelsey laughed softly, inviting her listeners to laugh with her.

"I also fantasize about my personal life, who I might end up with, how he'll love me more then I ever thought anyone could. How we'll want to give up our individual lives to create a new one together, perhaps sharing that new life with children."

A sudden image of Mitch holding a sweet, dark-haired girl intruded, but Kelsey pushed it aside and continued.

"We fantasize about winning the lottery, about being discovered as a great artist, about writing a bestselling book. And all of these fantasies are important, and enriching."

Kelsey gave a low, throaty chuckle, knowing her audience knew her too well to think she was going to talk about those those types of fantasies on her show. types of fantasies on her show.

"However, since this is Night Whispers is Night Whispers, I think we'll talk about fantasies that are a little more...seductive."

"OH, MAN," MITCH SAID ALOUD at Kelsey's words. It was going to be a late night. at Kelsey's words. It was going to be a late night.

It was getting a little warm in his apartment, and he stripped off his sweatshirt, then reclined on the couch again, moving quietly as he tried to catch all of her words. And he made a deal with himself. For the next few hours, he was going to forget that the woman he was involved with was telling all of Baltimore about her most sensual fantasies. For tonight he'd just listen to Lady Love, knowing that when Night Whispers Night Whispers was over, Kelsey would be coming home to was over, Kelsey would be coming home to him him.

"SINCE IT'S MY SHOW," she continued, "I get to go first, all right? And a little later, I'll open up the phones to you, my faithful listeners."

Kelsey and Brian had already decided that these calls would need to be screened very carefully. She didn't want the FCC sanctioning her show because some caller went over the top.

"First of all, I fantasize about being carried. I don't mean carried away, as in dazzled with romantic gestures, although that would be nice, too. I mean, physically carried. I am all for equal rights, but just once, I want a man to demonstrate that he's bigger and stronger than I am, sweep me off my feet and carry me away. Of course, it has to be the right man-and the right moment."

Brian made a gesture from the other side of the booth, then simulated a man wearing nothing but a towel. Kelsey grinned a secretive grin, remembering how Mitch had carried her Sat.u.r.day night, first to the car, and later straight up the bas.e.m.e.nt stairs into ecstasy.

"In one of my fantasies, this strong man sweeps me in his arms and carries me out of a torrential storm. He kisses me with every step, rain sliding down our faces to our mouths, and his sopping hair brushing my cheek," she murmured, closing her eyes as the fantasy filled her mind. "The wind drives us toward shelter, and lightning fills the dark sky while thunder crashes all around us. When we reach a secluded cabin, he ever so gently pulls my wet clothing off my quivering body and draws me down to the floor where he warms me with his naked flesh."

Kelsey drew in a deep breath, silently urging her listeners to stick with her, then slowly released it.

"Gee, it's a little warm in here tonight," she said with a throaty laugh. "I think we'll take a short break and when we come back, I want to hear from you. Call me. Tell me your fantasies. Ladies, listen to our male callers, and gentlemen, perhaps you can get some ideas of what your women want. Don't leave me now. This is Lady Love on WAJO and I'll be back in a moment."

MITCH REMAINED in his living room during the entire show. He refilled his drink once, during a commercial, and turned down the thermostat a little as the room continued to feel warmer and warmer. His eyes growing heavy in the dark, he closed them and lay back to listen to Kelsey. in his living room during the entire show. He refilled his drink once, during a commercial, and turned down the thermostat a little as the room continued to feel warmer and warmer. His eyes growing heavy in the dark, he closed them and lay back to listen to Kelsey.

Her callers were inventive, amusing, some a little silly. Kelsey handled them all with grace and good humor, encouraging and rewarding their creativity but quick to interrupt any caller who tried to get too graphic, or the ones who tried to invent fantasies involving Lady Love. He had to admit she was good at her job. Very good. Throughout the show, Kelsey never lost control. Those who didn't know Lady Love might think she was just enjoying herself, letting the conversation take her where it might, but Mitch knew her better. He recognized the deliberate pauses, the breathy sighs. Kelsey was polished and professional and seductive as h.e.l.l.