Page 44 of Bryce

“Bryce…”

“Quiet. I amnot done.” Ignoring her stiffening and the dangerous sparkle inher magnificent eyes, he continued. “I am not the person youpainted. I am not,” he repeated when her gaze turned skeptical.He shook her slightly.

“You used tolook beyond the damn money into who I was. Do it now for Christ’ssake. And be honest with yourself. Just because you cannot controlyour reaction to me, don’t bloody well take it out on me.”

She felt shame thathe had read her so well. That was exactly what she had done. She hadstruck out at him, because she was scared.

“I am sorry.”She heard herself saying, knowing the words had to be said. “Ishould not have said those things to you.”

He did not releaseher but used the opportunity to pull her closer.

“What are youdoing?”

“What I startedto do before you interrupted us.” The anger drained out of himat the hunted look on her lovely face.

“Bryce, look Ialready apologized. You were right before. I was not being completelyhonest- “Her words were running together in her haste to bringacross her point. The flashlight was still gripped in her hand as ifit was some sort of lifeline.

“We do not wantto walk down this road again. Friends!” She said the words on ascream as if the word had just occurred to her. “We could befriends, stay connected if that’s what you want. I know howbusy you are…”

“It’s notgoing to happen.”

Her shouldersstraightened. “Just because you have tons of money does notmean you can get what you want.” She lifted her chin.

“You havedeveloped a penchant for dishonesty.” His tone was silky, hishands busily wandering up her arms and closing on her neck. “Yourpulse is racing like mad.” He pressed his thumb against herskin where it was beating like crazy. He moved closer. “You’retrembling.”

“I am not!”

He only smiled andskimmed his fingers at her throat. She had to swallow the lump in herthroat. Her skin was on fire and her knees were weak. When he startedto ease the shoulders of her dress away, she acted and tried to pushhim back.

He did not evenbudge. Wrapping a hand around her neck, he used his other hand totilt her chin up. She stumbled against him, her hands planted on hischest, fingers curling into fists. Of their own volition, her lipsparted, her breath escaping in little pants.

Emotions swamped himcompletely. He had spent last night in utter complete misery and thismorning had been the same and even worse. He had watched her driveaway and posted himself at the window looking out for her. With hishead pounding, he had decided to hell with running away. He wouldface her and tell her what was on his mind.

Bending his head, hebrushed his lips against hers, back and forth, slowly, teasingly,just enough to have her clinging to him and wanting more. He waspunishing her. She had cut through him like glass through butter lastnight and he wanted her to pay.

But he was alsopunishing himself. His body which had been primed since he saw her,tightened painfully. Wanting her was making him sick with need, theyearning taking over his body.

When she opened hermouth, he ignored that, taking little nibbles of the full bottom lip,savoring the taste of her, the sweetness that was going straight tohis head.

Her whimpers urgedhim on, giving him power and a desire so strong, it humbled him.

“Please.”

Her voice was sultryand husky with need and went to his heart.

“Not yet.”He captured her breath and felt faint at the sweetness of it. Histongue soothed where before he had just teased.

She clung, her bodyvibrating with sexual tension. Every part of her body was yearning tobe touched and loved by him. Gone were her resolves not to give intothe demands of the flesh. She was aching. Her nipples felt as ifsomeone with nails were tugging on them. Her sex was heavy, and theclothes felt like a chain mail.

“Bryce. Please,I can’t.”

She moved closer, onehand moving up to the disheveled hair and gripping it. Going on hertoes, she forced him to move faster or at least she tried, but he wasnot having any of it. Instead, he moved to the sides of her mouth andused the tip of his tongue to tease and tickle.

By this time, she wasgoing mad. Digging her fingers in his scalp, she turned her mouth andunable to hold out much longer, he parted her lips and plunged. Thekiss took on a wildness that staggered them.

She swayed, her kneesbuckling. Sweeping a hand around her waist, he backed her to the widesofa by the fire and lowered her there. The glow from the flamesilluminated his face which was hard and taut with passion. Pressingher back against the cushions, he covered her body with his.

A cry escaped herwhen she felt the full extent of his arousal, pressing through theleggings she had donned this morning.

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