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anyway. Because she wanted Ian Ross with a teeth-gritting, fist-clenching, heart-pounding
need that wouldn't even consider that he didn't want her, too.
What if he really doesn't want you? What if everything he's shown you has simply been
what the Pleasure Master has shown countless other woman? What if you're just part of a
cast of thousands?
I'd still want him. And wouldn't that give old PMS a hoot if he knew. Kathy-the-ice-queen
gets her comeuppance from Ian. All-women-are-welcome Ross, the ultimate womanizer.
Cosmic justice at its finest.
Then there was Colin's cryptic message. Of course Ian was more than the Pleasure Master.
He was ... Ian. But does he know it?
Relieved, she realized they were climbing the hill to Ian's cave. No more opportunity for
stress-headache thoughts.
" 'Tis about time."
Colin's muttered comment focused her attention on the cave entrance. Would Ian come out
to meet. . . ?
"Ohmigod! There's a line of women waiting outside the cave." Kathy counted. Ten. Ten?
"Aye. The women have been waiting long for Ian, ever since ye came, in fact. Only Lady
Carlisle took courage and visited him." Colin pulled his horse to a stop and helped Kathy
off. " 'Tis strange. When she returned from here she was sorely upset. She told a tale of a
woman who said that Ian couldna see her because there were twelve women before her.
Lady Carlisle doesna wait for any man." He slid her a thoughtful glance. "Ye wouldna
know who this woman could be?"
"Umm." Kathy could feel the heat rising to her face.
" 'Tis no matter." He nodded his head toward the women. "Neil said he would speak to Ian
this morn. Ian will do his duty as Pleasure Master now."
Not if I can help it. Kathy didn't even question the rage, the jealousy that sent her
stomping toward the waiting women. She heard Colin leave but kept walking. She'd think
reasonable thoughts later about why she was so furious when she claimed she wanted to
make Ian's job as Pleasure Master secure. This was what he did, for heaven's sake. So why
was she so mad?
Ten! Fine. So he could do what he did after she was gone. Just so she didn't have to know
about it.
Gone. Something about the word emptied her, made her feel hollow. Lonely.
She reached the woman at the end of the line before she had time to think about never
seeing Ian again. Good thing. She could feel tears welling, and in a few minutes she would
have been blinking madly.
"This is the end of the line, huh?" She offered the woman a sympathetic smile. "Must be
important for you to stand out here this long. Looks like it might rain." The sky was bright
blue with fluffy white clouds. "Maybe I can save you some time. Tell me your problem,
and I'll see if I can help. I've had lots of experience with men." Kathy cast a cautious
glance at that blue sky. Any minute now . . . Was it possible to dodge a lightning bolt?
The woman sighed. "I dinna wish to wait so long, but I must ask the Pleasure Master" she
hesitated and cast Kathy a shy glance "how to make my husband take more time wi' our
loving." She shifted her gaze to the ground. "I love my husband and know that he would
wish me to enjoy our joining, but as soon as we climb into our bed, he's ready. 'Tis not
long enough to blink."
"Hmm." Kathy tried for a thoughtful look. "Got it. Clothes. Lots of clothes."
The woman stared blankly.
"First of all, you need to tell your husband the problem, not the Pleasure Master. Suggest
that you both wear lots of clothes to bed. Then explain how much joy it would give you to
take his clothes off him. Slowly. As you take each piece from him you can touch his body.
You know, kissing.. . and other things." No way was Kathy getting more specific. "This
will make you kind of. . . receptive. When you're finished with him, ask him to do the
same for you. Bet it livens up your love life a whole bunch."
The woman considered Kathy's words, then smiled. "Aye, it might work. I'll try." She
stepped out of line. "I didna wish to spend hours here. Maeve is first, and she will spend
much time wi' the Pleasure Master."
"She will, will she?" Kathy narrowed her gaze on Maeve. "How do you know the Pleasure
Master isn't already busy with someone?" Please let him be alone.
"The cat isna sitting at the entrance."
"Cat?"
"Aye. The Pleasure Master puts his cat without when he has a woman within. The cat is
jealous, ye ken."
"Right. Jealous." Kathy never thought she'd empathize with a cat, but...
"The cat willna move from the entrance until there are no more women, and the Pleasure
Master allows him within again." The woman frowned. " 'Tis strange. He has no woman
wi' him, but he hasna come out to invite any in."
"Sounds okay to me," Kathy murmured as she moved to the next woman in line. "So,
what's your problem?"
The woman turned to her. "Ye gave the lass good advice. Mayhap ye can help me. She
speaks true about Maeve. None of us will see the Pleasure Master this day once she gets
him."
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