the endless , drugging kiss , the provocative warmth of his hands moving ceaselessly over her back , then possessively cupping her breasts , the taut strength of his legs and thighs pressing intimately against hers worked their pagan magic on alexandra ; she kissed him back with all the helpless ardor she had felt so long ago , only this time her shy uncertainty was overwhelmed by the desire to clasp him to her , to pretend for a little while that he was all the things she had wanted him to be .