Thea was thrilled by the prospect of the adventure that lay before her. Jordan had teased and taunted her the night before with "glimpses of things to come," as he put it, but had abstained from thrusting his magnificent penis into her willing body, telling her that absence made the heart--and cock--grow fonder.

He wanted her pining for him. He told her, that if after a week of sexual awakening she still cared for him, her desire would spike to new levels of intensity, and he would be more than ready ease her torment and fill her body once again.

Thea mulled this over during the carriage ride to Ingram Hall, such a benign name for a reputed den of lust. Jordan had given her free reign to do and try anything that pleased her. "Nothing you do can ever be wicked or wrong if it brings you pleasure, Thea. Only pain, against your will, is wrong," he''d told her, then reassured her pain was not part of the program at Miss Rose''s establishment.

"You must let yourself go and let your fear of the unknown fall away if you are to truly indulge in the joys of sex. Never fear that your wild abandon would shock me. I will delight in your experiences and gain pleasure of them through you."

These last words of wisdom Jordan had whispered to her before he''d kissed her thoroughly and closed the carriage door. She''d been sent on her way that morning with his words whirling through her head like the effects of a heady wine.

He trusted her enough to allow her this freedom. An unselfish gift. She meant to prove to him that his money had been well spent. She would use whatever she learned in the coming week to bring him endless hours of pleasure. Thea was a little nervous about the unknown, but the quickening in her lower-belly, and the ever-present wetness between her thighs convinced her that she was ready to learn whatever they could teach. Truth be told, she could barely sit still for all her excitement.

The carriage rumbled and bumped over the rough country road. Miss Rose had sent her own richly detailed carriage and driver to pick Thea up and take her to the Hall. "For discretion''s sake," Jordan had informed her with a glint of mischief in his eyes. She wasn''t sure if he''d teased or not. And the driver had insisted, kindly but firmly, that she keep the window flaps closed. But Thea didn''t mind. She was too happy and excited to be bothered about anything.

After an hour of rough travel, the heat of the day and the dust from the road dampened Thea''s good mood somewhat. Finally, the carriage slowed to a halt and the driver jumped down from his seat and opened the door.

"Have a stretch, my lady, we''ve still another hour to go," he said, offering her a hand down. She accepted his help, thankful for the chance to refresh herself.
Thea looked around for some landmark to help her fix their location. But the surrounding vista of lush rolling hills dotted with the occasional cottage and thicket of shade trees, could have been nearly any locale in the southern half of England. Miss Rose was not one for notoriety. Word of mouth was the only publicity she apparently needed.

"There is a creek down through those trees, miss, if you''d like to cool yourself or take a drink," the driver told her, pointing toward the left side of the road. "I figure we rest a half hour, give the horses a chance to feed and drink, then we''ll be back on our way."

He smiled and Thea looked at him closely for the first time. A handsome youth, maybe her age or a bit younger, fine-looking with a broad, muscular frame. His blue eyes were merry and his golden hair, much like her own, fell in unruly waves over his forehead and down to brush the tops of his wide shoulders.

"Yes, I''d like that," Thea said, smiling back at him. It was nice to be in such pleasant company, it relaxed her. She turned and made her way through the brush at the roadside and descended into the trees. She could hear the flow of rushing water before she saw the creek. The woods smelled of rich loam and wild honeysuckle.

"Call me if you need anything, miss. My name is Luke," he called from behind her. Thea turned and waved, thankful for his courteous offer.

The creek gurgled and glistened, it''s shallow waters moved over and around rocks and mossy logs. "Lovely," Thea murmured aloud. Her delight in skinny-dipping had not left her, but although she was tempted, she didn''t feel she had enough time to fully enjoy a bath, and didn''t fancy getting caught with her drawers down, so to speak, by the stalwart Luke.

Instead, Thea opted for removing as much of her clothing as she could to wash herself off a bit, without breaching any etiquette of indecency. She found a nice flat boulder at the water''s edge and sat down on it''s warm surface with a content sigh.

She tilted her head into the dappled rays of sun shining down through the canopy of trees overhead, and let the heat of the day seep into her skin. Jordan''s loving had made her more in tune to her body and at ease with herself. She longed for anything that could tease her skin the way his hands and mouth had.

