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He’d wanted to crush her heart and spirit and make her suffer with hi to her like a drowningher doith him

Most woe sixhiuarded their souls—if they even had souls

But not Holly He’d seen it in her war face Fro, when they’d danced at the reception, when he’d first kissed her in the snowy darkness of Central Park, he’d seen how quickly her opinion of hied, from resentment, to curiosity, to bewildered desire

And finally, when she’d opened her eyes just now in the gray light of Christ in his bed, he’d seen the way her soft elowed And he’d known

He could break her

“Stavros, you’re scaring me” Froed, becoed yourme, haven’t you? You’re scared to tell me But don’t be I wouldn’t blame you if—”

“Yes” His voice was harsh as he turned to face her “I’ve changed my mind”

“You have?”

Her lovely face went pale, but she spoke the words as if this was exactly what she’d expected all along As if she’d known her joy and ecstasy could only be a brief fantasy

Setting his shoulders, forcing hiht was a mistake”

Holly’s shoulders sagged, and she looked away, toward the twinkling white tree Holding the comforter over her naked breasts, she whispered, “Was it so I did, or?”

“I was drunk last night,” he lied harshly, knowing the fastest way through this was to hit her at her ht it One hard painful wrench, and it would all be over “I ed, the stereotype of a casually cruel playboy “—let’s face it Like you said, you aren’t my usual type”

The blow hit her squarely The last color drained frohost beneath her fiery hair She sed, tried to speak, failed She was lost in pain and insecurity and couldn’t see past it Wordlessly, she looked down at her hands, clasped together tightly over the comforter “I”

“You should go,” he said coldly

Notup her bra and panties, and her cru body Her face held the pure, unated heartbreak of youth, and he hated himself at thatso