“You showed me.” She was trying to button her shirt. Damn, her hands were shaking. “Are you satisfied?”

“Hell, no, and neither are you.”

“I’ll get over it.” She was opening the car door. “I’d never set eyes on you until a few days ago. Now I’m supposed to jump in bed with you?”

“If that’s what we both want.” He leaned forward, his face lean, hard, intense in the dashboard lights. “Why not, Eve? What difference does it make? We need it, we want it. Let’s take it. We can have a hell of a good time for the next few weeks. Then you’ll be rid of me. No strings.”

She got out of the car. “Good-bye.”

“No way. I’m not giving up. Why should I? You’re on my side.” He said softly, “Think about it. Think about how it felt. How it could feel. It’s going to happen sometime. Why not with me? I’ll protect you. No responsibilities. All you’ll know is the pleasure. I’ll show you a real good time. Okay?”

She didn’t answer. She was hurrying across the street to the development. Almost running.

Because she wanted to turn around and get back into that car.

She glanced back over her shoulder as she reached the front entrance. He was still sitting there, watching her.

She slammed the door and ran up the stairs to the apartment.

She leaned back against the door staring into the darkness. Her heart was beating hard, her breath coming in harsh gasps. She felt hot and weak and aching. All because he had touched her with his hands, with his mouth.

It’s going to happen sometime. Why not with me?

And she wanted it with him. She had never felt like this with anyone else before.

But she had never felt so weak and powerless before, either. The whole world around her was chaos, and she could only survive if she felt strong and able to handle that chaos. At that moment, she felt she couldn’t handle anything.

A kind of wild chemistry.

Why had it happened? Maybe she could have resisted an ordinary attraction, but not one that was shaking her to her core.

She dropped down on the couch and huddled there. She could feel the soft material of the couch against her body.

Naked and moving.

How would it feel to be naked with him above her, in her?

Her stomach clenched, and she bit her lower lip as her whole body tensed.

Crazy. Intense. Feverish.

But it wasn’t going to go away. She knew that now.

She had to have it. She had to have him.

*   *   *

SHE LAY THERE FOR HOURS UNTIL the intense storm of feeling passed.

No, not really passed. Just faded into the background. She knew it would come back. As soon as the thought of him returned.

But at least she could think. She wasn’t as mindless as she had been when John had been touching her.

She got up and went to the window. It was going to happen. She was going to have sex with John Gallo. Accept it. No big deal. Most of the girls in her class at school had been screwing around for the last couple of years. Chastity had little value on the streets or in the projects.

It was a big deal to her. She would not be like her mother. This was her life, her body. She didn’t want to have to trust anyone with either.

Only herself. She had to be in control.

And she had almost lost that control tonight. Whenever she was near John, that control shattered. So she had to be prepared.

She had to be safe.

She slowly turned away from the window and went to the bathroom. She opened the cabinet under the sink and took out her mother’s pretty pink patent box. There were four discs still in the box. Her mother usually got a six-month prescription for birth-control pills.

Eve stared down at the discs with the circle of tiny pills. She had never thought of birth control because she had been sure that she would not need it for a long time. When her life was on track, when it was convenient. But she knew that Sandra’s pills worked for her mother and let her be in control of the situation. Control. Nothing was more important than being able to be in control of this insanely volatile emotional roller-coaster ride. Yet it felt strange and a little frightening to realize what she was going to do.

But she had to be safe.

She took one of the discs and put the rest back into Sandra’s box.

Now she was in control. She didn’t have to rely on anyone but herself. She could take what she wanted.

And the excitement was already starting to build within her.

*   *   *

JOHN GALLO’S CHEVY HAD JUST pulled up across the street from the restaurant.

Her heart was pounding. He was there, soon she’d be with him.

Eve drew a deep breath and threw her towel on the counter. “I’m out of here, Teresa. Mr. Kimble said I could leave early.”

Teresa nodded as she saw the tan Chevy. “Maybe you’re not as serious as I thought. If anyone could jar you out of it, it would be him. Have a good time.” She slid a second glance at the car across the street. “And I think you will.”

Eve was barely hearing her as she headed for the door. John Gallo was getting out of the car. He stopped as he saw her crossing the street toward him.

His eyes narrowed. “This is … different. You didn’t call the cops on me for harassment. I think that might be a good sign.”

“Stop thinking.” She got in the passenger seat. “Just get me out of here.”

He smiled. “Right away.” He got back in the car and started the engine. “Home?”

“No.” Her hands were clenched tightly together on her lap. “I don’t want it to happen in the apartment. I don’t want to think of you there.”

“Happen?” His gaze was on her face, and he pursed his lips in a silent whistle. “Oh, yes, this is going to be very unusual. Why?”

“What difference does it make? Why are you surprised? You’ve been telling me all the reasons that I should let you screw me. Maybe you convinced me.”

“It makes a difference.”

“You’re right, I want it. I want you. I don’t know why I do or why it has to be you, but that’s the way it is.” She looked straight ahead. “Last night I … hurt when I thought about you. Why should I feel this way when I can do something about it?”

“No reason at all.” His hand reached out and rested on her thigh.

She could feel her muscles tense beneath his touch. His hand felt heavy, warm, through the thin denim of her jeans.

“You like this?” His hand was rubbing sensuously back and forth. “Yes, I can feel that you do.”

She couldn’t breathe. She reached out and put her hand above his knee.

His muscles became rock hard beneath her hand.

“No, you can’t play the same game.” He took her hand off him. “Not while I’m driving.”

“Then stop driving.”

“As soon as I can. Where?”

“Anywhere. I don’t care.”

“I do.” His hand was moving between her legs. “I’ve been thinking about it. No motel. There’s a reservoir off the highway. We can find a place.”

“You must have been sure that I’d end up giving in.”

“I’ve been hoping.” His fingers were closing, pulling, gently pinching. “And I thought my chances were good. Chemistry.”

Chemistry.

Her breasts were swelling, her body was tensing, burning, opening. She was leaning back, her head moving back and forth as his hand …

“Get there,” she said through her teeth. “Find that place.”

“We’re almost there.” He was going down a bumpy country road. “It won’t be long.” He muttered, “It had better not be. I’m going crazy.” He pulled down a side road, then they were suddenly off the road and completely surrounded by trees and brush. He jammed on the brakes. “Come on.” He grabbed a red plaid blanket from the backseat and opened the driver’s door. Then he was around the car and opening her door. “Quick.”

She was already out of the car. “Where?”

He was spreading the plaid blanket on the grass at the side of the road. “Is it okay? It’s clean and private. No one comes here…” He was pulling off his shirt, his movements frantic. “If you don’t like it, I’ll find another place later. I can’t—”