For a long moment, she tried to come up with a reasonable explanation. But he knew! Honesty was the only option. “Yes,” she finally admitted.
Pepper had anticipated anger because the expensive jacket really was a rumpled mess. Instead, he tossed the jacket over a chair, and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his hard, muscular chest.
“Pepper!” he groaned, one of his hands diving into her hair.
For a long moment, she allowed herself the luxury of being in his arms, of feeling his strength, and that incredible warmth, breathing in the wonderful, masculine scent of him.
But slowly, because that aching burn was starting to sneak into her body, she pulled away and backed up several steps.
“I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see you again.”
Dimitri watched her, stifling the urge to pull her back into his arms. She was right, it was better that they talk first, sex afterward.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back,” he admitted honestly. He registered the hurt in her eyes and muttered an expletive in Greek under his breath. Running a hand through his hair, he turned and started pacing. “Pepper, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, looking down and he felt like the sunshine had gone behind a cloud now that he couldn’t see the bright blue of her eyes. “No, you’re right. I appreciate your honesty.” She pressed her lips together and moved around the table. “It might be best if we just…went our separate ways.”
He shook his head. “No, that’s not going to happen.”
Was that a light of hope in those incredible eyes now? He hoped so! “I’ll admit, I was angry last night. But that was the anger of a coward, Pepper. I’m not a coward.”
Her lips curled up into a slight smile and the ache in his chest eased. “I’m so happy to see you again. But…”
“But?” he prompted.
“Well, I think we should talk and get to know each other. If we’re going to continue to see each other, then I need to know you. I need to understand you better.”
He didn’t like that idea. Not one little bit! This woman was already under his skin, damn it! He didn’t want to get to know her, to understand what made her tick, what lit up her blue eyes with that intensity and seemingly unending hope! He wanted to pull her over to that bed and have wild sex with her until he worked her out of his system!
He wanted to drench himself so completely in her that he could finally walk away and get his life back under control!
“I mean,” she continued, “last night, you were so angry with me. And I just sat there, terrified and beating myself up, wanting to sooth your temper, but I wasn’t sure how.”
Her words were…damn! He loved the idea of her trying to soothe his temper. Just as much as he wanted to pull her into his arms and ease the fears he saw in her eyes now!
“Pepper, we’re going to…”
“I think we should not touch each other. I think we should just…meet in public places and talk to each other until we are both comfortable with each other’s company. Because right now, when we touch each other, it gets out of control. We discovered that two nights ago and last night proved it.”
He laughed, but the sound was harsh. “No, Pepper. That’s not what we’re going to do.”
“We’re not?” she asked warily, her blue eyes huge with suspicion and a tinge of sadness.
He chuckled when her shoulders hunched, as if she were bracing herself for battle.
Dimitri shook his head, walking towards her slowly, with determination in his eyes. “No. I’m going to carry you over to that bed. I’m going to make love to you very slowly and thoroughly. We’re going to have sex until we don’t want to have sex anymore.”
She swallowed hard and he knew that he’d won their standoff.
“No,” she whispered, lifting her chin. “I don’t want that!”
He stopped. His mind, his body, his whole sense of being stopped, frozen in place with her words. “No?” he repeated. No one had ever said no to him before. He could barely even breathe! “You don’t want me?”
Her mouth fell open and she stepped forward slightly, then stopped herself. “Yes!” she gasped. “Absolutely! I want you so much that I can’t function!” she told him. “I think about you all day long!” Her hands flew to her hair. “You’re driving me crazy, Dimitri!” She glared up at him accusingly. “Apparently, I walked into work tables and tumbled over bolts of fabric today! And what’s worse?” she demanded, her anger really picking up steam now. “I didn’t even notice! I was in a haze of unsatisfied lust all day today and it’s your fault!” she yelled furiously, pointing her finger at him for emphasis.
“My fault?”
“Yes!” Her eyes were narrowed with anger now. “Your fault!” Throwing her hands in the air, she huffed with abrupt fury! “I’m not used to this! I told you that last night and you got angry with me! You were such an ass last night! Like a small toddler who didn’t get his way! And you hurt my feelings!”
Her anger completely dissipated his own and he could feel himself relaxing. Until she called him a toddler, that is. “Wait just a damn minute…!” he started.
“No!” she snapped, slicing her hand through the air. “No, I’m not going to wait! I waited all day today, assuming that I’d done something wrong and that I’d never see you again.” She swung around, her glorious hair swinging with her to rest over one shoulder.
Dimitri stared at her, his mind echoing with her words. A part of him wanted to argue about her description of him acting like a toddler. But a bigger part of him wanted…to laugh.
The laughter won out and he threw back his head, shocked that such a tiny slip of a woman would call him out so perfectly.
He moved closer, pulling her into his arms as he continued to laugh, then buried his face against her hair. “You’re right, Pepper,” he finally admitted. “I’m sorry. I apologize for how I acted last night.”
He took her hand, leading her over to the sofa, which was…for the first time, he realized that her sofa was a bright, purple velvet. He grunted slightly, astonished at the color, but finally sat down, pulling her down beside him. He wanted her on his lap, but she slid onto the cushion next to him and last night flashed into his mind. Smiling, he remembered when she’d been on his lap last night and nodded with agreement.
“You’re right about last night. And I’m really sorry,” he repeated, shifting so that he could look at her. She’d turned slightly, bringing her leg up so that she was nearly facing him. His hand moved to her hair simply because he couldn’t seem to stop touching her.
“You’re sorry?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “I was an ass. And I’m sorry. I wasn’t angry, so much as in pain from wanting you so badly. I wanted to bury myself in your body and find solace in release. I was out of control last night.” He chuckled as he watched her cheeks turn pink at his blunt language. “So you want no touching and lots of talking.” He paused while she nodded, slowly as if she wasn’t quite sure. Or perhaps her agreement was because she wasn’t sure how he’d react.