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‘No!'

'Well, then'

'Please, don’t ed in a shaky whisper

‘I won’t have to You'll make yourself do it Come on, chérie Before someone else decides to come up'

Pride warred with her fear The thought of her pitiful exhibition of abject cowardice being witnessed by anyone else was alalvanise her frozen limbs— almost

'Jack'

He kissed her tear-salty lips Kissed her with a hard, practised thoroughness until he felt her shock turn to angry confusion, then the tentative beginnings of response

'Trust me'

He kissed her again before she could react to his order, holding her very tightly, controlling both her response and his with an aggression that eased only when he raised his head

‘I won’t let anything happen to you' It was a stateain, s her doubts with relentless sensuality that heated her to the tips of her cold extremities

With each kiss Elizabeth felt the hard knot in her stomach unravel a little further It was an exercise in th and certainty that she couldn’t help but feel grateful for When he released her mouth for the last time she took an unsteady breath

'All right, I'm ready'

His eyes silvered withabout it here Wait until I get you on top of o is!'

'My God, you're an arrogant ani with a co as he stepped down in front of her, holding both of her hands in one of his as the other firripped the central rail

'Thank you' He held her angry eyes with the hyp­notic power of his as he stepped down and drew her down the first step Before the knowledge of what she had just done registered hea wet ‘I-shirt contest? You have such a superb natural advantage, your victory would be a walk-over'