to move on her back, sliding down to the contour of her hips and pressing audaciously.
Holding her arched into the cradle of his thighs, he moved against her, making no secret of the effect she
was having on him. Selena felt the taut, hard wanting in him and sucked in her breath.
„York?“ It was a small, muffled sound of protest, question, and shock all blended together.
He lifted his head slightly to stare searchingly, hungrily, down into her bemused face. The cloudy
emerald depths of his eyes were dark and full of promise behind the lenses of his glasses. Slowly his hands
moved higher to the belt of her jacket and he began to unfasten the first barrier of her clothing. Instantly
Selena moved to step back out of reach.
„No,“ he muttered thickly, halting the retreat. „No, darling,“ he repeated more gently as he resumed his
task. „Don’t run from me again. I can make it right for you, make you forget him.“ A slow, beguiling smile
played at the edge of his hard mouth. „You’re the one with the artistic inclinations, but tonight I’m the one
who wants to paint the picture.“
„You don’t paint pictures,“ she managed almost painfully as the front of her jacket fell open and his
fingers slid inside to find the curve of her waist, „you make battle plans and plot campaigns. I won’t be part
of your warfare, York Sutherland!“
The small smile faded as he took in her earnest refusal to believe his words.
„You think you have me all figured out, don’t you?“ he whispered throatily, swinging her abruptly up into
his arms and carrying her across the room to the low couch. There he sank heavily down, holding her
across his thighs. When she tried to right herself and slide off his lap, his arm closed about her in an absent
gesture, pinning her.
„It doesn’t take any great degree of perception to understand how your mind works,“ she retaliated
softly. „I’ve known from the first what you wanted.“
Almost warily he raised a hand and removed his glasses, setting them down on the table beside the
couch. The thick black lashes closed as he leaned back into the corner of the cushions. Selena was
suddenly struck by the realization that he was tired. The tiny sign of human weakness in him had an
unexpected softening effect on her. She supposed even experienced assault commanders got tired
occasionally. It had been a long day for both of them.
But when the ebony lashes lifted fractionally and she saw the fully alert gleam in the gray-green eyes,
Selena changed her mind. The man wasn’t succumbing to exhaustion, he was merely assessing die situation
further.
„What is it you think I want, Selena?“ he challenged gently. Too gently. She didn’t trust the velvet in his
voice.
„I’m not sure,“ she admitted cautiously. „You’ve already achieved your primary goal, which was to take
me away from Richard. Perhaps mat wasn’t sufficient. Perhaps your need to win requires that you
demonstrate to him that you can not only force me away from him, you can make me want you instead.“
He regarded her through narrowed lids. „Can I make you want me?“
Selena flinched at the blunt question. „You’re not nearly as intelligent as I’ve assumed you are if you
think I’d answer a question like that!“
Humor flickered briefly in the set features of his face. „A little bit on the loaded side, hmmm?“
„If I said no, you can’t make me want you, I’d become a challenge. If I said yes, you’d take advantage
of the situation, wouldn’t you?“ she braved.
„Probably,“ he agreed, lifting his hand to stroke back the line of her chestnut hair. „Selena, you’re right
about my goals,“ he went on evenly.
Selena held herself steady against the impact of hearing the truth admitted. Deep down, had she really
wanted him to deny it?
„But you’re wrong about my motives,“ he concluded flatly. „I want you but not because I’m trying to
use you in my war
Holding her arched into the cradle of his thighs, he moved against her, making no secret of the effect she
was having on him. Selena felt the taut, hard wanting in him and sucked in her breath.
„York?“ It was a small, muffled sound of protest, question, and shock all blended together.
He lifted his head slightly to stare searchingly, hungrily, down into her bemused face. The cloudy
emerald depths of his eyes were dark and full of promise behind the lenses of his glasses. Slowly his hands
moved higher to the belt of her jacket and he began to unfasten the first barrier of her clothing. Instantly
Selena moved to step back out of reach.
„No,“ he muttered thickly, halting the retreat. „No, darling,“ he repeated more gently as he resumed his
task. „Don’t run from me again. I can make it right for you, make you forget him.“ A slow, beguiling smile
played at the edge of his hard mouth. „You’re the one with the artistic inclinations, but tonight I’m the one
who wants to paint the picture.“
„You don’t paint pictures,“ she managed almost painfully as the front of her jacket fell open and his
fingers slid inside to find the curve of her waist, „you make battle plans and plot campaigns. I won’t be part
of your warfare, York Sutherland!“
The small smile faded as he took in her earnest refusal to believe his words.
„You think you have me all figured out, don’t you?“ he whispered throatily, swinging her abruptly up into
his arms and carrying her across the room to the low couch. There he sank heavily down, holding her
across his thighs. When she tried to right herself and slide off his lap, his arm closed about her in an absent
gesture, pinning her.
„It doesn’t take any great degree of perception to understand how your mind works,“ she retaliated
softly. „I’ve known from the first what you wanted.“
Almost warily he raised a hand and removed his glasses, setting them down on the table beside the
couch. The thick black lashes closed as he leaned back into the corner of the cushions. Selena was
suddenly struck by the realization that he was tired. The tiny sign of human weakness in him had an
unexpected softening effect on her. She supposed even experienced assault commanders got tired
occasionally. It had been a long day for both of them.
But when the ebony lashes lifted fractionally and she saw the fully alert gleam in the gray-green eyes,
Selena changed her mind. The man wasn’t succumbing to exhaustion, he was merely assessing die situation
further.
„What is it you think I want, Selena?“ he challenged gently. Too gently. She didn’t trust the velvet in his
voice.
„I’m not sure,“ she admitted cautiously. „You’ve already achieved your primary goal, which was to take
me away from Richard. Perhaps mat wasn’t sufficient. Perhaps your need to win requires that you
demonstrate to him that you can not only force me away from him, you can make me want you instead.“
He regarded her through narrowed lids. „Can I make you want me?“
Selena flinched at the blunt question. „You’re not nearly as intelligent as I’ve assumed you are if you
think I’d answer a question like that!“
Humor flickered briefly in the set features of his face. „A little bit on the loaded side, hmmm?“
„If I said no, you can’t make me want you, I’d become a challenge. If I said yes, you’d take advantage
of the situation, wouldn’t you?“ she braved.
„Probably,“ he agreed, lifting his hand to stroke back the line of her chestnut hair. „Selena, you’re right
about my goals,“ he went on evenly.
Selena held herself steady against the impact of hearing the truth admitted. Deep down, had she really
wanted him to deny it?
„But you’re wrong about my motives,“ he concluded flatly. „I want you but not because I’m trying to
use you in my war
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