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Dare sucked in his breath then let it out in a sigh that told of a world of troubles. “Listen, I’m sorry I barked at you. It’s been a long day.” He threw his jacket onto a nearby table. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I need a drink.”
He led the way, his long strides eating up the yards to the kitchen. She padded along behind, discreetly admiring the curve of his muscled shoulders, his narrow waist and a butt that looked delicious in his tailored trousers.
The look of him brought back memories of that night so many months ago, that precious night when she had felt like liquid velvet in his arms. She’d had no power to resist him. And - most horrifying of all - she’d fancied herself to be falling in love with him. She shook her head, clearing that idea fast. If she knew what was good for her she’d get her mind back to earth. The man did not want her. That was clear.
In the kitchen Dare poured himself a drink while Erin pulled out a chair and sat down. He put the glass to his lips and drained it in one gulp then he took a deep breath and walked over to drop his long frame in the chair across from Erin. He cocked an eyebrow. “So what’s the problem?”
“I didn’t say there was a problem,” Erin said and gave him a smile to soften her words. She could see the exhaustion on his face and despite her resolve to feel nothing her heart went out to him. Billionaires could have problems, too. She didn’t want to add to those worries so she decided to just state her situation in a matter-of-fact way and let Dare know he would not need to be involved in any way.
“My friend, Robyn, called today and she’d love to come to visit me. We haven’t seen each other in a while. We’ll be busy catching up on old times so we won’t get in your way.” Erin threw it all out there, watching him intently the whole time, trying to gauge his reaction.
Dare shrugged then stifled a yawn. “It doesn’t matter to me just as long as you don’t expect me to be here to do entertaining. Now isn’t the time.”
“Not at all,” Erin said, relieved he had no objections. One less thing to worry about. “You won’t even know we’re here.”
“I doubt that,” he said with a crooked smile. Then his eyes settled on her and for the first time that night she felt that he was really seeing her. All week he’d been distant, almost like a visitor in his own home, leaving early and coming in hours after the sun had set. Now, though, he was here in the flesh and all of his attention was on her.
“How are you feeling, Erin?”
“I’m fine,” she said, feeling her face redden. It was a reasonable question so why did it make her nervous?
He was silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving hers. Then he reached across the table and took her hand in his.
She jumped. His touch was so unexpected. Surreptitiously, she sucked in some air in an effort to slow her racing pulse. She was dying to pull her hands back but she didn’t.
“Are you?” he asked, and the words were more seduction than question. Even as his fingers formed a band of steel around her wrist his thumb was doing a slow, sensual caress in the middle of her palm.
Erin dropped her gaze, trying to hide the effect he was having on her. She struggled to breathe normally but when his thumb left her palm to stroke the throbbing pulse point at her wrist her breath caught in her throat. And she grew moist. Her body was ready and willing even if she wasn’t.
“I haven’t been treating you very well, have I?” His voice soft and low, he was watching her with hooded eyes. “My brand new wife, home and all alone.”
“I wasn’t alone. I had Francine,” she said, her voice strained, and she tried to pull her hand away. He did not let go.
“Francine,” he said with a low chuckle. “Can Francine make your pulse race like it’s doing now? Can she steal your breath away like this?”
Before Erin could decipher his cryptic message, Dare was on his feet pulling her into his arms. He dipped his head and captured her mouth with his and kissed her until she swayed and leaned into him. She had no choice. The man had caught her off guard, infiltrated her ranks before she’d had a chance to shore up her defenses. All her well-made plans, all her schemes to resist him were dashed with one fell kiss.
Dare lifted his head and stared into her eyes, his fingers moving quickly. He was untying her sash and loosening the buttons of her top.
Erin gripped his wrist, trying to still his hands. She had to regain her sanity. “Dare, no. We can’t-” She gasped, unable to say more.
Dare had sat back down on the chair, leaving her standing, and now he had her nipple between his teeth.
Oh, Lord, how was she going to resist? He was sucking on her nipple now, and her hands that had tried to restrain him fell away, leaving him to do as he pleased. When his heated palms slid up her back, her body shuddered with the feel of his caress and she moaned. Of their own volition her hands went up to cup Dare’s head and pull him into her, the better to savor his sweet seduction.
Finally, Dare released her but only long enough to push her pajama top and robe off her shoulders and pull her onto his lap. If she’d had any doubts about the state of his arousal they were dismissed immediately. The hardness that pressed up through the cotton fabric of her pajama bottom was testament to the depth of his desire.
Now totally bare from the waist up, Erin felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her and she turned to bury her face in Dare’s neck. She turned her body toward him, clinging to his shirt, trying to hide herself from his gaze.
Her body had changed and her heart faltered as she wondered how he would react. Her breasts had grown fuller, riper and so much more sensitive. The slightest touch sent thrills coursing through her body. But her waist had thickened and she could no longer close the button on her jeans. How would he see her now?
Her face still hidden, Erin could feel Dare’s hands roaming over her body. She was not seeing, just feeling - the warmth of his body against hers, his big hands cupping her breasts, his fingers teasing her nipples - and the sensations were so intense that she moaned.
“You’re so beautiful.”
Dare’s hoarse whisper was like a song to her heart and she sighed and relaxed in his arms.
“Come,” he said then lifted her into his arms and stood. “It’s time I had a real taste of my lovely wife.”
At his words Erin’s eyes widened and she laid a hand on his chest. “Dare, no. You promised.”
He was heading out of the kitchen now, carrying her as if she were nothing but a small child. “Promised what?”
“This marriage. It’s in name only,” she said as she began to wriggle in his arms. She wanted him to put her down. How firm and businesslike could she be when he was holding her so close she could hear his heart beating in her ear? No, she needed to be on solid footing to have this conversation.
“In name only.” He gave a harsh laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding.” He kept on walking, totally ignoring her struggle to get down.
“Put me down.” Erin spoke through clenched teeth and gave him a punch on the arm. He didn’t even flinch. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
That brought another laugh from Dare. “You seem to be coming along quite nicely.”
“Dare, if you don’t put me down this instant I’m going to scream and you’re not going to like it.”
“Go ahead. Scream all you want. Francine is all the way in the far wing of the house and she sleeps like a log.”
By this time they were in a part of the house to which Erin had never ventured. They were approaching Dare’s suite. She had to do everything in her power to stay out of his room. Once inside, she would be lost. She had to make him stop.
“Dare DeSouza if you don’t put me down I’m going to scream bloody murder.” She was determined that she would not cross his threshold. He’d rejected her once. She would never, ever give him the opportunity to do it again. She drew for the one thing she knew was guaranteed to make him stop. “Are you so desperate you’re resorting to rape?”
If she’d shot him in the chest with a bullet it could not have halted him faster. Dare came to a sudden stop and, his face black as midnight, he stared down at her. “What the hell did you just say?”
Erin dropped her eyes and bit her lower lip. She didn’t need to repeat herself. He’d heard her loud and clear. And her plan had worked.
Dare slid his arm from beneath her legs and lowered her to the ground. Once he’d set her on her feet he stepped back and his look was dark with displeasure.
“I want you, Erin. Make no mistake about that. But I’ll be damned if I’ll be accused of rape.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I may want you but I will never force myself on you.” His gray eyes turned cold. “Next time, you’ll have to be the one to make the first move. I won’t lay a finger on you unless you come to me. Begging.”
With that, he turned on his heels and walked away, leaving her standing there, her arms still wrapped around her chest.