Thea took off her kid slippers and stockings, and dangled her bare feet into the cold, rushing water. She wiggled her toes. It felt heavenly. She removed her hat and undid the buttons down the front of her bodice and at her wrists. She opened her blouse to the waist, thankful that Jordan had insisted she leave her corsets behind. Then she pushed her sleeves above her elbows, savoring the feel of fresh cooling her skin.

On such a hot day as this, Thea knew her clothing would dry quickly, so she cupped her hands and splashed the sparkling water on her chest and arms. The sensation was wonderful, and the cold water caused her nipples to peak beneath her thin chemise. Memories of Jordan''s mouth on her there, and of their uninhibited passion, surged through her.

It was all she could do not to moan aloud, so close to the surface was her need for him. Unable to resist, Thea smoothed her hands over her breasts, squeezing and kneading until the quiver between her legs began. The feelings were delicious, and the idyllic spot by the creek only served to heighten her senses.

When Thea heard a faint rustle of leaves across the creek from where she sat, it took her a moment to clear her head and realize she was not alone. She didn''t sense any danger, though, and searched the far bank for any signs of movement. Then she saw him. Luke stood stiff and unmoving near a small grove of Walnut trees. All she could see was his upper torso. His lower body was hidden by a densely leafed bush. He didn''t move a muscle when she spotted him, just flashed his handsome grin, and his heated gaze never wavered.

How long had he been standing there . . . watching her touch herself? Thea instinctively knew she did not need to fear him. He was an employee of Miss Rose''s after all, and nothing about his manner seemed menacing--just the opposite, in fact. His youthful body radiated robust health and male vigor. She could only sit and smile at him and wait to see what he wanted. Maybe it was time to leave already?

Luke didn''t speak, just nodded his head at her. There was definitely a challenge in his bold stance. Was he inviting her to continue her personal ministrations? Thea was curiously tempted. She fully enjoyed her newfound power over Jordan when she used her body, and she couldn''t help wondering if Luke would succumb to her feminine charms. Wasn''t it harmless to play the temptress to garner that special look from a man''s eyes? He was safely across the creek after all.

Thea relaxed on her perch and slowly ran her fingers through her hair, lifting it off her hot forehead. She dipped her hand in the water and touched her brow, then let her fingers trail to the tiny buttons on the front of her chemise. Slowly, she undid enough of them so that her full cleavage lay exposed to his view. She knew her wet chemise did little to hide the shadow of her nipples.

Luke would see her pert, rosy buds if he looked . . . which he was now--with something akin to a blaze in his eyes. Luke shifted on his feet and Thea could see his arms moving, but she still couldn''t see his hands or body from the waist down. Then his right arm began pumping in a rhythmic motion and she didn''t have to see through the bushes to know what he was doing. A jolt of pure heat ran from her breasts to her already wet cunt and she squirmed on the rock, unable to take her eyes off Luke.

When he finally said something, it was two simple words--words that spoke volumes. "Don''t--stop," he said hoarsely, through gritted teeth.

Then he stepped from behind his cover. Although Thea had guessed what he was about, this knowledge did little to prepare her for the wondrous sight of his massive arousal. Luke kept his eyes pinned on her and leaned back against one of the Walnut trees, stroking his thick, stiff cock with his hand. She could see a glimmer of sweat on his brow in the sunlight. He stood, bold as you please, with his pants shifted low on his rocking hips. His virile member was exposed in all its glory, and Thea could plainly see the blood-engorged vein that ran the length of it.

The span of the creek was only fifteen feet or so, and she could barely make out the outline of his testicles through a curly mass of dark-blonde hair. Reading her mind like magic, Luke braced his legs apart and used his free hand to slip his sac fully out of the confines of his trousers. He cupped his balls in his palm, bouncing them slightly to tease her, and worked his cock fiercely with his other hand all the while.

The lower front of his shirt gaped open now and she could see the ripple of muscles on his abdomen, and the V of soft hair that ran from his navel to his groin--so like Jordan''s.

When he began to pant, Thea didn''t want to be left out of the race. Completely lost in the wildness of the moment, lost in the allure of nature''s awesome splendor, Thea fumbled beneath her skirts and found her clit with eager fingers. When this produced a grunt of approval from Luke and his stroking became more frantic, she felt an obligation to give him a peek since he had so kindly exposed his beautiful male body for her enjoyment.

