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Only because he goaded her into it After you goaded him first, her subconscious added helpfully Okay, soit "abusive" had been a stretch, but she’d been desperate Willing to say anything at that point if it helped her throw up a roadblock between the stupid What she hadn’t realized was that he’d view her little red herring as bait In her attely opened Pandora’s box and had no clue how to close it again
Better to stay on the defensive until this thing ran its course or he got bored ofwith her "Don’t act like the victilass on a nearby side table, and laid a hand on his rock-hard chest to push hi witnesses on the job, but I’m not a perp and I’ my chain about this for teeks and I’ about yanking and chains It’s stuck in your head now, isn’t it?" He covered the hand she hadn’t realized was still on his chest--gripping a handful of tuxedo--and squeezed "It’s okay to admit you’re curious Curiosity ive me ten minutes, I promise you’ll walk aith a very satisfied--"
She released him and slapped her hands over her ears with a squeal "Oh my God, you’re seriously the most crass, rude, unbearable--"
In spite of her ed at her wrists, devil to say ‘s to say?"
Her cheeks burned, and she jerked her aret it"
This hy she couldn’t be around him He was too smooth for her, and as much as his cockiness irritated her, she also couldn’t deny the lure The naughty pull low in her belly that made her want to run and lean closer at the same time When had she last felt that way about a man?
Probably never
But after her relationship with Wes, a guy like Rafe was the worst possible kind to wrestle with Her ex had obliterated her confidence, taken over her life, and controlled her like a marionette, and she’d let it happen Until she could learn to trust herself again, she sure as hell couldn’t trust soet out there on the dating scene? It would be with a nice, h-as-nails cop by day and bedrooht was exactly what the doctor hadn’t ordered
Even as her gut seconded that notion, her thoughts went reeling back to the first time Rafe had offered her ten e was as fresh in her e as life, in theup wayconfident, sexy, and in control She didn’t knohat happened It was like the words had tu a wo, you know"
Even as she spoke, a vision of being draped over his lap, awaiting her punish, which only annoyed herher that his sex life was none of her business, but her tipsy brain silenced the alars to a wo her is a gateway to abuse? I have to wonder if it starts with a spanking in a bedroo out of one"
Rafe seemed to consider her words but then shook his head "Nope You can wonder all you want, but if I deliver pain, it’s only to intensify the pleasure later I would never har down men who do"
He pushed back his chair and stood "Now, if you’re through grillingor knowledge of, then I’etfor is a lesson? In which case"--he glanced at his watch and then locked gazes with her--"you can pick up that hood and those cuffs"--he jerked his head toward the bachelorette party props--"and I’d be glad to take you outside in the alley and give you the best ten minutes of your life"
She stuttered and her whole body hite-hot, but sheas that is, if ten ot in you, I think I’ll pass"
His responding grin was positively lethal He leaned in close, the delicious scent of his aftershave battering her already-overloaded senses His gaze traveled down the line of her neck, trailing over her breasts, where her nipples betrayed her, tightening "Tenas if he could sense her want, he bent low until his face was level with hers "Ten minutes is all you could handle"
The repetitive clink of spoons on crystal dragged her back to the present and she cleared her throat, ignoring the tightening of her nipples beneath the thin chiffon dress "Like I said, forget it"
"That’s the problem" Rafe’s voice sounded pained, raspy as he cut an exasperated hand through the air, and all signs of huet it I’ve tried to forget it But fuck if I can See, ever since that night, I’aze taking in the arhtly over her chest "And you don’t seem to be any better off You’re all wound up I’ether and burn off this sexual tension"