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  She was the first to break the silence. “So, who's the lucky lady this evening?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Alan ignored the tone.

  "No one. I'm not in the mood tonight."

  "Gee, I'm sorry to hear that. And just when I thought of a way you can make this all up to me."

  "Nora, I'm sorry for interfering, but that Derek—” She held up her hand to stop his caveat.

  "It's not your place to decide who I should or shouldn't sleep with. I've never done that to you.” Alan rubbed his forehead uneasily, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  "So here's what you can do to make things right. I've thought it through and it's a good idea.” She paused. Alan dreaded Nora's pauses; they never preceded anything good. He braced himself and forced out another apology for good measure.

  "Forgive me, and I'll do whatever it takes to make up for you missing out on that smarmy bastard."

  Nora was unruffled. “I need some tutoring in the finer aspects of seduction."

  Alan was sure he hadn't heard correctly. “Huh?"

  "I want you to teach me how to make love, Alan. Who better than you? Hell, you've screwed yourself silly all the years I've known you, now it's time for you to share some of that sterling wisdom."

  His head had been shaking no from the second he understood what Nora was asking of him. Alan was still refusing, though the tightening in his crotch was making it difficult to be too resolute about anything. He shifted in his chair and hoped against hope she wouldn't notice.

  "I see your body's in the game. Now I just have to convince the rest of you to play along.” So much for Nora not noticing. He'd better try the logical approach.

  "Honey, believe me when I tell you I'd bed you in a millisecond if I didn't think it would ruin our friendship. Everything I do is anonymous. No strings. I don't have to think or worry about it afterward. Friends and fucking don't mix."

  At precisely that moment, Rob walked by, cocking his ear nearly backward to try and catch the rest of the conversation. Nora smiled indulgently.

  "It'll be okay, Alan. You won't have to worry about me, either. This is a mature arrangement between friends. Nothing can go wrong because you're not the one I want, Derek is."

  Alan stared at Nora as if she'd just parted with her sanity. “You want me to sharpen your sexual skills so that son of a bitch can benefit? No way, I won't do it."

  "I'm going to be with him whether you do it or not. I'd just rather it be you ... the first time,” she stammered. “Not him."

  "First time? You're still a virgin? That's impossible.” A cold sweat broke across Alan's brow as he held his breath waiting for her answer. Nora had just turned twenty-one, so it wasn't utterly impossible. However, given her outstanding looks, he deemed it highly unlikely.

  "I've been busy trying to make the grades to get in grad school. I told you I wasn't very experienced."

  "Nora—in sex, there's a vast difference between a little experience and none at all."

  "Then give me some, Alan, so I can know what I'm doing. Please?"

  Raking his fingers through his hair, Alan squeezed his eyes shut. There was not a shred of doubt in his mind that he wanted to take Nora up on her offer—here and now, in fact. He'd lusted after her since the day he'd moved in next door, but after having his advances endlessly spurned, they had somehow found a way to become essential to one another. Nora was the person nearest and dearest to his heart.

  That being the case, Alan reasoned, why shouldn't he be her first lover? It did make some sense, and he loved her deeply—as a friend, he reminded himself. On top of it all, Nora was determined to do it anyway; if not with him, then with Derek. Alan had no intention of letting that happen—ever.

  He expelled a deep breath, signaling his compliance. “You know the basic workings, don't you? Tab A fits into Slot B, and so on?"

  "I'm in mechanical engineering, I could graph it out on paper if I had to."

  "Oh, you'll like the demo much better than the theory, Nora, you can count on that."

  Chapter 2

  The rest of the show passed in a flurry of anticipation. Nora eased back in her chair and felt proud. Imagine, finding the courage to ask Alan to sleep with her! Of all the adventures they'd been through, and all of the time spent together both quiet and crazy, this was the most outlandish suggestion ever.

  More exciting than when they dove from the limestone cliffs in the quarry. More dangerous than that bloody bar fight in Tolono. More sensual than ... well, Nora had nothing to compare it with. She'd been busy—too busy to even entertain thoughts of a lover until recently. She now had her acceptance to graduate school and deserved to slack off a bit.

