He didn’t hurt you physically, she reminded herself. Not like Paolo. But the emotional pain was so much worse. Far, far worse. She could almost take Paolo before Elijah because she would never feel about Paolo the way she had about Elijah. He couldn’t hurt her that way.

“Stop it,” Elijah said, his voice a growling command. “Seriously, Siena. Let it go.” His hand settled in her hair, fingers sliding deep into the long, silky strands and fisting there. He pulled her head up, the little bite of pain startling her. His dark gaze blazed into hers.

“Do you really think I can erase the things you said to me so easily?” she hissed, wishing she were strong enough to push him away.

“I told you I didn’t mean them. That should be enough.”

She frowned at him. “That’s arrogance, Elijah. Sheer arrogance. You said it. You can’t take it back.” She ducked her head. “The worst part of it is, what you said was true. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was there to distract you even if I didn’t know it. The reason he sent me was so Marco could slip inside undetected. I confronted him and he all but admitted it to me.” Bile rose and she pressed the back of her hand against her mouth.

“Baby, no way was it the truth. I’m telling you the truth right now. You’re leopard and you can hear it in my voice. I have never once lost control with a woman. Not a single time in my life. You made me lose control. Hell, I was so far gone I didn’t even realize you were a virgin. I needed to fuck you fast and hard. Rough. Get inside you any way I could. I was so damned hungry for you, I couldn’t think straight. That’s sure as hell not because you didn’t know what you were doing, babe. It was because you made me crazy for you.”

She shook her head, trying to hear what he said, wishing she could believe him. She’d had a lot of time while she was recovering in the hospital to go over every single thing that had happened between them from the time she drove up his drive until he threw her out. She’d been so hot for him—a fever of need—a hunger so great she couldn’t think clearly. Once he’d touched her, lifting her out of the car and into his arms, she’d been lost. There was no going back. The fire burned too hot.