Hot. Millie couldn't get Leo's words out of her brain. It was about to get hot, was it?

She was already there.

She waited while Leo booked her a room in the nicest hotel in the whole darn place. Then he asked that a bath be filled for her.

A hot bath, just as he had promised.

She couldn't help being a little disappointed. She knew it was what he was going to do.

But sometimes a girl just wanted a little bit more.

Okay, fine, to be honest, she wanted a whole lot more.

And he'd probably never respect her in the morning, but desire was desire. And passion could not be helped.

His gaze unreadable as she followed him upstairs. This was no cheap hotel, she realized when she stepped into the room.

Talk about comfort. The carpet was luxurious and elegant. The bed was extra wide and looked extremely inviting.

A steaming tub sat in the corner of the room, and white fluffy linens were stacked on a nearby bureau. Now, that was heaven.

She couldn't wait to slip into that steaming, lavender scented water.

"I'll give you some privacy." Leo stepped back into the hall. "Take your time, enjoy your bath. We'll have supper when you're done."

"But what about your room?"

"Don't you worry. I'll be back in a while to get you." He closed the door and his boots tapped away down the hall.

But somehow, a piece of his heart seemed to remain.

Well, maybe she was just being fanciful.

She stripped out of her wet clothes and slid into the deep steaming water.

Wow. She sank down to her chin. The heat drove away the cold in her bones and eased away her worries.

She leaned back and closed her eyes. Slowly the soreness eased from her muscles.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but a light knock on her door woke her.

"It's me." Leo's voice mumbled through the thick plane of wood. "I picked up some things for you."

"What things?"

"New clothes. I had to guess at the size. Let me in."

"Hold on." She reached for a towel and stood. "I need a moment to cover up."

"Here I thought you might open the door naked. That would be a fine sight."

"You're a man bound for disappointment. Just a minute." She stepped out of the tub with a splash.

She dried herself as fast as she could before wrapping the luxurious towel around her.

She padded to the door. "I don't think I should let you in. I'm standing here in a towel."

"Too bad, sweetheart. You'd better let me in if you want to wear dry drawers tonight."

"Now you're resorting to bribery."

"I do what I have to." Trouble rang in his voice.

The sort of trouble she was starting to like. "I'll open the door."

She did. He towered above her in the hallway, all dark eyes and smile.

Her heart missed a beat.

"Here. This is for you."

She took the bag. "I suppose you can come in if you promise to behave."

"I make no promises." He stepped into the room. "I wasted my hard earned money buying you clothes. You look scrumptious in that towel."

She blushed. "I've never shown any man so much skin before. Oops!"

The towel began to slip. It was coming loose!

She caught the towel just as it slid open. She looked into Leo's laughing eyes.

"I saw more than I should have," he confessed.

"Forget whatever it was you saw."

"That is an impossible request." He swept off his battered hat and crossed the room.

He knelt before the fireplace. What was wrong with her? She was so busy admiring him that she nearly let her towel slip loose.

Again.

"Aren't you going to see what I bought you?" His gaze met hers.

He winked. Clearly he'd seen more than she'd suspected.

She tugged the towel up higher on her breasts. If he looked at her that way again, she was going to never stop blushing.

She set down the bag and looked inside.

"Leo. I—" She simply forgot to breathe at the sight of the red dress. It had real pearl buttons and fine lace trimming. "I've never held such a such fine garment. I can't accept this. It's way too expensive."

"Too bad. You have no choice. It's either wear that or show up naked for dinner. Kathryn's other customers might enjoy that as much as I would, but you would be awfully cold. It's still snowing outside."

His footsteps padded on the floorboards. As he approached, her body quivered beneath the towel.

His hands cupped her bare shoulders.

She melted at his touch.

"I want to see you in it. But first I want to do this." His voice caressed the back of her neck.

She forgot how to breathe. Her body ached for more of his heated touch.

And that was the last thing she could allow.

She cleared her throat. "So, we'll be having a late supper at the establishment you took me to?"