Thea rucked her skirts up above her hips and wriggled out of her drawers, tossing them aside. When her bare bottom rested on the heated rock beneath her, she squirmed in delight and spread her legs farther apart, never taking her eyes off Luke''s heated gaze and throbbing, engorged shaft. Thea leaned back on one elbow and began rubbing her slick pussy quick and hard, focusing on her little nub of desire. Soon the waves a pleasure began to build and she knew if she tightened her leg muscles she''d come in an instant.

But she wanted to wait for Luke. They were in this together, after all. She couldn''t help smiling at him--challenging him this time to take the final plunge. Coyly, she sat forward again and began fondling the lips of her creamy pussy with her fingers. When she spread herself wide and lifted her knees, Luke cried out and shot his wad. Thick white cum squirted out of his turgid shaft, showering the grass at his feet.

Thea had watched Luke''s male essence spurt forth, watched his face strain in heated pleasure, watched his sac bounce in his cupped hand, watched his shoulder muscles bunch as he worked his arm. It was all too much. She straightened her legs and tightened her body, breaking her tension with blessed release. She cried out as her fingers worked her slick, throbbing cunt, and the world spun beneath her. Thea fell back on the flat rock, breathless and exhilarated.

She had never been so brazen in her life. Even with Jordan, she hadn''t taken the lead so boldly. And she had never had the opportunity to watch a man take matters so skillfully into his own hands. It occurred to Thea that this afternoon''s foray into the forest had been her first lesson, the reason Jordan had had that look of mischief in his eyes. She could only imagine what his roadside initiation had been on his way to Ingram Hall!

"Come, my lady, it is time to go." Luke stood at her side, admiring her sprawled, half-naked body with a satisfied smile on his lips.

He had magically appeared, fully recovered, and seemed quite pleased with himself. His lopsided grin made her shiver. He allowed her to right her clothing and retrieve her hat and shoes, then he offered his arm like a perfect gentleman and escorted her back to the carriage.

"Do you provide this service to all your passengers?" she asked, teasing him to settle her nerves.

"No, my lady. Only to a select few . . . only to the most beautiful, passionate women who are willing to accept my little gift."

"By no means little," Thea murmured under her breath.

Luke laughed at that. "Maybe later, during your visit to the Hall, I''ll have the honor of being chosen to acquaint you with my talents on a more personal level," he said with a cocky grin.

Her heartbeat accelerated at his suggestive banter and she knew this would be a week she''d never forget. They proceeded on their journey without delay.

When the familiar sound of carriage wheels crunching over a shell drive roused Thea from sleep, she bolted upright, amazed that she had dozed on the second leg of their journey. She peered through the window and spotted the imposing edifice of Ingram Hall not more than a hundred yards off.

The pale, stone structure was old-fashioned in design, but thoroughly English in its charm and grandeur. Beautifully landscaped gardens and lawns spread out in all directions from the house, and the tree-lined drive brought the carriage directly up to a grand entryway. Thea felt like a debutante at her first country house party.

Luke helped her alight from the carriage and escorted her to the door. "Till next we meet, my lady," he said, bowing to kiss her hand. With a twinkle in his eyes, he left her with a burley footman who had appeared suddenly through the massive, ebony front door.

"This way, miss," her new escort instructed.

Thea marveled at the man. He, too, was large and well muscled. Was that some prerequisite for employment with Miss Rose, or was it a necessary quality for excellence in sexual performance? Thea doubted either was true, but was more than happy to learn the ways of love from men so perfectly formed. When the big bear of a man took her hand and placed it beneath his warm, jacket-clad arm, her heart skipped a beat and her mouth went dry.

"Miss Rose is expecting you, Lady Blanchard." He led her down a spotless, gleaming hallway, then through another door into a small, well-appointed salon.

Thea gazed around the room in wonder. Everything--all the furnishings, all the draperies--were cast in varying shades of ivory and gold. The atmosphere practically dripped sumptuous excesses. Before Thea could catch her breath and fully absorb all the lavish details, another door opened across the room, and a tall, slender woman entered.

She had beautiful auburn hair that fell in a silken cascade down her back, glinting highlights in the flickering firelight at dusk. Her pale skin shone like fine porcelain. "My dear, Lady Blanchard," she said, walking toward Thea with outstretched arms and a welcoming smile. "I''m Miss Rose. Welcome to my home."

