He lifted her chin with his other hand, and the heat she saw in his eyes was definitely not from the bubbling water. “The decision to kiss for the first time is the most crucial in any love story. It changes the relationship of two people much more strongly than even the final surrender; because this kiss already has within it that surrender.”

She felt her heart pound just a bit harder against her bruised ribs, but she was only vaguely aware of the pain as she tried to grasp Jonah’s words.

“Emil Ludwig.”

She desperately tried to remember the topic of conversation, but somehow focusing on anything but Jonah's dark eyes was becoming impossible. “Who?”

“He was a German biographer.”

Katherine wrinkled her nose. “What does that have to do with stars?”

“Not a damn thing,” he murmured, and lowered his head. His lips were cold, but warmed quickly as he rubbed them against hers. His hands slid down her arms, and he gently turned her to face him. Her fingers moved from his cheek to thread through that wonderful mass of thick hair, which was damp from steam and bubbling water.

The little sound she made in her throat was supposed to be a protest, but it came out as a soft moan against his lips as her other arm slid around his neck and drew him closer.

The man's mouth was magic, and so gentle on hers, so much softer than she had imagined. And she had a great imagination. His kiss coaxed a response from her that she'd never intended to give. His hands smoothed over her back, and he pressed her against his body until her breasts were flattened against the solid wall of his chest. It took only the slightest touch of his tongue for her lips to part in welcome to the sweet invasion.

Katherine molded herself against him and let him take the kiss as deeply as he would. His tongue swept inside her mouth, and she shuddered at the sensation. The heat spread through her body from the inside out and threatened to boil the water around her.

It was real. Her mother had been dead wrong. This kind of passion did exist, and this man's touch was making her skin sizzle. If she didn't back away soon she was going to explode in his arms.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Her hormones had completely surpassed a simple happy dance and were well on their way to starring in the next version of Riverdance.