"You want it to happen."
"No."
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"Dom may have triggered it, but it must have been on your mind or it wouldn’t have occurred to you."
"Of course I’ve been thinking about it. You made sure of that. I’m human, dammit."
"And I mean to make the most of it. It’s been a night of revelations. You actually said you wanted to live. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say that." He lifted the blanket. "Scoot over. I’m coming in."
His naked thigh touched hers.
She moved over. "It’s a mistake, Joe." His hand covered her breast. "Never." She couldn’t breathe. "Please."
His hand was between her thighs. "Do you know I’ve never really kissed you?" She arched upward as his thumb found her. "You’re not kissing me now.”
“I’ll get around to it. I’ll get around to everyth— My God, you’re ready for me. I thought I’d have to—"
Her digital phone rang. Joe muttered a curse.
She whispered, "Turn it off."
He started to get off the bed and then stopped. "No." He moved back over her. "I promise you won’t hear it soon."
She cried out as he plunged deep within her. The phone was ringing.
He moved fast, hard. The phone…
He lifted her, crushing her to him as he moved deeper, faster. Was the phone still ringing?
She no longer heard anything but the beat of his heart against her ear.
"Why didn’t you turn off the phone?" she asked drowsily.
"Why do you think?" He kissed her breast. "I was busy. Maybe I didn’t want to take the time."
"Tell me."
"Ego. I wanted to be more important to you than Dom. I wanted to beat him." He kissed her nose. "You hurt my feelings a little."
"Not enough to stop you."
"It would have taken a major catastrophe to stop me. Dom doesn’t qualify.” The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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“He qualifies."
"He didn’t win, did he? Therefore, he’s out of the running." For the time being.
"Stop thinking about him." He reached over and turned on the light. "I want to look at you."
She was blushing. "For heaven’s sake, give me a blanket, Joe." He shook his head. "I’ve wanted to see you like this for too long. Let me have my kicks."
Not when she felt as if she were melting wherever he looked at her. "Turn off the light. Please."
"Not until—" He saw her expression and turned off the light. "Maybe later?”
“Maybe."
"I forgot you’re not all that experienced in this sport." He pulled her closer. "But you liked it?
You like me?"
She didn’t speak.
He was silent a moment. "After ten years I think I deserve the words." Ten years. She felt tears sting her eyes. "If I weren’t afraid you’d be completely impossible, I’d tell you that you were pretty good."
"Pretty good?"
"Very good.”
“More."
"A stud, a stallion. Brad Pitt and Casanova rolled into one. I don’t know why Diane ever let you go."
"She was a smart lady. She knew she deserved more than I could give her. It was a mistake from the beginning."
She raised herself on one elbow to look down at him. "Why did you marry her, Joe?"
"It will scare you if I tell you.”
“The hell it will."
Silence.
“Why, Joe?"
"For you. I married her for you.”
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“What?"
"You were too isolated. I thought you needed a friend of your own sex.”
“You’re kidding."
"I told you it would scare you.”
“Men don’t get married to provide—”
“I did," he said simply.
She stared at him.
"You were my center. Everything revolved around you. It was a time in my life when I’d almost given up hope of being anything else to you. I thought I’d chosen someone who could give you the companionship you needed. Diane liked the nice things I could give her, and I honestly tried to make a go of our marriage." He shrugged. "It didn’t turn out the way I hoped."
"That is scary."
"Obsessions always are." He put his finger on her lower lip. "As you should know, my love."
She stiffened.
"Love," he deliberately repeated. "Get used to it.”
“I don’t have to get used to anything."
"No, but you might as well. It will be more comfortable for both of us." He paused. "Don’t be afraid to love me, Eve. I’m not a helpless child who can be taken from you. I’m tough and mean enough to survive for another fifty years or so."
"I’m not afraid."
"The hell you’re not." He lowered his head, his lips barely touching her own. "But that’s okay.
You don’t have to say you love me. I can wait."
"I don’t love you. Not the way you want me to love you."
"I think you do." His lips moved back and forth in a gossamer caress. "But if you don’t, that’s okay too."
"It’s not okay. It’s all wrong. I’m damaged. No one should know that better than you. You should have someone who—"
"You’re damaged? I’m the one who’s been obsessed for the last ten years.” The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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“It’s not the same. I can’t—"
"Shh." He moved over her again. "Don’t think. Don’t analyze. Let everything fall into place.
Enjoy…"
He was gone when she woke.
Emptiness.
Loneliness.
It was stupid. She was acting as if she’d never slept with a man before. Sex, pleasure, departure—it was the way she liked her relationships. No lingering that might interfere with her work.
"Time to get up." Joe opened the door and came toward the bed. "It’s almost noon. I called Charlie and he’s on his way back from Azora. He has the photograph."
She sat upright. "Are you sure I’ll be able to see it?”
“You can ask Spiro yourself. He’s on his way here.”
“Why?"
"To pick up the doll."
Of course. "You called him this morning?"
“As soon as I got up. I told the security guys to let him in." He went to the closet. "Hit the shower. I’ll get your clothes. What do you want to wear?"
"Anything. Jeans… a shirt." She ran into the bathroom and got in the shower. Joe could not have been more cool or businesslike. It was as if last night had never happened. Not that she objected. She would have felt awkward if he’d been any other way. Last night had been too—
she shook her head. She didn’t want to remember how erotic those hours with Joe had been.
"Come on. You need to eat before Spiro gets here." It was Joe standing outside the glass shower door. "Hurry."
"I am hurrying."
She opened the door, and he enveloped her in a huge bath towel and started patting her dry.
She reached for the towel. "For God’s sake, I can do that." His gaze dropped to her breasts. "I’m enjoying it." Enjoy.
She felt heat move through her.
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"I brought that blue plaid shirt. I like you in blue. Is that okay?”
“I guess so." She should stop him. The lazy movement of his hands beneath the soft towel was incredibly arousing. For some crazy reason the act seemed as intimate as sex. She moistened her lips. "You never told me you liked blue."
"I never told you a lot of things." He bent his head and kissed the hollow of her shoulder. "But I mean to make up for lost time. Want to go back to bed and hear the story of my life?"
Yes, she wanted to go back to bed. "If you promise to tell it. I’ve never had much luck in getting you to confide in me."
He chuckled. "You wouldn’t this time either. We don’t have any time." He stepped back and handed her the towel. "Get dressed. I’ll wait outside for you."
"Now you tell me to get dressed. Why the hell did you come busting in here and make me—"