LITMIR.BIZ

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the desk. Then he dragged his lips away from hers and started to unbutton her blouse.

      She wanted him so much that she couldn’t stop him, but deep inside there was another emotion swirling with desire, and that was fear: fear because she wanted him too much. She didn’t want to need any man, let alone someone as unsuitable as Alexi. She didn’t want to be just used for sex and discarded!

      ‘We shouldn’t do this,’ she whispered as he unfastened her jeans.

      ‘Why not?’ His hands slid over the narrow curve of her waist, then stroked down lower over the flat plane of her stomach.

      ‘Because it’s just sex.’ She forced herself to say the words. ‘It means nothing,’ she whispered fiercely. ‘Nothing.’

      His dark eyes blazed into hers for a second. ‘It doesn’t have to mean something to be addictive. We both know that.’

      The words shouldn’t have hurt her … but they did. ‘We should stop!’ she whispered softly. ‘Before this goes too far!’

      The tremulous words made him pull back from her slightly, made him try to contain his need. But it was like trying to pull back from the force of gravity. It took all his control.

      What kind of game was she playing? he wondered suddenly. Was she just a teasing little witch who knew how she affected him and played it for all it was worth? Well, no woman would ever have control over him like that again! The furious fire of need glimmered white-hot inside him now. He was taking control; he would decide when this was finished … not her.

      ‘But that’s not really what you want, is it, Katie?’ he grated. ‘You’d hate me to stop, because you want this …’ As he spoke his hand moved lower, pushing the flimsy pants she wore to one side and finding the core of her with an unerring accuracy that made her body tingle with pleasure.

      He was right; she didn’t want him to stop. She closed her eyes as a wave of ecstasy shot through her. How did he know how to do that? How could he pleasure her with just the lightest touch …?

      Then he stopped and her eyes flicked open. Her need for him was hungry and clear.

      ‘But perhaps you’re right; now is not the moment.’ He pulled back completely.

      Her heart was hammering wildly against her chest. She wanted to beg him to continue now; the ache inside her was unbearable.

      For a moment they just stared at each other. Alexi smiled as he watched how she was battling with herself now. He badly wanted to have sex with her, and he knew he could just take her now …

      But he wasn’t going to. Because only her total acquiescence would satisfy him. He wanted her completely, not just now but for as long as it took for him to satisfy himself of her.

      And hunger was a wonderful driving force, he told himself vehemently. He was going to starve her now—and later they would feast. On his terms.

      He watched how her hands trembled as she started to fasten her jeans, button up her blouse. ‘We’ve tested the theory,’ he said smoothly. ‘We still want each other, and later we’ll decide how we are going to let the chemistry play out between us. Maybe on board the Octavia.’

      His sheer, confident gall lashed through her. ‘It’s not going to happen. Alexi! I want you to keep away from me!’

      He laughed at that, and the sound tormented her senses. Because, although she tried to tell herself that she was glad he had stopped, deep down she still couldn’t get rid of this awful yearning. And he was obviously well aware of the fact.

      ‘I mean it, Alexi,’ she continued fiercely. ‘I want more from a relationship than you will ever be able to give!’

      She saw the sudden wariness in the darkness of his eyes, and it would have amused her if it hadn’t hurt so much. ‘And don’t worry,’ she assured him fervently. ‘You’d be the last person I would choose for a committed relationship. I have no designs on you whatsoever. So just keep away from me! We’ve had our fling—it’s over.’

      ‘Well, you better tell that to your body,’ he said with a wry twist of his lips. ‘Tell that to your lips when they kiss me, and to your eyes when they look at me with open invitation.’

      ‘I’m telling it to you now!’

      She pushed past him, and with her head held high left the room. But for all her outward composure she was shaking inside. Because the truth was she still wanted him.

      How could she be so weak? After all the sensible thoughts, after everything she’d been through, how could she allow herself to feel like this?

      CHAPTER FIVE

      IN THE moments between sleep and wakefulness the first thing Katie thought about was Alexi … and how much she missed having him in her life. It was a familiar feeling—something she had woken with most mornings since their split—but she had hoped the pain was easing recently. Now it seemed worse than ever.

      She sighed and rolled over, stretching out to the cold space next to her in the warm cocoon of Egyptian cotton. She couldn’t remember where she was. She could see a patch of blue sky through the window opposite, and sunlight was pouring in across the pristine-white carpets and bedding.

      Then she woke up and reality came rushing back in a whoosh: the job, the long flight, the fact that she was here in Alexi’s apartment and, after all her strong words and determination not to fall back under his spell, that kiss, that same familiar, deep longing …

      Her heart thudded viciously against her chest as she remembered the moment—remembered the conversation—remembered that look in Alexi’s eyes when she’d told him she wasn’t interested in a casual affair. Wariness and unease had definitely flickered through the darkness of his gaze. Not surprising, given his commitment-phobic attitude.

      She cringed. At least she had salvaged the situation and what was left of her pride by assuring him that she didn’t want a serious relationship with him.

      And that was true, she told herself fiercely. She didn’t want to get involved with someone who would tire of her when the novelty of the passion they shared died. It would be a disaster. The sensible side of her knew that—the trouble was the passionate side of her nature was crying out for his caresses, his kisses.

      This must be what it felt like to be a drug addict, she thought morosely. She knew Alexi was bad for her yet she still craved him.

      She stared up at the ceiling, willing the feelings to go away. They were crazy and illogical.

      OK, he was good at kissing, at making love, but she didn’t really want him. It was her body playing tricks on her mind, reminding her how good things had been between them and avoiding the fact that he was everything she didn’t want in a man.

      She looked at her watch. It was almost eight! She’d slept for longer than she’d intended, amazing considering how wound up she’d been when she’d got into bed.

      Flinging the sheets back, she reached for her short blue robe. As there was no en suite bathroom in her room she’d wanted to get up as early as possible so that she could shower and get back to her bedroom before Alexi woke up. Now she was on the last minute and risked bumping into him in the corridor.

      She crossed to the door and listened. There was no sound in the apartment, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t up. Deciding to make a dash for it, she picked up her cosmetic bag, opened the door and hurried out.

      Unfortunately Alexi was coming down the corridor at the same moment and she almost ran straight into him.

      ‘Morning, Katie.’ He smiled at her and immediately her stomach tied into knots.

      ‘Morning.’ She wanted to keep on walking, but he seemed to dominate the corridor so she hung back.

      Unlike her he was fully dressed. She noted how stylish he looked in the pale linen suit and light-blue shirt. She also noticed

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