Thea let herself be enveloped in the rose-scented embrace of the stunning woman. When Miss Rose let her go and stepped back, Thea finally found her voice. "Thank you, Miss Rose. I--I am very pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Aren''t you just a beauty, my girl. Jordan was perfectly correct in sending you to me." Miss Rose, deft in hospitality, had Thea comfortably seated in an emerald, damask-covered chair before she could make a retort. The woman handed her a glass of wine.

Thea wasn''t quite sure she liked the familiar tone Miss Rose used when she''d mentioned Lord Ashton by his Christian name. "You know Lord Ashton well?" she asked, her face flaming unexpectedly.

The older woman smiled indulgently. "You have every reason to guard against other women''s attentions when it comes to your handsome marquis," she said, laughing lightly. "But you need not fear from this quarter, my lady. Jordan and I are old friends, and yes, were once lovers--now, don''t look so shocked my little lamb." Miss Rose glided to a velvet chaise and settled down, adjusting the fine fabric of her gown around her. "You were a virgin, but no more. If you are to experience true passion, my lady, you will find it best not to let the world and its ways shock you overmuch."

If Thea had not understood the mystery of this fantastic journey before, now she was thoroughly muddled. This beautiful woman had been Jordan''s lover. How would she ever compare? Or compete with any of the many experienced women he had bedded? How could she keep him for her own--forever? Thea''s heart suddenly ached with longing.

Miss Rose, apparently reading her thoughts, attempted to console her. "My dear, Lady Blanchard, you have nothing whatever to worry about. Do you not know you are one of the most stunning young women I''ve ever seen?"

Thea sat, stunned. "Miss Rose, do you jest--at my expense?"

The other woman smiled warmly. "Nothing is more attractive to a man than a beautiful woman who doesn''t realize her own charms. I can see now why you''ve turned Lord Ashton''s head so. I daresay I shouldn''t tell you this, but he has never sent another woman to me--ever."

Thea let the implications of Miss Rose''s words sink in. Either, none of his other women had needed to be tutored, Thea thought in shame, or none of the other women had mattered enough to him. Oh, if only the second explanation were true! Jordan had said he would help her, and help Tess, but that was not the only reason she cared for him so.

Thea had grown up on stories of love at first sight, but could hardly credit it. Had she fallen under Lord Ashton''s spell?--truly fallen in love so quickly? Dear Lord in Heaven, but it had finally come to pass. Her parents had allowed her to wait for a love match, and now she''d finally found it.

If only it could be tied in a nice, neat package, like a romantic novel, maybe then she would trust fate. But fate had not been her ally in the past, and she would not put her trust in that fickle muse now. She would take matters into her own hands and find a way to keep the man she loved.

"You are a very lucky young woman, Thea," Miss Rose remarked gravely, interrupting Thea''s thoughts. Thea looked directly at the mistress of Ingram Hall and was surprised to find a fleeting glimmer of regret in her lovely hazel eyes.

"I feel like the luckiest girl alive," Thea replied honestly, her heartbeat pushing forward to form a knot in her throat. "Will you help me?" she asked before she could think better of revealing her vulnerability. Somehow, when Miss Rose had addressed her by her given name, Thea''s newfound resolve melted and she desperately wanted a confidant. With downcast eyes, she whispered, "I love him."

Miss Rose tapped her elegant fingers on the marble-topped table beside her. Thea could sense the woman sizing her up. "Drink your wine, dear. I''ve added a powder to help you rest well tonight and relax."

Thea did as she was told. The mellow liquid eased down her throat and warmed her stomach.

"I give all my clientele the most excellent services money can buy, Thea," she said, rising. "But once in a great while I take personal interest in someone, ensuring they leave my home transformed." Miss Rose smoothed her skirts with her lovely, bejeweled hands.

"I can read people," she continued. "I can see integrity, honesty--your hopes and desires written upon your pretty face. You might be the only chance Lord Ashton has at finding true happiness--something, I fear, that has eluded him his entire life. If you truly love him as you say, then I will give you all the tools to show him--to express your love with your body and spirit, not just words alone."
Thea felt a tear slip down her cheek and brushed it away with the back of her hand. "Thank you, Miss Rose. I am more than ready to learn anything you have to teach."

The older woman nodded, apparently satisfied, and led Thea from the room with a gentle hand on her elbow. "You have already had an extraordinary day, yes?" she asked, smiling down at Thea as they made their way through the house.

A vision of Luke''s straining penis and pulsating spurts of cum filled Thea''s head immediately, and she took a deep breath. "Yes, my day has been quite full of new . . . experiences."

