"I...uh..."
He tried not to increase his pleasant smile as she stumbled; he was moving his fingers higher and higher up the sleek,nyloned length of her leg. And it was obviously causing her distress. She was rigid, but she didn't stop him.
She cleared her throat. "I've been thinking, Lee. I really don't think I did you justice."
"Oh?" He started to draw lazy circles high on her thigh, moving intimately close.
"Those...pictures I took." She started as the casual graze on her flesh traveled to her inner thigh.
"Yes?The pictures?"
"I want them back, Lee. I owe you so much more. I can take a new set--"
His left hand stayed on her thigh. His right began to caress the base of her throat. "You want the pictures back, is that it, Bryn?"
"Yes. I was being rather obnoxious that day, and I..." He was making it impossible to concentrate. "I think it influenced my work. I think I could do much better...for you."
"It's nice of you...to be concerned."
He lowered his head and kissed her again. She returned the kiss with all the emotion she could, stroking his cheek, edgy, but willing herself not to fight the intimacy of his hands. She explored the sensual line of his lips with the tip of her tongue,then joined him again in a passionate meeting of their mouths that allowed her hunger to soar with his.
They were both breathless as they broke apart, their arms laced around each other.
"Can I...take the pictures back, Lee?" she begged with a sultry look.
His eyes were on her, gleaming a cat gold. He smoothed a straying hair tenderly from her cheek. "How badly do you want them?"
"What?" Bryn whispered.
He chuckled, a husky sound that meant many things. It was teasing... and a little sinister. And even a little exciting. And so dangerously insinuating that she knew she could do nothing but stall for time.
"You heard me, Bryn." He was smiling as if it were all a sexual game, nothing more.But a serious game.
She had thought she could seduce him just so far, have her way with a winning smile and sultry kisses.
She had never expected to reach this point. But she had, and it seemed as if her body was inwardly torn, shaken with electrical charges. What should she do? What should she say? She had always known that she could want him; she was learning now that she liked him, was fascinated by him.
She lowered her lashes quickly. She had to have the pictures. She would do anything to obtain them.
That was real; it was a fact. But wasn't there more that she would also have to admit? That it would be no great noble act, no sacrifice. She would be able to...know him, explore the mystical, fulfill her secret desires--and still, in her heart and mind, fall back on the belief that she'd had no choice.
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"Bryn?"
She laughed as he had, so nervous that it was a sultry breath of air, a bantering... a teasing.
"Lee...does it matter?" She touched his chin tenderly with one nail. "Events will take their course, no matter what we say or do. But I would like to have those pictures.Very badly. Will you give them to me?
I'll--" For a minute she didn't think she could go through with it. Her turmoil was too great. He was too close to her, touching her; but though the touch was tender, she knew there was an underlying male strength and power that could sweep her away and leave her heart bruised and battered on a distant shore. And would she deserve any more? She was--despite the sensual laughter and banter--selling herself .
Did any of that matter, she screamed in silent impatience. The pictures mattered; her nephews mattered; her peace of mind and possibly her health mattered. The children's health...
"I'll do any thing... for the pictures," she said clearly, as sweetly and as sensually as she could.
He picked up her hands. He kissed them both. His eyes met hers, and he smiled. "Lee...?"
"No," he said bluntly. "What?" she gasped. He dropped her hands, setting her free from him with a swift movement, and stood, arms crossed over his chest as he confronted her.
"You heard me--no. I don't believe you're 'concerned' for a second. The charade's over. I don't know what this is all about, and since it seems you're not going to tell me, you're not going to use sex to back out on a business deal." The cat-gold gleam swept over herassessingly . "The prize is tempting, my love, but I'm afraida bartered bedding is not quite good enough."
She stared at him a second, a myriad of emotions racing through her.
Rage won out. She'd made an absolute fool of herself--for nothing!
"You bastard!You egotistical bastard!"
She was on her feet and he thought it only natural that she would try to strike him. He was ready, and caught her flying fist.
"When you want me, Bryn, come back."