The small apartment was the same as she'd left it. She'd been back once since moving into Brian's. As she walked through each room, it seemed compact and small compared to the living arrangements she had now.

In some ways Anna doubted her simple life would be the same again. Certainly her heart wouldn't. If she had a whit of sense she'd pack her things and leave now before their feelings for one another developed further.

A quick knock on the door was followed by a black head. "I thought I'd find you here."

"Hi Rachel." The one things about tonight Anna regretted was letting Brian assume she was seeing a man. It seemed childish now, but vital at the moment.

They ate at a Chinese restaurant and drank several cups of tea while chatting over old times. When Rachel suggested a movie, Anna readily agreed. After a quick call to Charity, she sat through a nondescript movie. No matter how hard she forced herself to watch the screen, her thoughts continually drifted back to Brian.

Rachel and Anna parted ways after the movie, and Anna drove back to her apartment. She laid on the couch watching television and decided to close her eyes. When she opened them, it was well after two o'clock. Well, if Brian did wait for her, he would be in his usual mood by now.

When she pulled into her spot in the driveway, she took in several calming breaths. Mentally she prepared herself -- for what she wasn't sure.

The porch light was on, and another in the long hallway that led to her room. She turned the outside light off, and tiptoed into the entryway. "You look like a thief in the night." A deep voice came from the living room.

Startled, she let out a gasp. Her hand flew to her breast. "What are you doing there?" She demanded.

"In case you've forgotten, I live here."

"I didn't mean that to sound the way it did," she apologized. "You frightened me."

He moved closer to her. "Did you have a good time?"

"Wonderful," she lied.

"How was Ray?"

"Good," she took in a deep breath. "Is this an interrogation?"

"No, just curious interest."

"I didn't mean to stay out late." She could have kicked herself the minute the words slipped past her mouth.

"Time flies when you're having fun, or so they say."

"Yes, well, I think I will go to bed."

"Did Ray kiss you goodnight?" The question came abruptly and without patience.

"I don't think that's any of your business." Her hand tightened around the strap of her purse.

"You don't look like you've been kissed."

"Brian, please," she released the words with a sigh.

"At least when I kiss you, there's no doubt. Your eyes grow warm and gentle, your face is flushed, and you have a look about you that begs for more."

Anna looked away, but not before she saw the way Brian's fingers bit into the arm of the chair.

"Does Ray make you feel like I do?" He continued. "Does you heart beat faster when he holds you? Or is it just the thrill of having a man, a real man, one you don't have to look down to?"

"Stop it," she cried. "You don't know what you're saying." The temptation to cry out that he was more man than she'd ever known, all the man she'd ever need. Were he never to take another step, she couldn't love him any more than she already did.

Anna inhaled a sharp breath, her eyes rounded at the startling realization. For days she'd been struggling with herself, refusing to admit the truth. Now, in her anger, she acknowledged her true feelings. It was too late, she was already in love with him.

"Anna?" Brian paused and took her hand. "Are you all right? You look sick."

"I'm fine," she mumbled and pulled her hand free of his. "I just need to lie down." She felt like she was staggering as she rushed down the hall to her room. Of course, she wasn't, but it seemed her whole world had crumbled in on top of her and the weight was more than she could possibly manage.

"Anna, wait," Brian called out for her, but she ignored him and firmly shut the bedroom door.

Even after she'd changed clothes and crawled beneath the fresh sheets, Anna still couldn't sleep. She was angry with Brian. Irritated, because he knew as well as she what was happening between them and had done nothing to stop it. Her feelings, emotions, and heart were only playthings to him, a small diversion until he was walking again. She could almost hate him. Almost.

She lay there for what seemed hours, unable to sleep because everytime she closed her eyes, pictures of Brian would flash into her mind. Not content with dominating every waking minute, he was determined to haunt her sleep as well. The room felt hot and stuffy. Throwing back the covers Anna opened the sliding glass door just a crack. A faint moaning stopped her. She had to strain to hear. Brian.

Was he in pain? Thoughtless of her bare feet, she stepped outside. Brian's glass door was also cracked. The sounds of his moans was more distinguishable now, in addition to a faint thrashing noise. Anna peeked inside his room.

Brian was asleep and in the throes of some horrible dream. His head tossed from side to side, his blankets a twisted mess around his legs.

