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Jesus； he thought； I'd better be careful。
〃Oh； I didn't see you； Linc。 You walk quietly for a man of your height！〃
〃Sorry。〃
〃Don't be sorry； Linc！〃 The steam hissed to a crescendo。 Jet droplets began to fill the cups。 〃A twist of lemon？〃
〃Thanks。 You？〃
〃No。 I prefer cappuccino。〃 She heated the milk； the sound fine and the smell of the coffee grand； then carried the tray to the breakfast area。 Silver spoons and good porcelain； both of them aware of the currents in the room but pretending there were none。
Bartlett sipped his coffee。 〃It's wonderful； Orlanda！ The best I've ever had。 But it's different。〃
〃It's the dash of chocolate。〃
〃You like cooking？〃
〃Oh yes！ Very much。 Quillan said I was a good pupil。 I love keeping house and organizing parties； and Quillan always 。。。〃A small frown was on her face now。 She looked at him directly。 〃I seem to be always mentioning him。 Sorry but it's still 。。。 it's still automatic。 He was the first man in my life … the only man … so he's a part of me that's indelible。〃
〃You don't have to explain； Orlanda； I und… 〃
〃I know； but I'd like to。 I've no real friends； I've never talked about him to anyone； never wanted to； but somehow 。。。 somehow well； I like being with you and 。。。〃 A sudden； vast smile went across her。 〃Of course！ I'd forgotten！ Now I'm your responsibility！〃 She laughed and clapped her tiny hands。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃According to Chinese custom you've interfered with joss or fate。 Oh yes。 You interfered with the gods。 You saved my life because without you I'd surely have died … probably would have died … but that would have been up to the gods。 But because you interfered you took over their responsibility； so now you have to look after me forever！ That's good wise Chinese custom！〃 Her eyes were dancing and he had never seen whites as white or dark brown pupils so limpid； or a face so pleasing。 〃Forever！〃
〃You're on！〃 He laughed with her； the strength of her joy surrounding him。
〃Oh good！〃 she said； then became a little serious and touched him on the arm。 〃1 was only joking； Linc。 You're so gallant … I'm not used to such gallantry。 I formally release you … my Chinese half releases you。〃
〃Perhaps I don't want to be released。〃 At once he saw her eyes widen。 His chest was feeling tight； his heart quickening。 Her perfume tantalized him。 Abruptly the force between them surged。 His hand reached out and touched her hair； so silky and fine and sensuous。 First touch。 Caressing her。 A little shiver and then they were kissing。 He felt her lips soft and； in a moment； weling； just a little moist； without lipstick； the taste so clean and good。
Their passion grew。 His hand moved to her breast and the heat came through the silk。 Again she shivered and weakly tried to back off but he held her firmly； his heart racing； fondling her； then her hands went to his chest and stayed a while； touching him； then pressed against him and she broke the kiss but stayed close； gathering her breath； her heart racing； as intoxicated as he was。
〃Linc 。。。 you 。。。〃
〃You feel so good；〃 he said softly； holding her close。 He bent to kiss her again but she avoided his kiss。
〃Wait； Linc。 First 。。。〃
He kissed her neck and tried again； sensing her want。
〃Linc； wait 。。。 first 。。。〃
〃First kiss； then wait！〃
She laughed。 The tension broke。 He cursed himself for making the mistake； his desire strong； whipped by hers。 Now the moment had passed and they were fencing again。 His anger began to flood but before it possessed him she reached up and kissed him perfectly。 At once his anger vanished。 Only warmth remained。
〃You're too strong for me； Linc；〃 she said； her voice throaty； arms around his neck but cautiously。 〃Too strong and too attractive and too nice and truly； truly I do owe you a life。〃 Her hand caressed his neck and he felt it in his loins as she looked up at him； all her defenses settled； strong yet inviolate。 Perhaps； he thought。
〃First talk；〃 she said； moving away； 〃then perhaps we will kiss again。〃
〃Good。〃 At once he went to her but； both of them in good humor now； she put her finger on his lips； preventing him。
〃Mr。 Bartlett！ Are all Americans like you？〃
〃No；〃 he said immediately but she would not take the bait。 〃Yes； I know。〃 Her voice was serious。 〃I know。 That's what I wanted to talk to you about。 Coffee？〃
〃Sure；〃 he said； waiting； wondering how to proceed； gauging her； wanting her； not sure of this jungle； fascinated by it and by her。
Carefully she poured the coffee。 It tasted as good as the first。 He was in control though the ache remained。 〃Let's go into the living room；〃 she said。 〃I'll bring your cup。〃 He got up and kept a hand around her waist。 She did not object and he felt that she liked his touch too。 He sat in one of the deep armchairs。 〃Sit here；〃 he said； patting the arm。 〃Please。〃
〃Later。 First I want to talk。〃 She smiled a little shyly and sat on the sofa opposite。 It was dark blue velvet and matched the Chinese rug on shiny parquet floors。 〃Linc； I've only known you a few days and I 。。。 I'm not a good…time girl。〃 Orlanda reddened as she said it and carried on a rush over what he was going to say。 〃Sorry but I'm not。 Quillan was the first and only one and I don't want an affair。 I don't want a frantic or friendly tumble and a shy or aching good…bye。 I've learned to live without love； I just cannot go through that all again。 I did love Quillan； I don't now。 I was seventeen when we 。。。 when we began and now I'm twenty…five。 We've been apart for almost three years。 Everything's been finished for three years and I don't love him anymore。 I don't love anyone and I'm sorry； I'm sorry but I'm not a good…time girl。〃
〃I never thought you were；〃 he said and knew in his heart it was a lie and cursed his luck。 〃Hell； what do you think I am？〃
〃I think you're a fine man；〃 she said at once； sincerely； 〃but in Asia a girl； any girl； finds out very quickly that men want to pillow and that's really all they want。 Sorry； Linc； casual pillowing's not my thing。 Perhaps it will be one day but not now。 Yes I'm Eurasian but I'm not 。。。 you know what I'm saying？〃
〃Sure；〃 he said and added before he could stop himself； 〃you're saying you're off limits。〃
Her smile vanished and she stared at him。 His heart twisted at her sadness。 〃Yes；〃 she said； slowly getting up； near tears。 〃Yes； I suppose I am。〃
〃Jesus； Orlanda。〃 He went over to her and held her。 〃I didn't mean it that way。 I didn't mean it rotten。〃
〃Linc； I'm not trying to tease or play games or be diffic… 〃
〃I understand。 Hell； I'm not a child and I'm not pushing or 。。。 I'm not either。〃
〃Oh； oh I'm so glad。 For a moment 。。。〃 She looked up and her innocence melted him。 〃You're not mad at me； Linc？ I mean I 。。。 I didn't ask you up； you really insisted on ing。〃
〃I know；〃 he said； holding her in his arms； and he was thinking； It's the truth； and also the truth that I want you now and I don't know what you are； who you are but I want you。 But what do I want from you？ What do I really want？ Do I want magic？ Or just a lay？ Are you the magic I've been seeking forever or just another broad？ How do you stack against Casey？ Do I measure loyalty against the silk of your