〃Youre cruel。〃
She felt a grin by her ear。 〃You bring out the worst in me;〃 he said and
kept up the torment。
The flames in Anne burned hotter; threatening to reduce her to embers。
Small; unfamiliar sounds came from her throat when he eased her down on
the bed and took her breast in his mouth。 He sucked it in; bringing her
arching off the bed。 Clutching handfuls of his sweater; she was thinking
she couldnt bear any more; when he released her and whipped the sweater
over his head。 Her hands were all over him; then。 She couldnt touch him
enough。
He ground out her name through gritted teeth and crushed her to him to
stop her。 She gasped at the press of his chest against hers; the texture
against her softness; the rapid thunder of his heart。
〃I need you;〃 she cried; looking up at him。 This wasnt enough; just
wasnt enough。 〃Please?〃
〃Do you know what youre doing?〃 he asked huskily; and sucked in his
breath when she pulled at the snap of his jeans。 Seconds later her
fingers were inside; against his abdomen。 〃My God; Annie!〃 For long
seconds of indecision he stared down at her; and she was an open book;
she knew。 But she wasnt ashamed。 She might not be ready to say the
words aloud; but the depth of her love; her longing; brought tears to
her eyes。
Then something went wrong。 Suddenly his eyes grew hard。
〃Damn it!〃 he swore and released her abruptly。 Bolting from the bed; he
strode to the window; where he stood with his hands on his hips; his
legs apart; his head hung low; his shoulders heaving。 Then; swearing
again; he stalked past her and left the room。
Anne sat in stunned silence; unable to move; to think; to feel。 Finally
the chill in the air drove her under the quilt; but even then the
trembling hit her hard。 There was only one explanation for Mitchs
behavior; and it had to do with the 〃obligation〃 to which he had once
referred。 He wasnt free。
So again she wondered; Do I leave; or do I stay? And again she reached
the same decision。 Self…destructive or not; she was staying。 She had to