When he stood from the edge of the bed, the candlelight cast a golden glow over his olive skin. The black silk pants accentuated his broad chest, narrow hips and long, lean legs.

Barefoot, he took a step toward her. Jillian's cheeks burned hot. Who knew bare feet could be so intimate. When he took another step, Jillian's head whipped up. He was getting closer to her. She jumped back like a scared cat, her eyes swinging wildly from side to side. She needed to escape.

His teeth were white and even, the smile charming and...familiar.

"Enough. You stay right there," Jillian demanded pointing at him.

The man laughed. "I do not take orders from women, or anyone. I give them. I expect them to be followed immediately." He paused, breathing deeply as if taking in her scent. "I have found you at last."

Jillian shook her head, sending her brilliant red hair tumbling over her shoulders and around her face. The possessiveness of his final statement sent shivers down her spine. "I don't know who you are, or what you want from me, but if you lay one finger on me I'll scream bloody murder." She brought her fists up and took a fighting stance. "I'm trained in self defense and I will take you down," She brought one hand forward cupping a flaming ball in her palm, hoping to surprise this new enemy.

The man laughed as he walked swiftly this time across the room toward her. With a small twirl of his fingers water poured over her hand, extinguishing the flame, forcing a gasp of shock from her lips. "And what harm would you hope to cause me," he asked, a dark eyebrow arching high in inquiry.

Shocked, Jillian could only stare up at him, dumbfounded. Only one man could have done this and she'd only met him nine years ago in a dream.

"You," she said in disbelief.

He bowed eloquently.

Jillian caught her breath when his arms shot around her and pulled her close. She went rigid in his embrace and closed her eyes. What was happening? She knew him, yet she didn't know him at all. Who was this man and why did his touch set her on fire when her mind screamed to flee for her life?

His fingers brushed along her neck as he held her. She felt her heart race as heat spiraled from his touch to pool in her belly. She went weak in the knees and slowly opened her eyes. He was smiling at her. Not a sweet and how are you, kind of smile, but a masculine smirk as if he knew the torment he was causing her.

"Why do you wear such clothes," he asked, his head lowering, allowing his hot breath to fan against her cheek. She jerked in response, hating the sudden self-consciousness flooding her.

"What do you mean," her voice sounded low and husky even to her own ears, even though she'd been going for indignant. "There's nothing wrong with my clothes." She swallowed hard, fighting the erotic emotions welling up within her, as she gazed up into his face.

He pulled away slightly. "These clothes covering you from head to foot. You act as if you are hiding yourself from the world. When you come to me, you will have clothes of silk and satin. Sheer and soft as they caress your skin showing me the beautiful woman who waits beneath."

She shivered as his lips brushed along her jaw. As he said the words his body slowly ground into hers. Feeling the hard length of him pushing against her, she gasped. She went to push away, to escape the fire he was creating when his lips covered hers.

She wasn't prepared for tenderness as his mouth moved over hers with exquisite pleasure. Hot and wet, his tongue brushed over her lower lip, his teeth nipping, batting for entrance, but fear of who he was, was uppermost on her mind.

Turning her head, his lips once again brushed along her jaw, her whole body trembling. He felt real...divine. Her breasts ached to be cupped, her pussy clenching in desperate need to be filled.

"You have to stop," she breathed, twisting from his embrace.

"Why? Everything in you yearns for my touch.

Staring at him, she shook her head. "I can't. I don't know you." She backed away from him, but he stalked her, like a dark panther ready to ravage her at any moment. The backs of her knees bumped the bed and she fell backwards. Scurrying to the other side of the bed, she watched as he parted the drapes. On hands and knees, he crawled toward her.

He was beautiful, dark and sleek, all sinewy muscle. Her fingers itched to touch him, to explore in this forbidden dream and take a chance.

"You know me, you've always known me," he breathed in his sultry voice. His hand touched her knee and she jumped. He grinned, slow and sexy, gazing up at her with those fathomless midnight eyes. He squeezed her knee and his hand glided higher, resting on her thigh, his palm a firebrand scorching her skin. She sucked in a wild breath, staring at him all the while.

"And now I've found you, now I know exactly when and where you are. There is nothing to keep me from claiming you."

Shocked, pleased and terrified by his words, she shook her head and did the only thing she could think of. "Wake up. Wake up. Wake up."

Shaking his head he lunged for her. "No, no. We're close. The necklace. You must wear the necklace." She sucked in a breath, as he latched onto her, pulling her collar from her shoulder, his hand possessively covering her tattoo. Heat seared the design and she cried out, the room starting to spin. "Wear it for me..."[End Excerpt] Reality grasped her, clutching her hard and she fell forward into nothing...