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‘Aren’t there other considerations still?’
‘They’re not going to change.’ She waved an irritated hand. ‘Our sleeping together wouldn’t have changed anything, either. It was one night.’
‘Naive Darcie. It would change things. And one night would never be enough.’ He dragged in a breath. ‘Did you ask anyone else after I turned you down?’
‘Obviously not.’ She was so shocked by the question she snapped the answer instantly.
‘Because you’d thought about me.’ His voice was low and that husky edge signalled danger. ‘Because you only wantedme.’
‘Really, Elias?’ Her rebellion flared. ‘You want a complete ego trip?’
‘We have chemistry, Darcie, and chemistry is something I can do. But this marriage isn’t forever.That’snot going to change. So if we sleep together, even though it’s going to be good, it won’t change the fundamentals. It won’t change our future.’
‘Do you think Iwantit to?’ She was even more furious with him. ‘You really are arrogant. I just told you I neverwantedto get married and I certainly don’t want to stay that way!’
‘Good.’ He stepped in closer still. ‘Then ask me to kiss you.’
‘What?’
Oh, he really wanted the full ego trip. But he was so close now. So hot he was crowding her with his scent and his intensity, and her thinking ability was sliding.
‘Ask me.’
Her heart pounded in her ears and that heat had exploded, scorching her from the inside out.
‘I won’t do it until you ask me again.’ His breath brushed hers. His lips were so close. And she was so confused.
‘You want me to ask you for...?’ Her furious drawl was a bare mumble. ‘A kiss?’
‘Good enough.’ His lips covered hers.
The brush of his mouth was gentle, too gentle. It made her ache worse and she gasped, a breathy moan.
He lifted fractionally away. ‘Ask me again.’
That deep ache overcame her anger. She wanted more. ‘Kiss—’
He did. Stronger than before, yet impossibly even more tender. Her heart pounded as he slid his fingers through her hair. He tilted her head so he could deepen the kiss and she arched closer to meet him. His tongue lashed hers, giving her a desperately needed taste of deeper intimacy. But when he pulled away again her brain kicked back online.
‘Ask—’
‘What are you doing?’ she interrupted reproachfully.
‘Training you,’ he said softly.
‘Trainingme?’ She glared into his face. ‘Like some performing animal?’
His pupils were so blown she couldn’t see the blue for the black.
‘I want you to understand that when you ask me for something, I’ll deliver.’ The intensity of his answer literally shook her.
But she was lost to emotional intensity, too, and her most deep-seated yearning was torn out.
‘What if I don’t want to have to alwaysaskfor everything?’ She growled. ‘Why can’t I just be gifted it? Why doIalways have to fight so hard to get a few things that others seem to get so easily?’
Fiercely devastated, she shoved him away. Hard.
But he didn’t move and she was suddenlysoexposed. She lifted her hands to hide but he grabbed her wrists and pulled them to her sides. She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see his pity. So he couldn’t see the stupid yearning in her.
