〃You're　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　couldn't　bear　any　more；　when　he　released　her　and　whipped　the　sweater

over　his　head。　Her　hands　were　all　over　him；　then。　She　couldn't　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　wasn't　enough；　just

wasn't　enough。　〃Please？〃

〃Do　you　know　what　you're　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　wasn't　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；