She could feel the nubs of the bedspread beneath her bare back, and him, hard and restless above her. Through the open window, the heat poured in. And there was a rumble, low and distant, of thunder. She felt the answering power echo in her blood.

He wanted the storm, outside, in her. Never before had he understood what it was to truly crave. He remembered hunger and a miserable wish for warmth. He remembered wanting the curves and softness of a woman. But all that was nothing, nothing like the violent need he felt for her.

His hands hurried over her, wanting to touch every inch, and everywhere he touched she burned. If she trembled, he drove her further until she shuddered. When she moaned, he took and tormented until she cried out.

And still he hungered.

Thunder stalked closer, like a threat. Following it through the window came the passionate wail of the sax. The sun plunged down in the sky, tossing flame and shadows.

Inside the hot, darkening room, they were aware of no time or sound. Reality had been whittled down to one man and one woman and the ruthless quest to mate.

He filled. She surrounded.

Crazed, he lifted her up until her legs circled his waist and her back arched like a bow. Shuddering from the power they made, he pressed his face to her shoulder and let it take him.

The rain held off until the next afternoon, then came with a full chorus of thunder and lightning. With her phone on speaker, Sydney handled a tricky conference call. Though Janine sat across from her, she took notes of her own. Thanks to a morning of intense work between herself and her new assistant, she had the information needed at her fingertips.

“Yes, Mr. Bernstein, I think the adjustments will be to everyone’s benefit.” She waited for the confirmation to run from Bernstein, to his lawyer, to his West Coast partner. “We’ll have the revised draft faxed to all of you by five, East Coast time, tomorrow.” She smiled to herself. “Yes, Hayward Industries believes in moving quickly. Thank you, gentlemen. Goodbye.”

After disengaging the speaker, she glanced at Janine. “Well?”

“You never even broke a sweat. Look at me.” Janine held out a hand. “My palms are wet. Those three were hoping to bulldoze you under and you came out dead even. Congratulations.”

“I think that transaction should please the board.” Seven million, she thought. She’d just completed a seven-million-dollar deal. And Janine was right. She was steady as a rock. “Let’s get busy on the fine print, Janine.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Even as she rose, the phone rang. Moving on automatic, she plucked up Sydney’s receiver. “Ms. Hayward’s office. One moment, please.” She clicked to hold. “Mr. Warfield.”

The faintest wisp of fatigue clouded her eyes as she nodded. “I’ll take it. Thank you, Janine.”