“No, what you wanted to give me was freedom and really great sex. You made that clear. It’s what you want from me that I’m still bewildered about. My instinct is to ignore what you’re saying and work it out for myself. I can’t afford to make a mistake, and what you’re going through with Sasha might be confusing you. I say that with extreme trepidation.” He smiled crookedly. “But I’ll give you more time, and perhaps it will all come together. In the meantime, I’ll try to tamp down that analytical bullshit and give you the basics you’ve demonstrated you do enjoy. Does that sound agreeable?”

“What would you do if I said no?” she asked unsteadily.

“I’m such a civilized man that I’d try another way, of course.”

“Now, that’s true bullshit. You’d just up the ante.”

“Which I’m doing right now.” He took a step closer. “And the ante just became making you put aside how much you’re worrying about Sasha and fretting about what we can do to bring those bastards down.” He unbuttoned her shirt. “That’s very high, but you can meet it. I have faith in you. Because you know we can do it together. I’ll never let you lose.” His lips were on her breast, licking delicately. “So should we take this little bit of time to demonstrate that Reardon and Masenak can go to hell as far as we’re concerned? We’ll get back to them with all the graphic details later.”

Later. But he’d said he was leaving soon, and she didn’t know when he’d be returning or what he’d be facing when she wasn’t with him. “That sounds reasonable enough.” She was swiftly tearing off the rest of her clothes.

“I told you I was a civilized man.” He was lifting her legs over his hips, searching.

Then sinking deep…

She cried out and arched against him. She started moving.

“Easy,” he murmured, his fingers digging into her buttocks. “Maybe not so civilized as I thought.”

“Don’t tell me that,” she said unevenly. “Not when you just told me you’re leaving. I don’t give a damn about being civilized. Now move.”

“As you command.” He was chuckling as he lifted her. “As the very civilized Oscar Wilde once said, ‘I can resist anything…’” He started to move. “‘…except temptation.’”

Chapter 16

Chapter
16

He was gone.