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What was it about her that made him want her? Why did she, of all women, stand out in his mind as perfect, her beautiful flawless skin, her long, graceful legs, her wild, unruly hair that she hadn't bothered pinning back tonight. And those pouting pink lips constantly begging his attention. Still, he had started falling for her long before she discarded those linen suits, and black glasses. It wasn't the beautiful woman standing before him that he wan
ted, it was the entire package—body and soul. Perhaps if they made love just once, he'd rid himself of this hungering need for her. Perhaps it was some crazy kind of craving that once satiated, would go away. Sure, Leonetti. This woman intrigued him in every way, taunted him. He wanted her in the most basic way a man could want a woman, and yet he knew at this moment, that once would never be enough. She was like some kind of fever, once in the bloodstream, he was a goner.
His loins began to ache, cry out to him, his body tensed, his eyes wouldn't hold hers any longer, couldn't.
He lied to himself, a dozen times. What he wanted was all of Kelsey O'Sullivan, not just the flesh. He wanted her to open up and fly like an angel into his arms, to give everything of herself, risk everything on a chance at something real and binding between them. He wanted to see a real smile on those pink lips. He wanted to show her a life she'd obviously never realized. He wanted a commitment from her, like he already felt towards her. Feelings, yes, raw, unbound feelings, gut feelings.
"Look, you got what you wanted. You accomplished your goal, but I didn't. I still need your help. And I'm here to ask for it."
Bold. Just like that. Kelsey didn't get her way, so she was here to get it.
"Okay, so I'll go to the clinic again," he answered, turning away from the irresistible urge to move closer. That perfume was driving him nuts. Why did women have to wear perfume? To drive men crazy, he supposed. Everything about her drove him crazy. How many nights had he lain awake trying to exorcise the memory of her from his mind? Forget the kiss; forget the woman with the husky voice. Underneath all that sophistication was a girl who hadn't ate a hot dog, hadn't flown a kite, and hadn't watched a sunset. And secretly he wanted to do all those things with her. He wanted to see the expressions on her face when she enjoyed them.
"The doctors suggested I might try it the natural way."
Nick's eyes were on fire. He was on fire. Not only her voice, but now the very words she spoke. Damn! Why'd she have to say that? Why didn't she just go away, find herself a husband, and have all the kids she wanted? He wanted her so badly he was afraid his clothes had burned right off his body. He felt exposed. Why was she taunting him? Deliberately!
This was no way to have a child. A child should be conceived in love.
"The natural way?" His eyes got bigger, his body more taut, his mind exploding with possibilities. Her words drew pictures. Pictures he tried hard to blot away, and couldn't.
"Sex," she choked out the words.
"Sex," he repeated wincing from the word. That cut lower than anything she'd said. It almost quenched the fire inside him, almost—but not quite. It hurt. How could a word like that sound so—so dirty?
She stared, unaware that her lips were moistly parted in invitation. That was the problem; she seemed totally unaware of the fact that she provoked all those feelings in him.
"You want to have—sex?"
"I did pay you."
Suddenly his heart plummeted to the ground, even though his body was still afire. Snook! She doesn't want you; she wants what you can give her. He shook his head, threw down a rag he had wiped his hands on. "So, now I'm a stud service?"
"N-no, no Nick. But I paid you for your services. It's not working, this way. Would it be so revolting to make l—I mean, to have sex with me?"
"Revolting? Try degrading!"
"I paid you. If you don't—don't do something, I'll sue you." She threatened.
"Sue me?" He laughed harshly, because his needs were strangling him, because what he felt for her seemed like more than what she suggested—much more. Couldn't she see what she was doing to him? It had to be obvious to her and anyone else who might wander in.
"Yes, sue you."
"What could you get?" He moved to close the garage door as the rain began to come down harder, and roll down the concrete floor of the garage. "You've stolen my dignity. What more do you want? How far you gotta take me down?"
"My money back," she cried, her voice going softer, as he moved to stand just in front of her, a hair's breath away.
Her money back?
"I can't give you, your money back, Kelsey." He choked out the words, his eyes ripping her to shreds. Why had he gotten himself into this mess?
"Why not?"
"It's tied up, in the bank. But you'll get every cent of it back, with interest. That's a promise." He answered swiftly, his eyes scorching her.
"I can't wait. I need the money to find—someone else."
She said it so matter-of-factly, he had to blink. How could this goddess of a woman, be so heartless? Suddenly his eyes were ablaze; his hands snaked around her upper arms. He wanted to shake some sense into her, into himself.
