Page 76 (1/2)

She was dry, unprepared, shocked Ravaged, was all she could think as she bit down on her lip to keep froh, careless, and sent the bruises singing as he rammed her, over and over, into the wall Even as she shoved at hi in and ripping a startled cry of pain from her throat

She could have stopped hi had dissolved into sheer feminine distress She couldn’t see his face, wasn’t sure she’d recognize it if she could

“Roarke” It was shock, bone deep, that quavered in her voice “You’re hurting me”

He e she didn’t understand and had never heard, so she stopped struggling, gripped his shoulders, and shut her eyes to as happening to both of them

Still he plowed into her, hands digging into her hips to keep her open for hi in her ear He took her brutally, and with none of the finesse or control that was such an innate part of him

He couldn’t stop Even as part of his brain stepped back, appalled at what he was doing, he si at him and he had to sate it to survive There was a voice so Harder Faster More It drove him, pushed him, until with one final vicious thrust, he emptied

She held on It was that or slide to the floor He was shuddering like a man with a fever and she didn’t knohether to soothe him or belt him

“Goddamn it, Roarke” But when he pressed a hand to the wall to keep balance as he swayed, she lost any sense of insult in worry

“Hey, what is it? How much have you had to drink, anyway? Come on, lean on me”

“No” With the violent need ht in his belly He shook off the dizziness and eased himself back “Good God, Eve Good God I’m sorry I’m so sorry”

“Okay It’s okay” He was sheet white She’d never seen hiet Suot to lie down”

“Stop it” He very carefully nudged away her stroking hands and stepped back until they were no longer touching How could she bear to have him touch her? “For Christ’s sake I raped you I just raped you”

“No” She said it fir the tone of her voice would be as effective as a slap “You did not I knohat rape is What you did wasn’t rape, even if it was a little overenthusiastic”

“I hurt you” When she reached out, he held up his hands to stop her “Goddamn it, Eve, you’re bruised froainst the wall in so closet and used you Used you like a—”

“Okay” She stepped forward, but he shook his head “Don’t back away from me, Roarke That’s ill hurt Don’t do that”