Waiting for the Moon

"We should go in," he said, knowing it was true. Knowing he'd rather die than give up this moment and return to the cold, black seclusion of his room.

"I do not want to go in. I want. .." Her voice trailed off.

He felt breathless, a little light-headed with anticipation. "What do you want?"

"You." The last word was no more than a whisper.

One little word, spoken quietly and with such conviction. Ian sighed softly, unable to fight his own nature even a second longer He leaned toward her.

The kiss was nothing at first, a light touching of lips that was over almost before it began. He heard her sharply indrawn breath, saw her eyes widen in surprise.

Reluctantly he drew back, gave her time.

"What was that?" she asked.

207

He touched her cheek tenderly. "A kiss."

"Why did you do it?"

"I wanted to. I shouldn't have done it."

She frowned. "Why did you want to?"

"A man has ... needs." He looked away, aching for her so badly in that moment, he felt weak in the knees. "I don't want to talk about it."

She smiled. "Me, too."

"Me too what?"

"Such needs are inside of me, also. I liked it very much."

He groaned at her honesty. "Ah, Selena. You're so trusting, so naive. I could crush you."

She gave him one of her blindingly bright smiles. "But you will not."

"You shouldn't believe in me so much," he said in a thick voice. "I'm not a good man."

She laughed. "It must be easy to become a doctor."

The topical change caught him off guard, though he ought to be used to her by now. "Why do you say that?"

"Because sometimes, Ian, you are very . . . braindamaged."

He laughed in spite of himself. "Selena, don't be so damned charming right now. I'm trying like hell to be honorable. And it is not honorable to take advantage of a scantily clad virgin in the middle of the night."

"What is a virgin?"

"Someone who has never ... slept in the same bed with a man."

Her face scrunched in thought. "But what if I have slept with a man before? Then I would not be a virgin and it would be honorable for you to-"

"What?"

She gave him a blank look. A cool breeze molded her nightdress to her shivering body. "What what?"

Ian felt as if he'd just been punched hard in the gut. He couldn't catch his breath. Jesus, how had he missed