Free Scandalous Love by Brenda Joyce

him,
then climaxing in his arms. His hold on her tightened, and he thought he might
lose the last of his control. "You will like dying in my arms,
Nicole," he promised softly. "I will make sure of it."
    "Release me,"
she cried frantically. He knew she did not understand his meaning, but she
sensed the danger she was in. "Release me, now, damn you!"
    He had to. If he did
not, he would cease to be responsible for his actions. His body was screaming
at him, begging for its own release, so he turned his head away from hers,
breathing deeply. "Do we have a truce?"
    She laughed.
"Never!"
    He whipped his gaze to
hers and saw the blaze of hatred in her eyes. "So you hate me, now, do
you?"
    "Oh yes," she
spat. "For a moment I loved you, but now, how I hate you!"
    He froze. That she had
loved him, even if foolishly and for a short time, stunned him. Many women had
fallen in love with him and he was well aware of it. But he had never really
paid attention, and certainly never cared what they felt. Now, something seemed
to prick him, and perhaps it was his conscience. "Love does not change to
hatred so fast, Nicole," he said softly. Their mouths were very close.
"Shall we test how much you hate me?" He did not know why it was so
important to him to prove her wrong.
    "There is nothing
to test," she said, suddenly breathless. Her gaze moved to his mouth.
"Don't."
    There was no way he
could prevent himself from kissing her, no matter how wrong it was, not now.
Not when their bodies were pressed together from breast to toe, not when he
strained against her femininity, not when she dared to declare her hatred of
him. "I think that you want me more than you hate me," he murmured.
    She opened her mouth to
protest, but he covered her lips, not allowing any more words to escape.
    She wrenched violently
against him, but he merely pressed her harder against the barn, merely
tightened his already painful hold on her wrists. She made enraged noises; he
hungrily claimed her mouth, wanting to claim much more and knowing if he let
this continue, he would claim all of her. She bucked against him and it was
heaven, yet it was also hell.
    As he had thought, she
would fight him to the very end.
    She spoke when his mouth
moved to her neck, where his kisses left red crescent marks. "What of your
precious Elizabeth!"
    He became still.
"What of Elizabeth?"
    "You do not even
pretend to be faithful to your betrothed!"
    "So you have done
your homework," he said, lifting his head to look at her. He saw the
flaming anger in her eyes, and he wanted to change it to passion—for him.
"Is that what this is about?"
    "You are no
different from a married man," she hissed. "Yet you are a despicable
rake. Let me go, now!"
    She was right, and
because ultimately he had too much honor to ravish her, he released her. She
screamed and leapt at him, trying to hit him again.
    He caught her, this time
around the waist, pinning her arms to her sides, stunned again at her savagery,
and even more aroused. She whirled in his arms before he tightened his hold,
trying to run from him. "Stop it," he snapped, shaking her once.
    She was panting as if
she had fought a great battle, and now he was pressed against her backside,
which was no relief. Her breasts were full and heavy on his arms where he had
wrapped them around her torso. She stopped trying to free herself, gasping
great lungfuls of air, and he relaxed slightly, damning himself and his
uncontrollable libido once more.
    "I won't hit you
again," she finally said harshly. "Just let me go."
    "Why?" He
breathed against her neck. "I don't think I embarrass you, Nicole. Or do
I?"
    She was very still, and
he knew she was feeling him throbbing against her buttocks. He wanted to see
her eyes, see her response. He felt her trembling in his arms. "You do not
embarrass me," she finally said. "You only embarrass yourself."
    Because his behavior was
inexcusable, his tone was sardonic as he released her. "Touch é . But it takes two to
play this