"I hope you found Luke a satisfactory escort," she continued as they rounded a corner to walk a different hallway.

"Most satisfactory," Thea said, smiling to herself.

"Good. Our sole purpose at Ingram Hall is to provide pleasure to our guests. Every employee has been hand-selected by me to ensure all my clients receive exactly what they desire. Should you find any of my staff not to your liking, you need only say so, and a new instructor will be selected for you."

Thea''s body tingled from head to toe at Miss Rose''s implications. She was to be treated as an honored guest. She need only speak up if she was afraid or found something distasteful. Good Lord, how had it come to pass that she found herself in this house of dreams with the man she loved waiting on the other side of the fantasy for her?

"Your assurances help me relax a good deal, Miss Rose. I must admit that I am most eager to get started."

Miss Rose laughed again. "Your frankness and passionate heart will serve you well here, Thea."

Then they stopped in front of a plain paneled door, one of many lining the long carpeted hallway. The only thing that distinguished one door from the other, Thea noticed, was a small hand-painted mural on the center panel of each one.

"Here we are. You will take note of the composition painted on your door so you can find your room easily enough later." Miss Rose opened the door, which had not been locked, and motioned for Thea to precede her into the room.

Thea glanced at the subtle brushstrokes painted in soft hues on her door and made out the figures of a man and a woman. They lay naked on a grassy slope beneath a tree. The man''s head--face rather--was nestled outrageously between the woman''s legs! Thea felt a quickening in her belly and hurried into the room.

"I hope you''ll be comfortable here. Should you need anything at all--any time, day or night--just use the bell-pull," Miss Rose said, pointing to an attractive brocade pull hanging by an enormous, elaborately carved bed. It was raised on a platform in the middle of the room.

"It is lovely," Thea whispered in awe, her eyes transfixed on the astonishing bed.

Not even her parents'' massive walnut bed would hold a candle to the magnificence of the bed in this room. It looked as old as time, as if cut from the depths of ancient forests. Images of snakes, animals, fruits, birds, flowers, and men and women having sex in every imaginable position, were carved deeply into the bed''s rich mahogany frame--it was a living entity unto itself. Scarlet drapery, plush pillows, and crimson satin coverlets adorned it. Thea felt she was staring into a pit of flames. But not the fires of Hell, more like the volatile sparks of burgeoning life--of desire.

Thea shook her head. What type of powder had Miss Rose put in her wine? Staring at the bed had nearly hypnotized her. When Thea recovered her composure, she found the mistress watching her, waiting patiently.

"I''m glad you like it," she said. "This bed is very old, no one knows for sure from whence it came. It has been in my family for many generations."

"It-it has a magical quality," Thea murmured.

"Sometimes magic is in the eye of the beholder. If we open our minds and let our senses take over, we can experience much that is closed off to those less willing." Miss Rose returned to the door. "We never lock doors at Ingram Hall. Part of your lessons here will be learning to expect--to crave, if you will--the unexpected. As I told you before, you only need utter the word No, and any activity you are in the midst of will stop immediately. I require excellence and professionalism from my staff."

Thea''s heart rate quickened at the thought of what unexpected delights might await her. "I understand," she said.

"Good. Now let''s take a little tour before you retire for the evening."

Thea followed Miss Rose, her senses alert to everything around her. There was a long picture gallery, a book-lined library, a pale yellow morning room, an elaborate dining room, and many other alcoves and nooks to find privacy in the communal areas of the house. Every room had been polished to perfection. All the brass fixtures gleamed in the soft glow of gas lamps. The house was full to brimming with large, aromatic flower arrangements and the heavy scent of candle wax.

On the west side of the mansion another door-lined hallway emerged, a match to Thea''s bedroom hall in the East. How many clients dwelled within? Thea had no idea. How many staff members lived on the premises? This was beyond her imagination as well. Handsome men and beautiful women of all ages and sizes passed through the rooms and doorways while she followed Miss Rose. All gave her discrete smiles and nods.

When they reached her room once again, Thea found that her bags had been delivered and placed on her bed. A young woman was divesting the largest trunk of its contents, hanging Thea''s gowns in a wardrobe.

"Lucy will look after you while you''re here, Thea. She is a very capable lady''s maid," Miss Rose said.

