dictate to me. I’ll do what I damn well please.'
'Your declaration of tenderness is amazing.'
'Do you think I don’t know it’s not fair to you? But you want it. You told me you wanted it. Have you changed your mind?'
'Hell, no.' His lips firmed. 'But this isn’t what I had in mind.”
“It’s not what I had in mind either. But I won’t have him—' Christ what was she doing? This was Joe. Where were all her good intentions? Tears were suddenly running down her cheeks. 'I’m sorry. Forget it. I don’t know what I was thinking. Hell, I wasn’t thinking. I was only feeling. Try to forgive me. I must have gone a little crazy. He made me so damn—'
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The digital phone rang.
'Don’t answer it. It’s him. I hung up on him and he keeps calling back.”
“Turn off the phone.'
'Then he’d know he’d won.”
“Are you sure it’s him?'
'It’s Dom. I upset him. He wasn’t getting what he wanted from me.' She picked up the ringing phone and stuffed it in her purse. 'He expected more of a payoff from that doll.' She handed it to him. 'You might as well give it to Spiro, see if he can get anything from it or trace it.'
'I’ll do that.' His gaze narrowed on her face. 'Are you okay?”
“Other than going temporarily insane, I’m in great shape,' she said jerkily. She turned on her heel. 'I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.'
'Yes.'
The phone had stopped ringing by the time she had showered and gotten into bed. Maybe he’d given up. Thank God he didn’t know the damage he’d almost done.
No, that she’d almost done. She had to accept responsibility for her own actions. Anger and frustration were only excuses.
She reached over and turned out the light. 'You shouldn’t have done that. I wanted to see you.'
Joe was standing in the doorway, a dark figure silhouetted by the light in the hall. An unmistakably naked figure.
'No,' she whispered.
'Too late.' He came toward her. 'I’ve been invited.”
“I told you I’d made a mistake. I said I was sorry.'
'I’m not. You caught me off guard down there and hurt my ego. But once I had time to sort things out, I realized that opportunity was knocking.'
'I didn’t want to hurt your ego,' she said unevenly. 'I don’t want to hurt you at all, Joe. That’s why this can’t happen.'
'You want it to happen.'
'No.'
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'Dom may have triggered it, but it must have been on your mind or it wouldn’t have occurred to you.'
'Of course I’ve been thinking about it. You made sure of that. I’m human, dammit.'
'And I mean to make the most of it. It’s been a night of revelations. You actually said you wanted to live. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say that.' He lifted the blanket. 'Scoot over. I’m coming in.'
His naked thigh touched hers.
She moved over. 'It’s a mistake, Joe.' His hand covered her breast. 'Never.' She couldn’t breathe. 'Please.'
His hand was between her thighs. 'Do you know I’ve never really kissed you?' She arched upward as his thumb found her. 'You’re not kissing me now.”
“I’ll get around to it. I’ll get around to everyth— My God, you’re ready for me. I thought I’d have to—'
Her digital phone rang. Joe muttered a curse.
She whispered, 'Turn it off.'
He started to get off the bed and then stopped. 'No.' He moved back over her. 'I promise you won’t hear it soon.'
She cried out as he plunged deep within her. The phone was ringing.
He moved fast, hard. The phone…
He lifted her, crushing her to him as he moved deeper, faster. Was the phone still ringing?
