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Her accusation disconcerted him. "I didn't do that. I was just trying to brush her off so I could deal with the asshole trying to dick you. That's all I was doing after I saw you come back from the bathroom. That mother fucker was watching you when you went in my office. He was watching you when you came out. I was about to get up and go to you then when Darlene came to the table. I feel sorry for her, Jenny. She's had a rough couple of years. Her husband ran off with her best friend. She lost her job. I feel bad for her, Jenny. But I sure as shit don't want to sleep with her. "
She listened to his explanation. It was the truth as he saw it. It satisfied her anger about the other woman. She leaned in and kissed him gently on the mouth. He reached up and took her face between his hands and pressed easy, nonthreatening kisses on her lips. "I'm sorry if I was rough with you before you left. I don't want to hurt you. I didn't hurt you, did I? "
"No. I'm okay. " She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him back. After another few minutes of soft kisses, she broke her mouth away and looked at him. "Why do you think you can tell people that I belong to you? "
"Because you do. "
"No, I don't. " Her voice was even.
"Yes, you do. You're mine. You belong to me. Mine. " His words started calm, but ended harsh.
"There hasn't been anything said about me belonging-- "
"Okay, fine. I'm saying it now. I want you. You belong to me. Why do you keep disputing this? We sleep together. Are you sleeping with someone else? Do you want me to sleep with someone else? " His voice was getting punishing, belligerent. His hands went to the top button on her shirt and started opening it. She grabbed his hands to stop him.
"No, I'm not sleeping with anyone. And no, you can't either. Stop that. Why do you start taking my clothes off every time you think you aren't getting your way?" she yelled at him.
"Because just the thought of you with somebody else pisses me off. And when I get pissed off about it, t
he only thing that calms me down is getting it in you. " His nostrils flared, but his hands stilled.
"Okay, Richard. I'm yours. But you're mine, too. It's got to go both ways. "
"Deal. But I'm warning you right now. I don't share. I've never been jealous before but with you it's driving me crazy. "
An arrow of joy went through her at his words. "Okay. I'm not going to give you a reason to be jealous. But you've got to give me about two minutes to turn down an offer before you come barreling to my rescue. " Her tone was mild.
"Two minutes. That's it. And we might as well get this settled now, also. I want you to pack your stuff up and move in with me. This is ridiculous us going back and forth like this. I've got more room at my house, you can have your own office. " His words were a statement.
Shock went through her. "No, I don't think I can do that. That would be long-term and--"
"Hell, yes, it's going to be long-term. You might as well sell the house; you're not going to need it. "
The impact of what he was suggesting jarred her. "No. I can't sell the house. This is my home. This is the boy's home-- "
"The boys live in Houston. "
"They come home for the summer. For Christmas-- "
"They can come to my house. I like kids. You love my kitchen. It's your kitchen. You'd like that, hmm, sweetheart? " His voice turned soft, cajoling. His lips went to her ear and his hands undid the second button on her shirt.
"Richard, stop. We have to talk about this. I can't believe you're trying to bribe me with your kitchen. I can't sell my house and move because I love your kitchen. "
"No, you sell your house and move because you love me. " His words engendered panic within her. She couldn't love him. He couldn't know she loved him. Apprehension and excitement raced through her. She looked into his eyes. He watched her take in what he said as he unbuttoned her third button.
Her excitement turned to panic. "I can't love you. You're a mobster. "
"I'm a what? " He shouted the question at her.
"Well, aren't you? Don't you make all that money doing stuff that you shouldn't be doing?"
"Stuff like what? "
"Illegal stuff. "
"I don't do anything illegal at all. I don't take stupid chances with my money. "
"You don't do anything illegal? What do you do? " Her fingers went to the collar of his shirt and started smoothing it.