  Nora had the not-altogether-welcome distinction of being exploited for her mind. From the time she was in first grade, she'd been separated from her classmates and given “other work” to do. By sixth grade, that other work was advanced logarithms. By high school, it was theoretical physics. Now it was mechanical engineering. With a natural affinity for the hard sciences, she had her choice of prestigious colleges.

  Instead of heading to Ivy League fame, Nora chose a small rural university that suited her desire for a simple life. But even simple lives cost money, and that's how she'd become involved with Alan. When his band had first moved into the old farmhouse down the road, Nora was mortified. As they became acquainted, Alan's offer of a job appeased her, since she needed money and had to have her days free for classes.

  With Wanderlust, Nora's nights and weekends were filled with the responsibilities of managing a popular rock band. In addition to paperwork and endless phone calls to verify arrangements, her glamorous duties consisted of helping the band set up, tear down and guard equipment, collect money, and sometimes fend off overly aggressive groupies.

  Largely due to Alan's charisma, what began as a group of friends playing music had blossomed into a successful local band with more gigs than they could handle. Alan credited Nora's business acumen for their success. But she knew better. As if God hadn't been generous enough with Alan, the guy was also a gifted musician, who scored and wrote all of the songs the band performed.

  Scoping out the other bands—the competition—was also a manager's job, and one Nora especially disliked, until the fateful night she happened to catch Derek Devlin's band. It was love at first sight as far as Nora was concerned, although she wasn't sure why.

  Derek was nice looking, but not extraordinarily so, of medium height and weight, with dark hair and a full beard. He was the polar opposite of the lanky, six foot four Alan. And they were even more different in personality.

  DDR was a tightly run band, and Derek ruled with a firm hand. His strong personality often asserted itself in hollering matches with bar personnel, but he packed fans in and was a scintillating performer on stage. His reputation was rough and ready, both in music and his personal life. Yet many women, like Nora, were attracted to his coarse edges and earthy sex appeal.

  Alan, on the other hand, was a sweetheart. As easygoing and warm as his golden hair suggested, he was not only charming, but drop-dead gorgeous. Women actually swooned around him. Nora had seen it herself. While not unaware of his good looks, Alan certainly never traded on them, and he exuded a disarming sense of humor.

  Alan should be her first lover; he was the right man for the job. Nora smiled to herself as she recalled the look on his face when she asked him to teach her. Had any man ever wanted anything so badly while shaking his head no?

  There had been a time when she harbored a major crush on Alan. Over the years, she had gradually talked herself out of it. She'd be damned if she would be just another body in his endless mattress parade. So she'd turned down his many offers. Now she was ready to handle Alan on her terms. Just sex between best friends—how hard could that be?

  After the first song, Alan cocked his head to one side and smiled to the audience. Nora could practically hear the sexual fantasies start churning. Most women found Alan incredibly attractive.

  Since
Alan was on stage under a wash of bright lights, Nora decided to pass the time by undressing him in advance. It was a fact that she had never seen a penis in the flesh. Alan would have a good one, if it was like the rest of him. And being as fair as he was, she wouldn't have to deal with much body hair. Under that shirt, Nora knew his chest and abdomen were as smooth and solid as varnished pine. She wondered about the rest, the places she hadn't seen. Her mind wandered.

  Would it be tonight after the show? And where, his house or mine? And condoms? She knew Alan had drawers of them, so he'd be prepared. But was she?

  Nora glanced at her watch—ten after ten. Wanderlust would be done playing by ten-thirty; they could be home by eleven. By eleven. Her hand chilled around her glass. She jiggled the ice and tipped her chin to get the last of the soda. The girl who never drank alcohol thought about ordering something stronger to calm her nerves. But why should she be nervous?

  Her gaze meandered up Alan's torso until she reached his face. He was grinning at her. Oh, God, had he been watching her this whole time? If Alan knew she was fantasizing about him, she'd die—she, who had just matter-of-factly invited him to fuck her.

