Free JAKrentz - Uneasy Alliance by User

kiss was not one of violence. For a timeless moment Abby braced herself for cruelty. It wasn't until she felt his fingers gently massaging the nape of her neck, attempting to draw a response from her, that she understood Torr was not going to hurt her. The relief was as enervating as the fear had been paralyzing.
    "Abby," he groaned huskily. "Abby, why are you so afraid of me?"
    She recalled the way he handled flowers, and sagged against him, taking in air in huge gulps as he allowed her to lay her head on his shoulder. His palms moved along her spine now, soothing and assuring. Abby began to realize that there could be comfort in a man's strength. The thought was enough to make her head spin.
    "Torr, none of this affects you," she got out in a painful voice. "Please believe me. I have to go."
    "Then I'll go with you," he muttered into her hair. "And I'll keep you with me until you tell me the whole story. Don't you think I know something is very, very wrong? You've been nervous since the last night of class. And when that photograph arrived, don't you think I saw the way it affected you? Abby, what happened this morning? Why were you going to pack and leave without even remembering to cancel our date?"
    "I can't explain. I'm not even sure myself what's going on. I don't want you involved, Torr," she whispered honestly.
    "I am involved. Honey, I'm going to keep you with me night and day until I find out exactly what's going on."
    "You can't!"
    "Do you really believe you can stop me? Abby, very soon I'm going to be your lover. I have a right to protect you."
    She shook her head, feeling trapped by his strength and his intent perseverance. She had a premonition that it might ultimately be impossible to deny this man anything. "You can't say that. You don't know what will happen between us. Torr, be reasonable. Can't you accept my word that you shouldn't get involved?"
    "No. And I'm being perfectly reasonable because I do know what will happen between us. I've known since the night I took you home after class."
    "Torr, I won't let you take control of me like this!" The protest was faint but it carried determination. "I won't be rushed into a relationship I'm not sure I want and I won't let you assume rights I'm not prepared to give."
    "Then we'll just sit here in your living room and talk about it until you are willing to be rushed into a relationship with me and until you are willing to give me some rights."
    She could hear the lazy amusement in his voice and her head jerked up as annoyance began to replace some of the hopelessness and anxiety she had been feeling all morning. But before she could speak, she found herself tumbled lightly down across his thighs as he seated himself on the sofa. His golden brown eyes gleamed with a trace of his indulgent humor, but they also reflected the depths of his inflexible will. Abby felt a kind of puzzled wonder as she tried to comprehend the man who cradled her.
    "You're serious, aren't you?"
    "As you've pointed out, I'm always serious. Abby, I don't get involved in anything I don't wish to be involved in. But once I've made the decision…" He shrugged with massive finality. The message was clear.
    "I used to watch in amazement as you made those flowers do exactly as you wished in class," she murmured, searching his face for answers to unknown questions.
    "Just remember that I never bruised or broke one in the process." He toyed with several tendrils of her honeyed hair. "Abby, are you sleeping with that man in the photograph?"
    "No."
    "Did you go away with him this past winter? Did you sleep with him then?"
    "Would it matter?"
    "No. Not if it's all over between the two of you now. If it isn't, I want it over. And I'm willing to do the job if you're afraid to face him and tell him."
    She watched him a moment longer and then she came to a decision. "I'm not having an affair with Ward Tyson, nor did I ever have one with him. He's my cousin's husband. Cynthia and I were practically raised