But I was lying to myself.
It was barely ten seconds before I melted. He pressed me against the wall, his hands holding me firmly against him. He was hard again. I felt my body responding even as my anger at his deception grew.
"Stop!"
He lifted his head as I pushed him away. He was hard as stone, completely unmovable. He didn't step away, but he did stop kissing me.
We stared into each other's eyes for a moment then he cursed, dragging me into a nearby room. The library. A welcoming sofa sat in front of a gas fireplace. The walls were lined with books. There were comfortable chairs scattered through out the room.
He let go of my arm and shut the door behind him, locking it.
Then he turned to face me.
"Francesca."
I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling exposed and vulnerable. He smiled at me charmingly. But I didn't want to be charmed.
"I thought you were the type to appreciate a good joke."
"I don't find this at all amusing."
I lifted my head, looking at anything but him. The way he was looking at me was unnerving. He didn't just look lustful. He looked utterly possessive.
As if I belonged to him somehow.
And I belonged to no man.
Not anymore.
Never again.
I forced myself to sound cool, even though he was doing crazy things to my body. Crazy, dangerous things. Just with his eyes.
"What do you want, Daniel?"
"I think you know what I want."
I straightened my back and walked towards the door.
"There will not be a repeat performance of this afternoon."
He blocked my way, putting his hand against the door.
"Oh yes, there will be."
I stared at him, mustering every bit of arrogance I could. It came to me easily on most days. But today I was at a loss. I could not match the determined look in his eyes. He was so certain he would have me.
But he would not. He could not. I would never open myself to that sort of thing again. I would never make the mistake of falling in love.
Especially with a man of my own class.
They were the most dangerous of all.
Used to getting what they wanted. Self centered. Greedy.
"Daniel."
He cursed, staring at me. Then he stepped aside. I knew he wouldn't force me. He might kiss me without my permission but beyond that, he was a gentleman. I knew it in my bones.
I was shaking as I left the room. I hadn't expected desire to overwhelm my anger at him. But somehow, it had.
Desire was for weaklings.
Love was for weaklings.
I was not a weakling. Not anymore.
I stepped into my room and locked the door behind me as the truth started to sink in. This arrangement would not work for me. But I could not resist him if I continued to live under the same roof. I couldn’t lie to myself about that.
I had to leave. Even if it looked bad. Even if I was leaving my precious Athena without my guardianship. I knew that despite my feelings of anger and betrayal, I would fall into bed with him if he approached me again. And he was certain to do that. Again and again...
My resolve was nothing against the pure heat of Daniel Delancey.
Chapter Nine
Daniel
I stared at my empty glass, reaching again for the bottle of bourbon I'd brought up to my room. I'd drank half of it already but I wasn’t drunk enough yet. Not even close. I was giving it my best effort, though.
I didn't know what the hell was wrong with me.
I had women now and then. Whenever the urge struck it was quickly taken care of and I would move on to the more important things in life. There were so many women willing and eager to share my bed. But I didn't get involved. Inevitably they would try to lure me into a relationship.
I had sworn off women when I was just a teenager. Caring about someone that much hurt too much. So I never even bothered. No one had ever tempted me before though. Not since Savanah.
I was a love them and leave them type. All the way. Worse than my brothers were, even though I was nicer about it.
But it still didn’t go over too well.
I did my best to be firm but kind about it. Thank you, but no thank you. If they cried, I left immediately. There was nothing I hated more than being manipulated. I could always sense it and it made me lose respect for them.
Francesca had offered me no strings sex. Just the way I liked it. She hadn't been coy or clinging. Just the opposite. But then she'd blown my mind with her beauty and fire.
I'd never met a woman like her. I doubted there was another woman like her on Earth. Maybe not since Cleopatra.
I laughed bitterly. Now I was comparing a woman I'd just met to Cleopatra. I really must be drunk.