"I wanted some perspective. So, we made love, big deal. This was showbiz and people fall in and out of bed all the time. It certainly did not make me a skank."
He chuckled at her reasoning.
"Did it work?"
"No." She laughed ruefully, leaning into him. "It only made me feel even worse. I was determined to be taken seriously as an actress, and I had done the unthinkable and slept with the producer."
"We didn't sleep," he reminded her huskily. He had made love to her three times and even so, he had still been hungry for her. It had frightened him enough to send him running for the hills, or rather the cottage. He had come right here so that he could think and decide on the next course of action.
"When I heard you were gone, I was relieved. I told myself that it would give me a respite, and by the time you returned, I would have forgotten about you. You would have moved on."
He touched her graceful neck reverently. "Only it was not like that. The craving was worse. I wanted you more than ever. I still do."
Chapter 6
"You resent it."
"Yes, dammit." His deep voice was harsh as he admitted it reluctantly.
"I don't. Loving you took me over completely. First it was my career. I was driven to the point of near obsession. I had to make it, mostly because of where I came from, and the other part was the fact that I loved acting. Then there was you." Her fingers caressed his hard jaw, moving down to his firm chin. "You consumed me and became first in my life, just like that."
"And it doesn't bother you?" he asked, staring at her with narrowed eyes.
"No," she admitted with a husky laugh that sent heat pouring through his body. Just like that, her laugh, the sight of her, the feel of her pressed against him. He had never wanted anyone the way he wanted her. No one had ever come close.
"I love it." Her laughter faded. "I love you. I was willing to fight for you, for us. I love you and loving you has given me hope in mankind."
His eyes smoldered at her poignant speech, and he could feel his heart pounding. No one had ever spoken to him like this before, and it touched something deep inside him that he never knew existed.
"I've hurt you." His voice was harsh with disgust. "In my quest to tear you out of my heart, I've been foolish and I hurt you." His eyes glittered. "I won't promise that I will never hurt you again. It's in my nature to be an ass, but it won't be intentional."
"An ass?" she murmured, her brows arched.
"You know my reputation." His hands slid the sweater up until he could touch her bare skin. "I'm ruthless and uncaring and cold."
"All of that." She arched her back when he took the sweater off and tossed it aside.
"Hmm." He unhooked the delicate front clasp of her bra with a flick of his thumb.
"It never worked with you."
"For the space of a minute," she purred when he cupped her breasts, measuring them in his palms. "I saw right through you."
"I have a reputation to uphold." His eyes were turning molten as heat speared through his body.
"You do."
"You destroy that in a matter of minutes." Bending his head, he flicked his tongue over the rigid flesh, watching it harden even more. "I love the taste of you." He pulled a nipple into his mouth. Eliza felt the pull and tug straight to her core. Digging her fingers in the thick denseness of his dark hair, she arched her back to give him more access to her flesh. He took what she was offering, suckling hungrily until she was sure she was going to simply die from the intense pleasure.
He loved the nipple thoroughly before switching to the other. By this time, she was almost incoherent, her body moving on top of his as desire plummeted through her, leaving her dazed and wanting.
Samuel could feel her, every inch pressing against his thighs. He was bursting for her and could feel the passion through his pores. She was in his blood, inside his very soul. He still could not get used to the effect she had on him, but he was learning to embrace it.
"Right here," she was saying, her voice a breathless whisper.
"I want you in the bed-"
"No." He picked up on the urgency in her voice. She tugged at his sweater, pulling it free when he lifted his arms to assist her. A moan came from deep in her throat when she saw the bare skin of his chest.
