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"What do you want, John?" she asked wildly "Do you want ? Is that what this is about? Because I won't do it Is this some kind of perverse search for a compliment? Do you want me to spell out all of the reasons I wanted you? All of the reasons I thought you were so kind and noble and good?"

John winced at her pointed use of the past tense "I aht now," he said stiffly

"No, you're not You're trying to be ayourself, because I most certainly am not"

"Belle, listen to me," he implored "I aony of his voice shocked Belle into silence, and she stared at hi away so that he would not have to look at her face "I've hurt people I've hurt… I've hurt women "

"1 don't believe you" Her words came out low and fast

"Daainst the trunk of a tree "What will it take to convince you? What do you need to know? The very blackest secrets of my heart? The deeds that have stained my soul?"

She took a step back "I-I don't knohat you're saying I don't think you knohat you're saying"

"I'll hurt you, Belle I'll hurt you without intending to I'll hurt you-Christ, isn't it enough just that I'll hurt you?"

"You won't hurtout to touch his sleeve

"Don't delude yourself into thinking I'm a hero, Belle I'm not-"

"I don't think you're a hero," she cut in "I don't want you to be a hero"

"God," he said with a dark, sarcastic laugh "That's the first realistic thing you've said all day"

She stiffened "Don't be cruel, John"

"Belle," he said raggedly "I have limits Don't push me past them"

"And just what is that supposed to rabbed her by the shoulders as if trying to shake some sense into her Dear Lord, she was so close, he could smell her He could feel the soft strands of her hair that the hipping against his face "Itevery ounce of ht now"

"Then why don't you do it?" she asked, her voice a quavering whisper "I wouldn't stop you"

"Because I wouldn't stop there I'd trail th of your throat until I reached those annoying little buttons on your riding habit And then I'd slowly slip each one apart and spread your jacket open" Dear God, was he trying to torture hi, aren't you?"

Much to her horror, Belle nodded

John shuddered as waves of desire rocked through his body "I love the feel of silk," he murmured "And you do, too"

"H-how do you know?"

"I atching you when you got that blister on your heel I saw you roll off your stocking"