e　yourself　tomorrow？〃

The　question　took　her　by　surprise。　She　didn't　want　to　think　about

tomorrow。　Her　eyes　filled　with　the　tears　of　a　deep；　emotional　yearning。

〃I　don't　know　what　I'll　feel　tomorrow；　but　I　know　what　I　want　now。　I

know　what　I　need。〃

〃Why　now？〃　It　was　another　surprise　question。　〃Eleven　years　ago　it　was

rebellion。〃

〃Not　rebellion。〃

〃Then　why？〃　he　asked　more　gently。

She　took　a　deep　breath。　The　scent　of　his　skin　gave　her　strength。　〃Yes；

you　were　different。　The　other　men　we'd　known　had　been　handpicked。　Our

brothers　were　as　fussy　as　our　parents。　But　there　was　more　for　me。　You

were　new。　Refreshing。〃

〃A　challenge？〃

〃Maybe。〃

〃Do　I　challenge　you　now？〃

〃Yes；　but　that's　only　part　of　it。〃　Need　loosened　her　tongue。　〃The　pull

is　there；　just　like　it　was　eleven　years　ago。　Don't　make　me　try　to

explain　it；　because　I　can't。　Lord　only　knows　I　didn't　want　to　feel

anything　for　you！

You　were　the　one　who　showed　up　uninvited；　remember？〃

He　smiled　dryly。　〃So　you've　told　me。〃

〃You　bring　back　memories。　Maybe　what　I　need　is　to　wipe　out　those

memories　with　new　ones。〃

His　smile　turned　wry。　〃You　are　using　me。〃

When　Chloe　pushed　herself　up；　his　hands　fell　away。　She　was　on　her　own；

as　she　had　been　all　those　years。　And　she　knew　what　she　wanted。

〃Yes；　I'm　using　you！　I'm　using　you　to　show　me　that　I　can　feel　and　live。

I'm　using　you　to　help　me　put　the　past　to　rest。　You're　right。　I　have　to

do　that。　But　don't　you　see；〃　she　ended　on　a　note　of　pleading；　〃that

you're　the　only　one　who　can　help　me？〃

For　long　moments；　silence　was　as　thick　in　the　air　as　the　lingering　heat

of　passion。