Seductive Stranger

She certainly didn't notice the big, black car which flashed past her several miles from the farm—or rather, she didn't notice it until it did a sudden U-turn in the middle of the road, scaring the life out of Prue when she found herself heading straight for the other vehicle at about seventy miles an hour.

She slammed on the brakes, her tyres screamed, her car zigzagged all over the road, completely out of control, ending up off the road on a grassy verge.

Prue was thrown forward over the wheel and lay there, winded for a moment, too shattered to be aware of anything.

The driver of the black car got out and ran to open her door, she dimly felt his hands unbuckle her seat- belt, and stirred, lifting her head.

'Josh!' She hadn't

recognised the other car or known who was driving it. Shock made her shake violently.

He didn't answer; he was too busy dragging her out of her car as if she was a limp doll. His hands brushed across her shirt and to her horror she felt her nipples hardening; her breasts swelling under her thin shirt. She was appalled by her own fierce reactions, and angrily turned on him. 'What the hell did you think you were doing, making a U-turn on a main road? This is the second time you've had a damn good try at killing me! Last time you blamed David—what's your excuse this time?'

'I had to stop you.'

She looked at him incredulously. 'You . . . are you saying you meant to make me crash? You're crazier than I thought! What if my brakes had failed? What if I hadn't been able to stop in time?'

'I would have reversed out of the way before you hit me,' he said, his hand an iron bracelet around her wrist.

'I've a good mind to call the police and have you charged with dangerous driving!' she fumed, trying to break free. 'I should have had you charged last time. Next time you may kill me, you reckless madman!'

Josh thrust her into his car and leaned down to say tersely, 'Last time it was Henley's fault and you know it. That was a stupid accident; this was deliberate, I just got the idea from him.' He slammed the door on her and she reached for the handle in a hurry, but Josh was faster. He got into the driver's seat and yanked her hands down.

'Keep still or I'll slap you!'

'You wouldn't dare!' she raged childishly.

His mouth curled. 'Try me.'

Prue looked into the glittering dark eyes and decided not to put him to the test.

He smiled derisively. 'Very wise!'

Prue's teeth met; she looked at him with hostility.

'Please let me out of here!' she demanded. 'I'm on my way to London.'

'I thought you might be on your way somewhere,' Josh said, his voice hard. 'That's why I stopped you. You aren't going.'

'You told me to go!' snapped Prue. 'Just a couple of hours ago you told me to go back to Australia.'

He looked at her in silence, his mouth twisting and his dark eyes intent, then sighed.

'I didn't mean it—you must know I didn't, Prue. I lost my temper and said the first thing that came into my head. I'm sorry.'

She was afraid to soften, because any weakness towards him could be catastrophic, so she just scowled.

'Well, I'm going; anyway,' she muttered, looking down, her lashes cloaking her disturbed eyes. When he looked at her like that it made her stomach clench and her body grow languid with desire, but she mustn't let him get to her. She had to get away from him before he realised just how badly she wanted him.

'Don't,' he whispered, and moved before she had notice of his intention. His lips skated over her throat and she shivered helplessly.

'Don't do that!' Her voice sounded shaky even to her own ears, and Josh wouldn't miss the uneven note in it.

He didn't stop kissing her neck, either. He was breathing rapidly, his hands moving in a soft exploration of her imprisoned body, cupping her breasts in the thin shirt, his fingers stroking, fondling; and although she tried to fight him off, Prue inwardly ached with frustration. Her own need was growing like a forest fire; she wanted to touch him, too, to give in to the hunger she felt. It was a relief when he lifted his head again.

She spat fury at him, hoping she was convincing. 'Get your hands off me!'

She saw him flinch, his eyes as black as hell, the bones of his face tightly constricted. 'You aren't still hankering after that fool who dumped you to run off with my sister?' he bit out, glaring back. 'Don't waste your time on him, Prue, he doesn't love you, he never did!'