a known stranger

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

She got up to help him. "Better men than you have tried and failed," she informed him coldly, squashing her taunting conscience, there was only one man, Neil who tried.

His eyes were alight with challenge. "No, what you mean is, better men than me have tried and given up. I don't believe in giving up. If I want something, I make sure I get it."

"Not this time," she said with vehemence. She helped him load the washer, and left the kitchen to go to the den. Darien could not believe the conversation they just had. He was glad that she was still fighting him and denying with all her worth that she was not attracted to him. It was a matter of time, she would accept the inevitable. She already responded to his kiss like a match to a flame.

He went to the den to find her watching a sitcom, "My Wife and Kids," she was laughing when he came in. He went to the fireplace, and started a fire.

He sat down next to her, she moved to get up.

His hands slid around her waist and for a moment she thought he was going to shake her. "Will you listen to me?" he said angrily. "I am not playing games. I'm deadly serious."

"Good," she retorted. "So am I. Now let me go."

"Not until you've heard me out."

"I do not want to hear anything your delusional mind thinks is right. I must be out of my mind to think I could stand to live with you for the next three weeks. Even to keep quiet and stay without trying to escape."

She heard his choked grunt of frustration. "God! Why do you exasperate me? Don't you know how hard it is for me to keep my hands off you all the time? Your obstinacy is only making it more difficult."

"What? Darien Scott losing control?" she taunted. "Watch out, your macho image is slipping,"

Ashley saw him stiffen, and she wondered if she had pushed him too far. In all honesty, In some unconscious way, she wanted him to lose control. She'd deliberately set out to fuel his temper. Now he was going to use it against her!

She saw his mouth descend and tried to squirm free, only to find herself wedged even tighter against his chest. His kiss was like an assault on her senses, and her instinctive cry was smothered as he took total possession of her lips.

Ashley tried to stay calm, to think her way out of the situation. Relaxing her body, she waited until he seemed to accept her sudden capitulation, then lurched unexpectedly against him, trying to catch him off-guard. The move was firmly blocked.

"No, sweetheart," he said softly. "Wait. Give it a chance."

This time his lips brushed hers more gently, making her body tingle unexpectedly. Just as she had before, Ashley felt herself come to life beneath his touch. No! Not again. But her silent cry went unheeded. Once again she could feel every nerve-ending reacting to him with charged awareness.

As if sensing her acquiescence, Darien's mouth moved more deliberately now, parting her lips and then her teeth to invade the sweetness within. In an effort to resist, Ashley pushed against his chest, but even in her confusion she knew the effort was too feeble to do any good. The truth was she was enjoying the kiss; she didn't want it to end. Just for a moment she wanted too feel the corded muscles beneath his shirt, to smell the musky, heady scent of his aftershave, to be locked in the firm grip of his arms.

"Darien," she breathed, as his mouth moved to a flutter of little kisses down her cheek. "This is madness."

"I know," he agreed. "A wonderful, devastating insanity!"