"Yep. Kathryn's place has great food and it's the safest spot in town. No gun-fighting allowed."

"Darn. And here I am without my revolver. I was looking forward to a little gun-fighting."

"Is that right? Then just stick with me, sweetheart." He stepped closer. "I've never seen a more beautiful woman than you, Millie."

"Now you're just outright lying."

"Not even close."

He closed the distance between them. When he found her mouth with his, she met his kiss willingly.

That was all he needed to know. He took her into his arms and kissed her the right way. With all-out tender heat and velvet caresses.

He wanted her. He cupped her chin with one hand just to touch her.

Just to hold her while his lips tasted hers.

The steady beat of his heart stopped as Millie's mouth shifted beneath his, tentative, then inviting.

Wanting more.

He ran his tongue along her bottom lip, over the smooth surface of her teeth and tested the heady feel of her tongue twining with his.

She lifted a small, warm hand to cradle his jaw.

A punch of desire started down deep in his belly and worked its way up.

He wanted all of her. Here. Now. For as long as he could have her.

He didn't care when or how. He only knew that he had never wanted anything more than he wanted Millie. And he knew she felt it, too.

He knew by the quick rasp of her breath. Her body leaned into his invitingly.

There was only one solution. No other recourse. A man had to do what he had to do.

So he led her to the bed.

A moan tore from her throat when he eased her back onto the mattress. She clung to him, refusing to interrupt their kiss, all lips and teeth and tongue.

Just the way he liked it. He needed her touch. He needed her body.

Most of all, he needed her affection.

As if she knew that, she ran her hands over his chest and unbuttoned his shirt to brush her fingertips across his skin.

Without thinking, he tore off her towel and drank in the sight of her perfect breasts. Soft, warm, like nothing in his life, nothing in his world.

She was magic, that's what she was. She was changing his loneliness into a need he could not control.

So he did the only thing he could do. He filled his hands with her bare breasts.

"Oh, Leo." She sounded as dazed and as spellbound as he was.

He lifted his mouth from hers and trailed wet, sensuous kisses down her throat. She groaned freely just as he knew she would when his mouth closed over her budded nipple.

"Oh, Leo." Her voice changed.

She must feel it too. This rush of passion. The clench of hard need.

He ran his tongue over her breast, tasting, caressing.

Teasing.

This had to be a dream.

He ran a hand along her hip and outer thigh. "I've never felt this way for anyone."

"Or me." Her hand trailed up his throat to rest against the line of his jaw. "Don't stop."

"That is not my plan."

"Then just keeping going." Her fingers twining in his hair, pulling him closer to her.

He had no choice but to cover her more completely with his body. There was no way to hide his rock-hard shaft pressing into her bare stomach.

Her kiss became a smile.

There was no need for words. Every stroke, every kiss, every sigh deepened what he felt for her.

He went slow, his lips stroking and nipping hers with excruciating pleasure along the curve of her hip and then the inner length of her thigh.

His pulse skipped two beats when she reached for his waistband and began to tug his fly open. He helped her, and when the buttons gave, there was nothing between them.

He shucked off his trousers and drawers and she arched toward him. She parted her thighs, bringing that part of him against her.

A moan tore from his throat at the contact. Sharp, spiraling pleasure throbbed through every inch of him.

They melted together slowly. She wrapped her legs around him, open to him.

To the press of his body into hers, stretching her. He didn't stop until his thickness filled her, until she could take no more and he was buried hilt-deep.

He brushed the hair from her eyes, breathless, and began to rock her.

She moved with him, with each thrust and wrapped her arms tight around him.

Oh, what a sweet woman. They moved together in the darkness, lost in one another, two hearts beating as one.

She surrendered to him completely, the fire within her building until the heat became unbearable.

They came together, shattering into a million pieces. She clung to him as if she never wanted to let go.

He didn't either. As the last pulse ebbed, as he lay there holding her, saving that moment while they were still together, still one, he let out a sigh.

He would not let love into his heart, but he did let in sweetness.