  Confusion addled her brain, embarrassment stung her cheeks, and a hot, thin line of sweat slicked the back of her neck. Nora rolled her head forward and gathered her hair as best she could to cool off before Wanderlust finished the set. When she felt hands cover her own, twisting her hair up and away from her face in a loose knot, she knew it was too late.

  "Feeling the heat, darling?” Alan smiled even wider at Nora's shaky tension. Grazing his finger across the back of her neck, he sampled the moisture with his tongue. “Mmm, sweet. Very sweet ... I knew you'd taste that way."

  Nora had never liked losing control, and it was obvious Alan had the upper hand in this situation. He made her sweat. He made her pulse race and her cheeks burn. He wrenched a response from her without even touching her. That was too much power. Nora had to reclaim her authority.

  "Let's get on with it,” she said impatiently. “Wave that magic wand I've heard so much about and rid me of this condition so I can get on with my life."

  Alan raised his eyebrows in barely contained mirth. If he opened his mouth, it looked like he might burst out laughing. That infuriated Nora even more. “We have a deal, you bastard! You're my best friend; you have to do this for me!"

  "And I will, under one condition.” He paused, his cheeks sucked in with suppressed laughter. Nora groaned.

  "I hate you, Alan."

  "That'll make it even better."

  "What's the condition?” Exasperated, she finally had to ask since he wasn't offering.

  "If you're so intent upon casting your pearl to the swine, it's my duty to prepare you to the best of my abilities. I wouldn't want a protégé of mine to be anything less than a perfect technician."

  "And I suppose you're flawless in all techniques?” The thought sent a shiver down Nora's spine that immediately lodged somewhere safe and warm.

  "You'll find me adequate.” He grinned. Nora knew. Alan was perfect. She'd heard the breathless morning-after testimonials from scores of gash-lipped groupies.

  "Okay, fine, that's fine,” she mumbled.

  "The condition is that you can't sleep with another man while you're my apprentice. That means Derek. Do I make myself clear?” Alan straightened to his full, intimidating height and waited. Nora felt the weight of the moment press. Alan was serious about this stipulation and demanded her to be also.

  "Okay, Alan, I agree to your terms. Just make it a good experience for me."

  "Honey, you have no idea,” he said, smoothing her hair back with his fingers. Shaking loose the gravity, Alan became his usual, buoyant self again. All was back to light and laughter. He looked at her now like he could ravish her on the spot.

  "Should we go to my place or yours?” Nora asked.

  "I think we'll start out here, at this table."

  Nora's heart leapt to her throat. Surely he wasn't serious? She glanced around the room. It was still crowded with happy drunks and snarling girls who weren't hiding their envy at the sight of Alan stroking her hair. He eased himself down and slid his chair closer until they sat knee to knee.

  "If you touch me again,” Nora whispered, “those girls will rip me limb from limb in the ladies’ room."

  "I'm not going to touch you. That will come later. Much later."

  "What? I thought you said we were starting tonight?” Nora was appalled to hear the whining plea emanate from her mouth.

  "We are starting.” Alan leaned forward until his chin grazed her neck. When he whispered in her ear, a thousand points of flame shot through her. Nora felt her breath hitch, jerk, and switch to short and raspy. Damn him.

  "You are wonderfully responsive, did you know that?” he murmured. “I can tell by the heat rising from your skin that you're a natural, Nora. Your body tells me things you'd never dream of revealing."

  I'm a natural? Well, Alan would know if anyone did. There wasn't a woman he met who wasn't ready to part her thighs if he gave them a second look. Only this time, it would be her.

  "I'll show you how to arouse a man, and keep him burning with desire,” his voice faltered. “There won't be a man alive who won't want you."

  "You can do that for me?"

  "Honey, you're already there. You don't realize the effect you have on men. Look, even a guy like me isn't safe from your charms. You and I are friends, but I can't wait to be inside you in every way imaginable."

