“You can find yourself a decent,honorable man, one to love you, respect you, cherish you. Someone withmorals, with a decent job and a good future. That's what you think youwant, isn't it? Not some white trash from Alabama. Not some ex-conwho's running the scam of a lifetime. You're so good and decent, the verythought of me disgusts you, doesn't it?" His voice was low and seductiveas he pushed the words at her.She met his gaze with what she hoped was a fearless one of her own."Yes," she said."Then tell me, Rachel," he said, letting his hand toy with the looseneckline of her tunic, "why aren't you out somewhere, fucking your littlegentleman's brains out? Why are you here with me, quivering when Itouch you?”

“Will you let me lift you?" he said. "Just let me lift you. Just let me see how light you are." "All right," she said. "Do you want me to take off my coat?""Yes, yes, yes," he said. "Take off your coat."She stood. She let her coat fall to the sofa."Can I do it now?" he said."Yes."He put his hands under her arms. He raised her off the floor and then put her down gently. "Oh you're so light!" he shouted. "Your'e so light, you're so fragile, you don't weigh any more than a suitcase. Why, I could carry you, I could carry you anywhere, I could carry you from one end of New York to the other." He got his hat and coat and ran out of the house.”

“Tell me you don't love me."Laurel's mouth moved, but she said nothing."Tell me," he said, his voice sharp and demanding. "Tell me David is all you need or want in your life." His face was closer to her, his soft breath caressing her face. "That you never think of me when you're kissing him. That you don't dream about me the way I dream about you.Tell me you don't love me."She looked up at him,desperation consuming her. Her mouth felt dry, parched, and the words she tried to force out wouldn't come."You can't even say it," he said, his arms pulling her in now instead of holding her steady. "Then love me, Laurel. Just love me!”

“With his current mood, Elizabeth realized, she was going to have to make her own opening. Lifting her eyes to his enigmatic golden ones, she said quietly, “Ian, have you ever wanted something very badly-something that was within your grasp-and yet you were afraid to reach out for it?” Surprised by her grave question and her use of his name, Ian tried to ignore the jealousy that had been eating at him all night. “No,” he said, scrupulously keeping the curtness from his voice as he gazed down at her alluring face. “Why do you ask? Is there something you want?” Her gaze fell from his, and she nodded at his frilled white shirtfront. “What is it you want?” “You.”

“If you give me the five hundred dollars right now, I’ll let you dowhatever you want to me,” she whimpered.“Why are you being such a hard ass, Jeni?” he said with a wrysmile. He took her hand and slid it down the front of his bare torso. Hisabdominal muscles rippled under her hand. Then he slid her hand overhis erection. His cock twitched at the feel of her hand. “You know youwant me to fuck you.”“Then cough up the money, Hamilton!” Though her voice regainedits edge, her body was seconds away from crumbling. She wanted nothingmore than him buried deep inside her. She ached for him.”

“You like doing that, don't you?''Yes, I like kissing you.''No,' she said, 'lifting me off my feet. Carrying me around. Pulling me down to kiss you whenever you get the urge.' She turned to him with a mock glare. 'I think it goes hand in hand with the telling me what to do stuff.'He didn't let go of her hand as he lifted his to run the back of one knuckle down her cheek. 'You like it, too.”