"Brian." She hurried to his bedside and placed a restraining hand on both shoulders. "Wake up. You're having a dream." Lightly she shook him. "Brian, it's a dream."

He jerked himself upright, leaning the brunt of his weight on one elbow. For a second he looked at her blankly, then released a small cry of relief. "Anna, thank heavens." His eyes were filled with some unspeakable torment. Forcefully he pulled her into his arms, his breathing unsteady. "Oh, Anna." His open hands caressed her back, shooting a tingling fire down her spine. "I thought I'd lost you," he continued. "You were in the school bus screaming for me to help you and I couldn't' get out of my chair."

"I'm fine, I'm right here." She assured him, her hands brushing the hair from his face. Her heart cried out to him.

"I couldn't bear to lose you now." He twisted his upper body, bringing her onto the bed beside him. Positioned so that he was above her now, his anguished eyes stared into hers. "Don't stop me. I need you so much," he murmured before his mouth rocked over hers.

She gave in to him unselfishly, parting her lips with all the eagerness of her newly discovered love. Her hands roved his back, revelling in the muscular feel of skin under her fingers. He was warm, vital, and for this moment, this night, hers.

His mouth left hers and pressed against the gentle slope of her bare shoulder.

"You've been drinking," she whispered.

"Yes." He continued to kiss her neck, his tongue making moist forays against the sensitive skin. "It was the only thing that kept me sane tonight while waiting for you."

"Oh, Brian. You didn't drink after taking any medication, did you?"

"Don't 'Oh Brian' me. I know what I'm doing. For once stop being my nurse and be my lover?" His mouth blotted any objection she might have voiced.

Anna was reeling with the potency of his kisses. When his exploring hands cupped the soft undersides of her breasts, she released a small cry of pleasure. Gently his thumbs made lazy circles around her nipples until they turned to hard pebbles. She felt as if her breasts swelled under the gentle manipulation.

"You shouldn't," she protested weakly.

"Do you want me to stop?" He whispered against her ear, his warm breath caressing her lobe.

"No," she admitted, her arms entwined around his neck, "don't stop."

Desire, raw and fierce, ran through her blood, spreading a path of fiery awareness that left no part of her untouched. Her senses were in turmoil. No longer did she question right from wrong. No longer did it matter.

Brian's kisses grew more deep, more passionate; their affect drugged her into submission and demanded a response. Trapped in the warm, rushing tide of her love, Anna responded freely, wholly. If Brian had asked for her soul, she would have handed it to him without thought -- so deep was her love.

Deftly his hands pulled the silken material of her nightgown over her head and tossed it aside. Anan all but cried with pleasure of his bare skin over hers. She moaned softly as his warmth seemed to brand her.

His lips began a downward path from the sensitive cord of her neck to her breasts and stomach. Her long fingernails dug into the rippling muscles of his back as she arched, wanting to give more, needing to receive more.

"Anna," he moaned, and bruised her mouth with a scorching possession. "Do you realize how long it's been since I touched a woman like this?"

The world came to a sudden, abrupt halt. A woman. Any woman would have done. She convenient, here, now. A passing fancy until he was ready for the Leighs of this world.

Dragging her mouth from his, she violently pushed him away. "Don't," she cried and struggled to sit up.

Brian went still. "What is it? Have I hurt you?"

The question was almost ludicrous. She was dying and he wanted to know if he caused her pain.

"Anna?" He raised himself up, and brushed the hair from the side of her face. "What's wrong?" His tender concern was nearly her undoing.

"Let me go," she cried, her voice weak. She shut her eyes, but a tear squeezed its way to her mouth.

"Not until you tell me what's wrong." His voice was thick with frustration. "You're crying?" A finger brushed the wetness across her cheek. "Anna, please. Tell me what I did."

"It has been a long time since you've touched a woman," she whispered at last. "So long that you'd hold any willing woman."

"That's not true. I can't think of anyone else when you are in my arms. It's you I want," he muttered thickly. "Only you."

"That will change," she said confidently, "and soon."

He groaned her name.

"Please let me go," she pleaded, her voice quivering uncontrollably.

With a frustrated exclamation, Brian rolled off her and stared at the ceiling as she searched for her nightgown. She paused long enough to slip it over her head and run as if the devil himself were in pursuit.