  Nora hadn't expected Alan to be so explicit. Words of censure evaporated on her lips. She wrung her hands helplessly, praying Alan had the decency to stop. But she knew him far better than that. At the first sign of her distress, his voice raised several notches in volume.

  "No place on your body will be off limits. I won't leave an inch of you unexplored,” he said, as he flashed a roguish smile. “And there won't be an inch of me you won't know."

  Alan took her hand. When she tried to pull away, he brought her fingers to his mouth and slid one in. Inflamed as Nora was from his words, the effect of his mouth was devastating. Electricity arced from her finger to her seething core. She closed her eyes against the buffeting pleasure and hoped Alan didn't realize what he was doing to her.

  His voice dropped low, settling over her like a rich, erotic cloak. “I could take you right now. I'd bet anything that you're ready. You want me inside you, don't you? Your body is already weeping for it."

  A whimper was her denial. Alan's tongue played against her finger in a smooth, oral intercourse. Nora felt her control slipping. This wasn't going to be as easy as she expected.

  "Alan, please don't talk to me that way. It makes me uncomfortable.” Nora twisted in her seat, but he angled himself closer until his arm pressed on her lap, his fingertips furtively kneading the pocket of her jeans.

  "If you're uncomfortable, honey, it's because you want me more than words. You want me to touch you. You want to feel my mouth on your nipples—don't deny it, I can see them through your shirt. Small and hard and eager for my tongue to paint them."

  "You can't talk to me like this; you're my best friend!"

  "And when that nipple is in my mouth, I'll be your lover. It's time to start thinking of me that way.” Alan leaned back and looked at her. Even to her inexperienced eye, the raw need on his face was unmistakable. “Look at what you do to me."

  Nora followed his eyes to the magnificent bulge in his jeans. She could see the thick ridge, straining to test the strength of his zipper. Fascinated by the sight, she wet her lips unconsciously. Alan caught the gesture and shuddered.

  "Oh, Nora, you'll slay me with those lips,” he groaned. “If I think about how they'll feel, this session will come to an abrupt end."

  "But you'll show me how to do it, won't you?"

  Alan's voice sounded thin and strained, “You want me to teach you how to give a blow job?"

  Sweltering with embarrassment, she nodded. “You'll have to show me the right w
ay, so I don't hurt you or anything."

  Nora saw the pulse spike in Alan's neck; a vein surfaced and shot across his temple. He wasn't speaking; he was barely breathing. He laid his forehead on her shoulder and sat without moving for a long time. He raised his head finally and smiled. “Let's try and keep the subject on your responses, shall we?"

  She nodded and stole a glance at Alan's zipper where things appeared under control. He stroked the side of her cheek delicately, taking as much pleasure in that simple act as a boyfriend might.

  His affection unnerved her. Sex with Alan was something Nora thought she could handle, but she wasn't about to let him soften her up and break her heart. Instinctively, she moved away.

  "I can make this perfect for us, Nora, but we have to take it slow. Slow will be more rewarding."

  "I don't want rewarding. I want to learn what I need to know and get a chance to use it before he takes up with some bar floozy."

  "Who? Derek, you mean?” Alan growled, jerking his hands away.

  "Yes, Derek—that's what this is all about! You never listen to a word I say!"

  Alan slanted back in his chair, drumming his fingers angrily on the table. At the first sign of discontent, two girls came to his rescue, one kneeling down at his side, the other bending forward to provide a full cleavage shot. Alan's temper abated at the sight of nubile breasts floating in his face.

  Nora could hear the hushed innuendoes and stifled giggles as the two tempted him with who-knows-what sort of sexual offers. Normally she wouldn't care. But tonight, after the things he'd just said to her, Nora felt a spiking resentment that Alan could be lured away so easily. Obviously, he wanted to take things slow with her so he would have stamina left for his other interests.

  The bastard.

  He regarded Nora coolly now, as if they had just concluded a favorable business transaction. “I think we're about done for now, don't you?” he asked, already rising from his chair. Did he expect permission to take his leave with them?