Oath Of Seduction: Seducing Sharon

He cut her off. “You want to talk of love and respect?” He gave a cynical laugh. “Perhaps we should begin by speaking of trust.”

Her voice rose. “Maybe we should. I trusted you, you bastard!”

Suddenly, she realized Liken was not as calm as she had assumed. He was sitting on the sofa, but the hand resting on the arm was gripping it so hard his knuckles were white. It was the only warning she had of his real state, before he burst into motion.

He sprang from the couch and grabbed her by the arms. She looked up into his face and saw pure fury. He shouted, “You know nothing of trust!”

She felt the dam burst open and white-hot fury broke free. “I know you were kissing that redhead and enjoying it! I know you have feelings for her! I know I feel like a fool and it’s your fault! I know you’re an asshole! Take your hands off of me!”

His face went white. “I will touch you whenever I like. I will do whatever I like! I am your pactmate!”

“And she’s your lover!” The accusation rang in the silence of the room.

He shook her until her teeth rattled, then abruptly let her go. Taking a step back, he said flatly, “I am her link.”

The words took a moment to register. As he stared at her in furious silence, she echoed, “Her link?”

He gave one swift nod. “Yes, her link. Her name is Elana and she has been pledged to my friend, Revka, for over three years now.”

“But you love her…and you were kissing her…” Her anger was fading into confusion.

He told her grimly, “I do not love her, at least not in the sense you mean. I am her link. I care for her as Tair cares for you.”

Suddenly, the little scene with Tair outside the house took on a new meaning. His words ran through her mind again.“I am your link. You did not greet me. Remember this…”

“Are you saying she was greeting you, that you’ve never had sex with her?” She couldn’t keep the doubt from her voice.

He looked exasperated. “Yes, she was greeting me. As for sex with her, it was on one occasion during the initial link.”

When Sharon would have responded, he lifted an eyebrow and said, “Not everyone is as uncomfortable with the thought of a threesome. The linking process is different depending on the participants.”

Sharon felt the color rise in her face. Her heart picked up speed as she suddenly focused on something he said earlier. “You don’t love her.”

She nearly sagged with relief. He wasn’t in love with the redhead. The truth in his voice had been obvious. She believed him.

She thought of Liken’s lack of jealousy regarding her actions with Tair. Shimerian culture was very different from Earth. The linking partners shared intimacy but it was not considered a threat or a betrayal. She felt the last of her anger die. Embarrassment and sorrow rose up in its place.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She felt guilty as she considered what had happened from Liken’s point of view. She hadn’t trusted him, hadn’t even let him explain. Her hurt and anger had been too great.

He nodded stiffly. “You could not know. You did not wait for an explanation.”

The accusation in his voice was easy to hear, but she could feel anger radiating from him without it. Underneath the anger was a layer of hurt. She had hurt him. She was surprised at how much her distrust had hurt him. She stepped forward and placed a tentative hand on his chest. “Liken, I really am sorry. I couldn’t think, I was just so hurt and angry.” She thought she detected a slight relaxation of his tense shoulders at the sincerity in her voice.

He sighed, and his face lost some of its grimness. “You have no cause for jealousy, Sharon.” He sounded tired now. “Why were you at the office today?”

Sharon swallowed. Here was the tough part. Her emotions felt raw. She had been on a roller coaster of feeling today, and she was worn out by the experience. “I wanted to talk to you.” She wasn’t going to chicken out, but she needed a moment to work up her nerve. His hurt was proof he loved her, at least a little. She had to take the risk and be honest.

He continued to stare at her in silence. Sharon tilted her head back further to get a better look at his eyes. He looked impatient. Taking a deep breath, she let it out in a rush. “I came to the office because I wanted to tell you that I love you. I want to stay. I’ll pledge with you.”

He looked like she had hit him on the head with a shovel. When he continued to stare at her, dumbfounded, she felt her nerves leap. “I mean, if you want me to stay. I…”

He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed the rest of her words right out of her. His voice boomed next to her ear. “How could you think I would not want you to stay?”

The pressure in her chest lightened. He really wanted her to stay. He hadn’t said he loved her, but it was a beginning. She leaned back and peered up at him. “I’m sorry, but I’ve been so confused. When I saw you kissing her, I just…”

He gave her a hard look. “Yes, I know what you thought.” Some of the warmth left his face. “Yet, as always, you were so very controlled. You did not stay and demand answers. You did not make a scene. You might have lost your precious control.”

The accusation hurt. “You have no idea how I felt…”

“No, I do not. How could I? You left.” His hands came up to her shoulders. She could feel a new tension in him. “Tell me,sherree, what would happen if you gave up that control of yours. Why does it frighten you so much? Would it be so terrible?”

Unease spread through her body. Where was he going with his comments? “I don’t know.”

He shook his head. “I think you do. I think you cannot trust enough to give that much of yourself. You say you love me, but do you trust me enough to truly lose all control with me? To show me yourself?”

He was scaring her, but she was honest enough to admit he could be right. The safe thing to do would be to take a step back from him and end this discussion now. She wasn’t going to do it. She was through playing it safe. “I don’t know, but I’ll try.”

His smile held a cruel edge. She knew he wasn’t going to make it easy for her, not when she had hurt him so badly this morning. “Then we shall see.”

Liken turned from her, not wanting her to see the hope on his face. Would she really give him her trust? Thoughts of her dark fantasies flashed through his mind. Walking across the room, he sat down on the couch. “Remove your clothing. Now.” His voice was firm, as if he expected some resistance.

She felt a shimmer of nerves. To her embarrassment, she could feel a growing arousal at his tone. He was going to try to take control and dominate her sexually, she knew. It went against her every feminist principle, but the thought didn’t stop the warmth spreading through her. She wanted him. Even more, she wanted him like this.

Taking a deep breath, she brought her hands to her blouse and drew it over her head. She tossed it to the floor. She could feel his heated eyes watching her every movement. Her nipples tightened under his gaze. She bent down and hurriedly began to take off the skirt.

His voice was cool and distant, a direct contrast to the heat in his eyes. “Turn around. Take it off slowly.”

She turned around and began sliding the skirt over her hips. She was left only in her skimpy panties, facing away from him. She turned around to see his face.

“I did not tell you to turn around,sherree, did I?” He sounded angry.

She shook her head. “I just wanted…”

His smile made her nerves jump again. “I know what you want. I have been inside that mind of yours, remember? You have quite an interesting fantasy life. I believe it is time for us to explore some of those dark little secrets.” He motioned her forward. “Come to me.”

As she walked across the room, she was acutely aware of her exposed body. At the mention of her fantasies, a dark thrill had gone through her. She could feel herself blushing. Stopping in front of him, she waited for his next move.

“So willing,sherree. I am impressed.” His voice was faintly mocking. He grew serious again. “Lay facedown across my lap.”

No, she wasn’t going to do it. She could feel the moistness between her thighs and was mortified. She was not