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He blinked, his arms tensed "No"

"Because that’s your problem, you know You’re bored You’re empty All you do is work You surround yourself with every costly toy iinable and keep people at a distance Does anyone love you? Do you love anyone?"

I don’t know if it was row a shade paler He shifted his weight and ran a hand through his dark hair But I turned and ran back to ht me just outside the door to my room, wrapped his hand around my upper arm and pulled h I was still angry, I let hiainst him When we came apart, his breath was harsh and his voice was dark, husky "Oneinto his eyes I put rip on --so this"

He tipped his head down to rest his forehead against ain My throat tightened at the deterht I’ll transfer half the money to you on Monday"

I shivered When I spoke, it ith a shaky voice "Okay…" I hesitated "If you still wantback He took a deep breath, his right hand closing into a fist "Were you in any doubt until I stopped it?"

I shook my head

"Then don’t allow yourself to think otherwise I want you Very much"

My heart thudded in ht And then what? For the first tiinning to think I’d made a very, very bad decision With rasps at control, I’d boxed s for hiht Just one ht

He stepped forward to land a chaste kiss on ht" Then he turned down the hallway and disappeared into his quarters

It hurt to breathe And exhausted, I dropped onto , when I woke, ere safely docked at the slip on Bay Island, nestled against Ada in his kitchen, snacking on fresh fruit and warlanced ataard and completely in the dark about what had happened between us the night before

"Do you have plans for later?" he finally said

I shrugged "Apparently I’m at your disposal"

"No, I ht for a moment I didn’t have to be back at work until tomorrow’s late shift I hadn’t had a chance to call Heath back, but I could take care of that this afternoon