“I guess you haven’t changed, have you Rafe? You still must get your way,” she snapped as she leaned back in irritation, both from his words and the perverse pleasure they brought her.
“I’ve changed, Ari. I have just discovered in the last week that you have, as well. I’m not going anywhere, so a little…persuasion is needed.”
“Persuasion? This is downright force, Rafe.”
“No, Ari. You would know if it were force,” he said as he slid closer.
She moved away, squeezing against the door on the opposite side of the car.
Rafe followed.
“I have papers to grade,” she said as his leg brushed against hers.
Please don’t betray me now, she begged her body.
“It’s Thursday night, Ari. You don’t have class again until Monday. I think the papers can wait.”
“You aren’t the one who gets to decide that.”
“Of course not, but I thought you would like to see more of the journal.”
He was dangling the carrot before her, and she really wanted to take a bite.
“I don’t think I should. Your behavior has been reprehensible,” she said.
“It’s your choice, of course.” He knew how badly she wanted to lose herself in that journal again. He knew it was his ace in the hole, so to speak.
“Can you keep your hands to yourself?” she asked.
“Nope. That was a one-time deal.”
Oooh, the man was a rogue. He’d given her a taste and now all bets were off.
“Fine. Then, I want to go to the library to read it. That’s a nice and safe place where it won’t get hurt.”
Rafe looked at her with a new light in his eyes that had her worried.
“Do you really think that you would be safe just because we’d be at a library, Ari? With a connection like ours, it doesn’t matter where we are.”
“I can control myself, Rafe. I will admit that I still feel some attraction toward you, but that doesn’t mean I want to jump your bones. I can control myself, and I would expect a man of your age to be able to do so as well,” she said primly.
Rafe laughed as he looked into her eyes. “Did you just call me old, Ari? I’m barely over thirty. I don’t think I have a foot in the grave quite yet.”
“Well, you act like a teenager, so you may be safe. I would think a respectable businessman would act with more…decorum,” she said, taking a moment to think of the right word.
“I don’t care what anyone thinks. I want you, and I refuse to hide that fact. You’re a stunning woman who makes my head spin and my body hard. I will give you the moon and stars if you just let me.”
She wanted to snort at his language, but he was serious. She could see it in his expression. And yet she was afraid. He’d hurt her in ways she didn’t know a person could be hurt. If she surrendered to him again, he would take her soul, and she might never get it back.
Wasn’t it all about the chase with Rafe? Once he had her, wouldn’t he lose interest and want to move on to his next conquest? She was sure that she was the only woman ever to have walked away. Offering him her heart hadn’t been enough for him — he’d wanted only her body — her submission. Well, that wasn’t good enough for her. It wasn’t then, and it certainly wasn’t now.
“We aren’t going to agree on this, Rafe. I’ve moved on, and you need to accept that. I would, however, like to see more of the journal,” she said, hating that he had something she wanted so badly.
He sat back, not looking the least bit affected by her words. Was he hearing only what he wanted to hear?
“I will meet you at the public library tomorrow.”
She was so surprised, she didn’t realize at first that her mouth was hanging open. Rafe didn’t compromise — not often, anyway — so his agreeing to meet her with his treasured item in public left her reeling.
That was obviously the good news; what was the bad news? She knew the other shoe had yet to drop, but she couldn’t figure out the negative to the situation.
“Good. I’m glad you are giving in a little,” she said slowly.
The car stopped and she reached for the door.
“Here’s something to think about while you’re lying alone…naked…in bed,” he whispered. His arms snaked around her and she found herself crushed against his chest.
Before she had a chance to utter a protest, Rafe’s head descended and his mouth captured hers. She remained stiff in his arms for all of two seconds before her traitorous body began pressing into his, unable to get close enough.
Ari tried to stiffen against him again, but it was of no use. As his tongue slid across the seam of her lips, her stomach turned to liquid, and fire ignited on a traveling journey through her veins. Though she fought her attraction to Rafe, her body knew it was where it wanted to be.
He’d placed his mark on her, and her body hadn’t forgotten.
Her ni**les tightened, poking against his chest, as her core heated and she felt her thin panties become wet with her desire. Rafe’s hands slid along her back; he coaxed her mouth open, then devoured its sweetness with the hunger of a starving man.
Giving in to what she’d wanted for so long, Ari’s hands slowly lifted, her arms wrapping around his solid shoulders as he pulled against her, molding her body to his. Her tongue followed the retreat of his as they twisted and tangled against each other.
“Mmm.” Ari’s body ached at the low murmur from deep within Rafe’s chest.
Knowing she was making this powerful man tremble was like throwing gasoline on the fire already consuming her. She ground her h*ps against him, seeking relief from her sensitive pink pearl against his stiff erection, forgetting about all the reasons that she shouldn’t be doing this.
He was controlling, took what he wanted when he wanted it, was uncompromising, unforgiving.
But was he these things?
She couldn’t think. It had been so long…she could focus only on feeling.
When his hands gripped the soft flesh of her backside and tugged her against his stiff manhood, which was obviously trying to break free from his clothing, the last thought of willpower dissipated.
She could remember the sight, feel, smell and taste of him as if they’d just made love yesterday. She hungered to take his arousal between her teeth, taste his pleasure on her tongue. She just…hungered.
When she was ready for him to lay her back on the seat of the limo and take her right there, he pulled back, his eyes nearly black with lust as he looked at her.