Thoughts of Mavis and her handiwork surged to the forefront of Thea''s mind. "Thank you, Lucy," she said as calmly as possible, smiling at the young girl.

"You''re welcome, my lady," the girl replied, smiling back.

"We break our fast at nine, lunch at two, and dine formally at eight," Miss Rose told her. "However, you always have the option of ringing for food to be brought to your room. Every morning you will be summoned at ten, if you have not come down for breakfast, to start your day''s activities."
Thea absorbed this information and nodded in reply.

"All I ask of you, my dear, is that you enjoy yourself thoroughly," the older woman said with an amused twinkle in her eyes. "And, that you finish your wine. I insist. We can''t have you begin your first day tomorrow fatigued."

After Miss Rose left the room, Thea let Lucy help prepare her for bed. It felt good to be pampered and taken care of. The girl was handy with a brush and Thea sipped her wine, sitting on a little bench in front of a gilded vanity and mirror, and enjoyed the relaxing sensation of having Lucy brush out her long hair.

Slowly, her own image in the mirror became unfocused, and Thea set down her glass and clutched the vanity edge for support. "I think I''ll lie down now, Lucy," she said slowly. Her tongue felt thick and dry.

The maid helped her into bed and began undressing her. "We all sleep as nature intended at the Hall, my lady." Lucy''s hands were quick and sure, and soon Thea was naked. But the young woman made no sensual advances. Thea was too tired to be disappointed. Her head was fuzzy and the enormous bed, covered in cool satin sheets scented in rosewater, seemed to spin beneath her.

"If that will be all, my lady?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, Lucy, that will be all . . ."

By the time the maid had crossed the room and pinched the candles, Thea was asleep. She dreamed of walking through a great forest, teeming with animals and sounds of the night. In the dream, she lay down on a mossy bank near a little stream to rest. Soon, three young men, naked and fully aroused, materialized from the dark edges of the woods around her.

Silently, the men approached and knelt around her. Thea saw the heat in their intense gazes and looked down at herself. She was as naked as they were, her pink nipples hardened in the cool evening air.

She looked up at the men, all different, but each one physically beautiful in his own way. Without asking for her consent, they began caressing her body, three pairs of masculine hands touched her intimately. Thea moaned in pleasure and arched her back, losing herself in desire.

One lay down next to her and the other two lifted her up and turned her over on top of the man on the ground. She was settled between his legs, and her bottom was lifted in the air until she was on her knees. Her face pressed down against the man''s huge erection, and its smooth head prodded her mouth for entrance.

Thea could smell his sex, the scent of his manhood filled her nostrils. His springy male hair brushed against her cheeks and she wet her lips and drew his shaft into her mouth, loving the feel of the velvet steel between her lips. He moaned and thrust deeper, and she caressed the bulbous tip with her tongue.

One of them was still behind her. When his warm breath teased her wet pussy, she gasped, but kept a firm tongue-hold on the pulsing cock in her mouth. When the man beneath her cried out, withdrawing abruptly and shooting hot cum all over Thea''s throat and breasts, the man behind her took his cue, and thrust his thick rod deep inside her creamy slit. He drove into her again and again, keeping tempo with her wild bucking. Thea collapsed on the man under her and his cum was slick between their bodies. She panted and gyrated against him while the other man pumped her from behind.

On the verge of release, Thea supported herself on her hands and threw her head back in delirium, arching her bottom higher in the air. Kisses were laved on her nipples, scorching her skin with the feel of hot, male lips. Then Thea felt a wet tongue on her bottom, licking her other hole with determined strokes.

She cried out and turned her head to see what sort of pleasure befell her. The third man was not just an observer to this unbridled lust. He knelt beside her raised hips and massaged and separated her buttocks with his hands, dipping his head to lick and probe her ass with his clever tongue while his able friend fucked her pussy.

Thea cried out, the sensation of three virile males tasting and touching her body, and the feeling of cool air kissing her dampened skin, sent her over the edge. Waves of ecstasy crashed around her, and she melted into a quivering mass, supported on a sea of throbbing, hard male bodies.

The dream was so real, so intense, that Thea thought she heard them whisper to one another. Then the sizzling heat and male strength withdrew into the shadows of the forest and she was left alone, huddled on her side, completely sated. Her eyes fluttered open long enough to see a shadowy form gently drape a coverlet over her naked body, then her eyes closed again, and dreamless sleep enveloped her.