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She didn’t want to hear that "You wouldn’t have listened"

"We’ll never knohat I would have done"

She stared at hi ti tears "I’m sorry" She’d come here to cry on his shoulder This wasn’t the conversation she’d expected "You hurt me so ret what I said"

Jesse wanted to believe him Matt could see it in her face But she wasn’t sure if she could trust him If she’d known these past five years, she would know she couldn’t, but despite everything, Jesse had always believed in people, which was to his advantage

She stared at hi blue eyes dark with tears God, she was beautiful That hadn’t changed If anything, she’d improved with time The lines of her face were a little sharper and rown up and about the sexiest female he’d ever seen

He accepted the fact that he wanted her It couldn’t be avoided Sleeping with her would be a pleasure for both of them and where was the bad in that?

Now, as heher vulnerability, he al about Jesse had been easy, too Not that he was going to let hi ainst her botto"

"I was some computer nerd who still lived with his mother"

She smiled "I never saw you that way"

She really hadn’t, he thought, reed everything and along the way he’d fallen for her It had stunned his for him He could still recall the sense of iirl who mattered

He wasn’t that foolish anymore, he told himself No one mattered now He didn’t let theet, he leaned in and kissed her He touched histo see how far she would let hi She accepted the kiss, without kissing hi, feel hihtly, eased forward and put her hand on his shoulder

He wrapped both ar her close, holding her tight, deterue into her mouth, as much to claim her as to please her, but she didn’t see, sheHer hands ainst hi him not to be aroused, not to be interested

He was hard and ready and it was all he could do to keep froht there in his office The desk, a voice in his head yelled The desk would work

Heat burned through hia hi it HerHe tasted her kiss and wanted to taste other parts of her, all of her He wanted to touch her everywhere, rediscover the body he had known better than his own He wanted to breathe in the scent of her, hear her gasp as pleasure claiht of any other man out of her mind until there was only hi love He wanted to take her and mark her and hear her scream as she totally and completely lost control in his arh of perfect content filled him It wasn’t pretend anymore It was real and alive and it pulsed within him He wanted Jesse the same damn way he’d alanted her Heart and soul Forever In that e if only he could--

They pulled apart Matt wanted to say he’d been the one to end the kiss, but he couldn’t be sure Maybe it had been her Maybe she’d figured out the danger of an out-of-control fire They stood staring at each other, both breathing hard He could see the wanting in her eyes and knew she saw the same in his

She started to speak, then shook her head and turned away In a one When he was alone, he continued to stand in the center of his office, his breathing too fast, his body burning for her as it had five years ago

The ga, he told hierous one Because she still had power over hi to have to be very careful and ainst him

What he didn’t ada else entirely

CHAPTER TEN

Five years ago…

THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL looked like so out of an old movie There was dark wood everywhere, antiques and an air of elegance thatother than jeans and a sweater She felt like she should be in a dress and heels She also felt young, out of place and scared

Don’t be crazy, she told herself She was fine So she and Matt had gone away for the weekend So they were going to have sex That was hardly new for her She couldn’t count the nu about Matt was different Everything was new and exciting and just a little terrifying, but in a good way At least she hoped it was good

Matt finished registering thelanced at the sht and his leather duffel she’d e," shea bellman would only make her more unco at her, judging her It was as if they all knew about her sha with so to defend herself Matt was different She was different Being in love with hied her Not that she expected anyone to believe her

Jesse shook her head, determined not to think about her sister or anyone else Matt had brought her to Portland for the weekend so they could spend soether and have fun She wanted to have fun…if only she could catch her breath

The elevator was old and beautiful, with a brass railing and carved ceiling They rode up ten floors, then walked down a long, carpeted hallway Even the doors to the rooms were ornate and looked heavy Matt used the key and let theo first She stepped into the space and frowned There was no bed Just a sofa, a couple of chairs and a view of the river

She turned in a slow circle, taking in the beautiful furniture, the air of elegance Then she noticed the open doorway and walked toward it