special into my life when my whole world has crumbled around me? Why offer me something that I can never have, something I'm not worthy of, something I didn't dream could ever be mine?
'You're going to wind up getting hurt, one way or another, because of me.' When he saw her take a tentative step forward, he held up a hand to warn her off. 'I can't give you what you want. I'm no good for you, Lizzie. What do I have to say or do to get through to you?'
'I thought we'd settled this argument.' She wanted desperately to run to him, throw her arms around him. She couldn't; he wouldn't accept her. Not now.
'When you go into Newell and meet with Gary Elkins, you're going to be exposed to hundreds of people, maybe thousands. How can you deal with that kind of attack on your mind?'
'It's not as bad as Sam led you to believe.' Elizabeth knew she was trying to convince herself as much as Reece. 'When I went away to college I was only in my teens and I hadn't been able to train my mind to shield itself.'
'Can you shield your mind now?'
'To some extent,' Elizabeth said. 'Every living thing gives off energy. I read the psychic energy people emit. Sometimes that energy is so strong I can't block it.'
'Can you read everybody? Do you pick up on everybody's psychic energy?''
'Almost everyone. Some people shield their minds and their emotions without realizing they're doing it. But no one can shield themselves all the time.'
'You can't read me all the time, can you?'
'No, I can't. You won't admit your true feelings even to yourself. You won't allow anyone to get close to you. You've closed your mind and your heart to others because you're afraid.'
Reece walked toward her, his gaze locked with hers, his amber eyes hypnotizing her the way an animal often does his prey as he moves in for the kill. Elizabeth stood perfectly still-waiting-her heart racing wildly, her breathing shallow and quick. He reached out, circling the back of her neck with his big hand, drawing her forward until her lips were at his throat. She tilted her head, staring up at him, excitement and uncertainty shining in her eyes.
'Why is it that you can read other people so clearly, that you can see into other people's futures, but not mine?'
Tears formed in Elizabeth's eyes. Her bottom lip trembled as she forced herself not to cry. 'I told you that I can't read your future because our futures are entwined, and I have always refused to look into my own future. You see, Reece, I have my own fears.'
He brought her face closer to his, their lips almost touching. 'You can get inside my head, Lizzie. You've done it before. I heard you calling my name when I was at the motel and you were trying to find me. I told you where I was and how to get there, didn't I? And I realize now that all those months I stayed in jail, before and during the trial, I kept getting these odd feelings that someone was trying to talk to me, to comfort me, to let me know I wasn't alone. I thought I'd been caged for so long I was going crazy.'
Tears escaped from Elizabeth's eyes, falling like life-giving raindrops. Reece kissed her eyes, kissed her tears, tasting her heart's blood. Dear God in heaven, forgive me, he thought, but I can't be strong any longer. I can't walk away from this precious gift. I'm only human.
'What am I thinking, Elizabeth?'
Sweet, tingling warmth spread through her, quickly turning to hot excitement. Desire poured from Reece's, mind, desire so intense she felt it in every cell of her body. She shivered from the power of his thoughts.
'You... you want to make love to me.' Elizabeth trembled, her body softening, her legs weakening. She swayed into Reece. He covered her mouth with his, taking her with tender fury. Wanting as he had never wanted in his life. Hungry for love. Desperate to claim this woman as his own.
Reece lifted her into his arms, his lips caressing her throat. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Elizabeth gave herself up to the moment, to the destiny neither of them could deny.
Carrying her into the cottage, Reece held her close, secure in his arms, as he marched straight through the living room. He kicked open the partially closed bedroom door. Elizabeth tightened her hold around his neck, a sudden sense of fear mingling with the anticipation she felt.
Reece was going to make love to her. Now!
He lowered her slowly onto the old iron bed, laying her on top of the crocheted lace bedspread. With her arms still around his neck, she beckoned him downward. He spread his legs, placing his knees on each side of her hips, towering above her, gazing down into her flushed face.
Elizabeth had never known true desire before, had never wanted a man with desperate, mindless passion. Removing his coat, Reece threw it on the floor. Her feelings frightened her, making her wonder if she was prepared to give herself to Reece, to not only abandon her body, but to place her heart and soul into his safekeeping. By his own admission, he was not a man who knew much about love. Would he use her and then discard her after she'd served her purpose?
Elizabeth looked into his eyes, focusing, trying to connect with his mind. She perceived a need and a longing so incredibly intense that her own mind reeled from the power. Whatever else Reece felt was overshadowed by his masculine need to possess, to take, to dominate.
Elizabeth's hand trembled when she reached up to touch his face. 'I'm afraid, Reece. I'm so afraid.'
No! his mind screamed. Don't be afraid of me. Don't deny me. Not now. I'll die if you don't let me love you.
Shuddering from head to toe, Elizabeth blinked back tears. Dear God, she'd heard his thoughts!
'I'm not going to deny you anything,' she told him. 'Not now or ever. I want you to make love to me. I want to become yours. But... I haven't... this is my first...'
Circling her wrists, Reece lifted her hands from around his neck and lowered them to the pillow resting above her head. She trembled, her body arching up against his.
'I want to take you right now. Hard and fast.' Reece rubbed his arousal into her aching femininity. 'I hurt with wanting you, Elizabeth.'
Desire, fear, love and uncertainty swirled around inside her. She nodded her head in understanding, giving him permission to do with her as he would.
Tightening his hold around her wrists, he lowered his head to her breasts, nuzzling her through her sweater. When her nipples beaded, he bit them through the heavy cotton material.
'I could do anything I wanted to do to you and you couldn't stop me.' Reece stared down at her, his face void of emotion. 'I'm bigger than you. Stronger than you. And folks around here will tell you that I can be a mean son of a bitch. You have every reason to be afraid of me.'
Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, only a gasping breath.
He released her hands. 'But I don't want you to be afraid of me. I want you to believe me when I tell you that I'd never hurt you. I'd never do anything you didn't want me to do.'
She did believe him. She knew in her heart of hearts that Reece Landry would never harm her, that despite all the pain and bitterness inside him, he wanted and needed the love only she could give him.
'I trust you,' she said.
He groaned, covering her body with his, burying his face in her neck. 'Ah, Lizzie, I want to wait, to take my time, to make it good for you, but I don't know if I can. I'm close to losing it right now.'
'It's all right, Reece. We have all night, don't we? The first time won't be the best for me, anyway, will it? So let me do the giving this time and you do the taking. Then next time, you give to me. You can-'
He covered her lips with a hot, hungry kiss, his body moving urgently against hers. She felt his hands at her breasts, kneading her through her sweater, then lifting the garment with great haste. Trying to help him, she rose up enough to accommodate the removal of her sweater. His mouth descended, taking one nipple, sucking, savoring, tormenting, while he pinched at the other nipple with his fingertips. Elizabeth moaned into his mouth, writhing as a savage warmth unfolded deep within her.
While Reece fought with the zipper on her jeans, Elizabeth unbuttoned his shirt, spreading it away from his body. She ran her hands over his chest, loving the feel of his springy chest hair, his tight male nipples, his hard muscles, his hot flesh.
Reece brought her zipper down, then tugged on her jeans until he pulled them over her hips and down her legs. He tossed them on the floor. He removed her panties with such haste that he ripped the thin cotton lace.
