relived。 She was intoxicated。
When he groaned and crushed her to him; she understood the feeling。 It
was a statement of a shared primal need。 Ross held something for her
that no other man had begun to offer。 She was driven by instinct closer;
closer to him。
At some point; soft bells of warning sounded。 She didnt know if it was
when his hand slipped from her cheek to her throat; or when his fingers
began to knead her breast; or when his palm turned to her nipple。 She
only knew of a tug between some relic of the past that clamored for
recognition; and the quickly coiling knot of need deep inside。
She fought that past by nurturing the need。 Hands locked at the back of
his neck; she closed her eyes; let her head fall back; and sought the
mindlessness of sensual pleasure。 Her lips parted; her breathing was
short。 But she needed more。 Against her better judgment; against those
tiny warning bells; she grew bolder。 Bowing her head; bracing it against
his chin; she was curved now; offering him an entrance he hadnt had
before。
Small explosions of delight flared through her when he slid his hand
into her dress。 Surrounded; her breast was warm; full; and straining
against his hand。 His thumb and forefinger met at a nipple; driving her
higher。 Did reason exist? At that instant she knew of only one road to
satisfaction。
〃e upstairs with me;〃 Ross said in a voice thick with need。 〃Let me
love you。 Its been so long; princess。〃
Princess。 It struck her that he had done the same thing she hadformed an
image and held it through the years。 In his mind she was still one step
removed from royalty。 But not in hers。
She strained away from his hands。 〃Please stop; I cant do this。〃
Aroused still and upset with herself; she trembled。
〃Cant?〃 he challenged hoarsely。
〃Wont;〃 she amended as she clutched at threads of posure。 Eleven
years ago she hadnt refused him。 Her virginity had never had a chance。
But things were different now。 She was different。
〃Why not; Chloe?〃
She heard hurt; but it didnt make her relent。 〃I wish I could explain。〃
〃Why cant you? Ive seen that pained look in your eyes。 At those
moments…at this moment…you do look unhappy。 Is it something about me?
Something about what happened eleven years ago?〃
For all of those eleven long years; Chloe had hidden a world of inner