He seemed to be warring with himself, so she took the decision out of his hands. She turned and left the dining room, headed out the French doors and down the steps to the garden. She didn't look to see if he was following her. She didn't need to. She could feel him.

She wound around a rose garden, stepping over a small rock wall into the vines. Her heart was pounding with desire when she finally reached the base of a large oak tree and turned to face Tyson. "I should explain:' he began. "What she said in there, it's true.

I was married. The divorce is almost final."

Carrie took a step closer and placed one finger over his lips. "I don't want to share you with your ex-wife. Not tonight."

He picked her up so quickly that she gasped with surprise. She enjoyed the feeling of being carried through the vines as if she were weightless. "My Prince Charming:' she sighed.

Moments later, he let her body slide down his until her feet barely touched the ground. He pressed her back into the wall of a small shed as he said, "I'm pretty sure Prince Charming never did to Snow White what I'm about to do to you:'

Moisture flooded her pu**y, and she swallowed even though her mouth had gone bone dry. With lust. ''And what is that exactly?" she asked in her primmest, most proper voice, even as she was coming apart at the seams with the force of her desire for him.

Instead of telling her, he showed her. Within seconds her skirt was bunched at her waist again and her panties were on the ground. "Lift your foot:' She complied, more thrilled than she could have ever imagined at being so out of control. At being controlled.

In the time it took her to kick away her panties, he'd thrown off his jacket, unzipped his pants, and rolled on a condom. His c**k was thick and perfect, and she wondered if there was ever going to come a time that she'd see his penis and not want to drop to her knees to taste him.

He cupped her butt cheeks with his big, rough hands and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he slid into her. It was better than anything she'd ever felt, better every single time he thrust into her. She clung to him, levering herself up and down on his cock, tilting her neck back so that he could bite down on her.

"Come for me, Carrie:' he said, and as she dropped her chin to look at him, she wondered whether it was possible to fall in love with someone you barely knew. He filled her again and she thought of his tenderness, his intelligence, his lovemaking, and thought "YES!" just as her world shattered into a million beautiful pieces.

EIGHT

CARRIE WOKE IN THE CROOK OF TYSON'S ARM, snuggled tightly against him. She could hardly believe how wonderful last night had been. How passionate and gentle he'd been when they'd returned to his house, how he'd cradled her in his arms, how she'd fallen asleep lulled by the sound of his heartbeat below her ear. Sleeping entwined like this had been a first for her. James hadn't liked to touch in bed beyond sex. He'd said he needed his space to sleep, and she'd respected that. Now she felt more intimacy wrapped in Tyson's arms as he slept than she'd ever had during sex with James.

Why hadn't anybody pointed out that she'd been settling? Had her parents settled for each other? They'd always seemed happy enough together, but maybe "enough" wasn't, well, enough.

They'd encouraged her relationship with James, been enthralled by his money, his connections, his family's standing in the community. Admittedly, though, so had she, so she couldn't exactly blame them for anything, could she?

But after last night, she knew she could never settle for good enough ever again. She was in love with Tyson. He was her fairytale prince.

She was a believer again. Even though she'd known him less than two full days. True love did exist. And its name was Tyson.

Her parents, her friends, everyone would have to accept her choice. Not that she was worried about anyone not liking Tyson. He was funny, smart, gorgeous, and successful. And he made her body tingle all over every time he touched her. Every time he looked at her.

The tingles started all over again. She opened her eyes and saw that Tyson was already awake and staring down at her. "I had a wonderful time last night;' she said softly, as she nestled in closer to his warmth. His hand rubbed small circles on her back. "I'm glad:' He didn't say anything more, but she knew what was coming. "I should have warned you about the potential minefields when you agreed to be my date for the evening. If anyone offended you, I'm sorry. It was about me, not you:'

"No;' she said, "Lizzy's comments didn't bother me. Believe me, she wouldn't last an hour at some of the parties I've been to, where even the compliments are backhanded slaps."

"What kind of crowd have you been hanging with?"

She sighed. "It's a long story." It was time for her confession.

One she didn't want to make.

"I want to hear your stories. I want to hear all about you;' he said. "But first, I need to explain what last night was all about:' She pressed a kiss into his chest. "I know exactly what last night was all about. You just wanted an excuse to get me naked in a moonlit vineyard."

He reached for her and kissed her, hard. "Can you blame me?" he said once they came up for air. Her lips tingled and her cheeks burned from his stubble. God, he was delicious. But as much as she wanted to explore his muscles some more, watch them flex beneath her as she rode him, she knew he needed to get his past

off his chest.

"How long were you married?" she asked, opening the door.

"Three years. We began divorce proceedings five and a half months ago. It takes six for the divorce to be final." He brushed her hair away from her face, and she thought she saw uncertainty cloud his eyes. But then, just as quickly, it was gone. "You're the first woman I've been with. The first that I've wanted to be with:' "I'm glad;' she said. "Not that you were hurt, but that I'm special:'

She realized how that had sounded after the word "special" had left her mouth, and she nearly groaned. Nothing like telling a guy how he felt about you to totally freak him out. Flustered, she blurted, "Why did your marriage end? What happened?"

He laughed, a mirthless sound, and ran a hand over his face. Suddenly, he looked exhausted. "Never mind, you don't have to tell me:' "No. You're the one person who needs to know:'

He closed his eyes, and she knew he was at war with himself again. Carrie didn't know if she'd given him enough of a reason, beyond great sex, to confide in her. After all, he didn't know she loved him. "I haven't told anyone about that night;' he said in a low, troubled voice. "The night my marriage ended. And no one has asked. I don't know, maybe they don't want to pry. Or maybe it's more fun to speculate." She nodded, her expression grim. "I'd have to vote for speculation. Gossip tends to take on a life of its own:' She touched his lips with her finger. "I already know you didn't cheat on her. You couldn't have. It's not who you are:'