AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Are you completely finished treating me like a two-year-old?’
She absorbed the spike of adrenaline when his nostrils flared.
‘You don’t want to be treated like a toddler?’ His voice rose to match hers. ‘Then don’t act like one. You want to go on deck, you wear the jacket.’
‘Being stronger and bigger than me does not make you right,’ she said, her voice gratifyingly steely...or steely enough, despite the riot of sensations running through her. ‘Until you give me a valid reason I’m not wearing it. You’ll just have to keep carrying me down here.’ Even if having his hands on her again was going to increase the torment. ‘Let’s see how long it takes for that to get really old.’
She stood her ground, refusing to be cowed. This stand-off was symptomatic of everything that had been wrong with their relationship the first time around. She’d given in too easily to every demand, had never stuck up for herself. Never made him explain himself about anything—which was exactly how they’d ended up being so easily separated by her father’s lies and half-truths.
Dane had threatened her company and refused to listen to reason, all to teach her a lesson about honesty and integrity—well, she had a few lessons to teach him. About respect and self-determination and the fine art of communication.
She wasn’t a doormat any more. She was his equal.
‘If you want me to wear it, you’re going to have to explain to me why I need to when you don’t. And then I’ll decide if I’m going to put it on.’
He cursed under his breath and ran his hand over his hair, frustration emanating from him.
Just as she was about to congratulate herself for calling him on his Neanderthal behaviour, he replied.
‘We’re sailing against the prevailing winds, which means the swell can be unpredictable. I know when to brace because I can see what’s coming. Without a jacket on you could go under before I could get to you.’
‘But...that’s...’ She opened her mouth, then closed it again. ‘Why didn’t you just say that to start with?’ she finally managed, past the obstruction in her throat.
He looked away, that muscle still working overtime in his jaw.
And the melting sensation in her chest, the sharp stab of vulnerability, gave way to temper and dismay. Why had it always been so hard for him to give her even the smallest sign that he cared? It was a question that had haunted her throughout their relationship ten years ago. It was upsetting to realise it haunted her still.
‘You know why.’
His eyes met hers, the hot gaze dipping to brand the glimpse of cleavage above the scooped neck of her T-shirt. Heat rushed through her torso, darting down to make her sex ache.
He cupped her cheek, his thumb skimming over her bottom lip, the light in his eyes now feral and hungry. ‘Because when I’m with you not a lot of thinking goes on.’
‘Don’t...’ She jerked away from his touch, desperate to dispel the sensual fog. But it was too late. His compelling scent was engulfing her, saturating her senses and sending pheromones firing through her bloodstream.
Her breathing became ragged, her chest painfully tight, as arousal surged through her system.
‘Quit pretending you don’t want it, too,’ he said as he watched her, the lust-blown pupils darkening the bright blue of his irises to black.
‘I...I don’t.’ She cleared her throat, disgusted when her voice broke on the lie. ‘We’re not doing this again. That’s not why I’m here.’
If they made love she was scared it would mean more than it should. To her, at least. And she couldn’t risk that.
‘Then stay out of my way,’ he said. ‘Or I’m going to test that theory.’
He walked away, heading back on deck.
‘I’m not staying below decks for three days!’ she shouted after him, gathering the courage that had been in such short supply ten years ago.
So what if she still wanted him? She couldn’t let him control the terms of this negotiation. If she didn’t speak out now she’d be no better than the girl she’d been then, ready to accept the meagre scraps he’d been willing to throw her way.
‘I came here to save my company,’ she added as he mounted the steps, still ignoring her. ‘If you think I’m going to sit meekly by while you attempt to steal fifty-five per cent of it, you can forget it.’
His head jerked round, the scowl on his face going from annoyed to furious in a heartbeat, but underneath it she could see the shadow of hurt.
‘I didn’t want a cent from your old man when I was dead broke. Why the hell would I want a part of his company now?’ he said as he headed back towards her.
She’d struck a nerve—a nerve she hadn’t even realised was still there.
