you were the only one who wanted things to go further when we used to wrestle back then? I would lie beneath you, silently begging that you would rip my jeans off and fuck me 'til I fainted.”
“ Liv...”
The agony in his voice as he groaned her name gave her a moment's hope that he'd let go of his rigid self-control for once and show her what he was obviously desperate to do.
“Don't you remember how much watching you play rugby used to turn me on? You'd come off the field, dirty, bleeding and bruised ... and I couldn't wait to get my hands on you. Nothing turned me on as much as watching you power through the opposition as if they weren't even there.”
“ If I tackled you like that, I'd crush you.”
“ That's not what I mean, and you know it. You of all people should be able to understand why I enjoy contact sports. Why do you think I took up martial arts? I have no idea why I am a fan of such physical sports like rugby and boxing, but I was always interested and used to watch them whenever I could, even after we stopped dating. Then, a few years ago, I heard about Kyushindu and took it up. The more I trained, the more I wanted to train. I was searching for something, and I thought I simply wanted to be the best, but when I got to the top, I still wasn't satisfied, which is why I quit last year. It wasn't until tonight, right this very minute, that I realize I was looking for something that made me feel the way you did. I was never going to find it. You owe it to me to give me what you promised me with your body, and finish what you started.”
For a moment, she thought she'd gotten through to him, but when he simply closed his eyes, as if to block her out, she lost her temper. “Fine. If you won't do it, I'll find somebody who will.”
Finally, he lost his composure. “Don't ever say that again.” Michael shoved her weight off his chest and hauled her to her feet. “Are you trying to drive me crazy?”
“ No, I'm trying to get you to give in to me. And if I need to make you angry to do it, then I will.”
“ I would never touch you in anger.”
“ Then don't make me go there. Give in, Mike. Give me what you've denied us both for all these years.” Olivia clasped his face between her palms. “Lay my demons to rest once and for all. Don't let me spend the rest of my life wondering.”
His mind was in turmoil, that much was evident from the expression on his face. Michael stared at her without saying a word, for what seemed like an age. But then he closed his eyes and blew out a soul cleansing sigh , and she knew he was letting go of his fear.
“ And you swear you'll tell me if you don't like something.”
Olivia nodded so hard, she almost made herself light-headed. “Of course.” She dropped her hands to her sides, and tried to stand still under his gaze, eager to show him she wasn't nervous. Which she wasn't. Excited would have been a better description. “So, where do you want me?”
Michael's hands closed around her biceps , and he lifted her clean off the floor so he could look her right in the eye. “There,” he said ... and threw her on to the bed.
Chapter Five
Liv tried to scramble off the other side of the bed before he reached her, but Michael caught her easily, wrapping a hand around her ankle and dragging her back beneath him. She clutched at the duvet to stop him flipping her over but let go when he put her in a very gentle arm lock.
Relief swept through him. She'd had the good sense to let go of the quilt once she knew she couldn't match his strength. He was going to have to learn to trust her. After all, he'd asked her for no less.
He grabbed a handful of her hair and tugged her head back as he forced his knee between the legs she had almost clamped shut. Her hands pushed against his shoulders, but she couldn't stop him kissing her. Liv relaxed for a moment, then bit down on his lip, just hard enough that he pulled away in case she drew blood.
“
Sebastian Barry
Helen Steiner Rice
Lisa Lang Blakeney
E. Paul Zehr
Wendy Rosnau
Alyson Grauer
Unknown
Mark Lukens
Marian Hale
Daniel Silva