She had to gather her courage to say, "But you do want me"
His expression turned wry. "I'm breathing, aren't I?" he asked.
Whew. Okay, then. Now they were making progress. "Then react a little" she said. She grabbed him by his upper arms and tried to shake him. Of course he didn't move.
"I don't want to hurt you" he said. "I don't want you to regret any —"
She reached up and covered his mouth with her fingers. "I don't have any regrets" she said. "I want this. I want you. Just for a few minutes, I want to forget everything that is happening"
She felt the battle of wills within him. Would the man win or the warrior? She waited until the tension in the room made it difficult to breathe. Finally, she decided it was going to be a long, lonely day.
She stepped away from him. "All right. I get the message" she said softly. "Thanks for all your help"
He nodded, he wanted t
"Asher? Where are you? There's somebody in the house," she said, hearing the quaver in her voice."It's me." he said."But—what are you doing?" she asked clearly confused."Sitting on the living room sofa," he answered, the simple sentence sounding provocative.She stared down the hall, still unable to see him. "If you're in the living room, why are you calling me?" she asked."Ermmm, sometimes people can communicate better on the phone than they can in person." he said.She felt the air whoosh out of her lungs."Are we having trouble communicating?" she asked. She asked."Well, there are things I want to say to you. That I wish I had said to you. But I find my tongue getting all twisted up," he said.She'd had similar feelings. "You do?" she whispered."
He laughed again. She loved that laugh. It was yummy. Like hot fudge on vanilla ice cream. But she wasn't going to make another mistake and tell him that. A part of her wanted to go slow this time, in case he suddenly decided that what they were doing was wrong.It didn't feel wrong one bit. She hoped he realized that too.He was right. Talking on the phone unleashed her inhibitions in a way she might have found shocking, if she'd had time to be shocked."Are you wearing the T-shirt and shorts you put on this morning?" he asked suddenly."Yes. Why?" she asked."I want to picture you as accurately as I can. You said you were aroused. Are your nipples standing up? If I were there in the bedroom with you, could I see them through your T-shirt?""T-shirt and bra!" She said. She looked down and saw the twin points outlined by the soft fabric. The bra did nothing to hide
He spoke low, urgent words in her ear. "Sweetheart, don't keep anything back from me, I'm greedy. I want everything you're willing to give me.""I…" she started again. "Peach? I don't know. I never thought about it.""Are they very sensitive right now?"She swallowed. "Yes.""So tell me what feels good.""Please, Asher, I can't." Kimberly said."Of course you can." he said."So what would you like me to do to those pretty peach nipples? Circle each of them with one finger? Would that make them harder? Tighter? Needier?"She answered with a little moan."Now that they're harder, do you want me to take them between my thumbs and fingers? Pull on them? Squeeze? How hard should I squeeze?""Some…" she managed to say."Do it for me." he said.
Was he just having some fun with her? It certainly hadn't sounded that way. It had sounded like he'd been totally involved in what they were doing. It sounded like he'd enjoyed himself as much as she had. But she knew that men were perfectly capable of taking advantage of women... Everyone was capable of doing that actually.Could Asher Adams be that kind of guy?She didn't think so. But there was no way to be sure—except by getting to know him better. And he'd just made that a whole lot harder.On the other hand, she knew he was inviting her to come out of the bedroom when the rich aroma of fresh-brewed coffee drifted down the hall and wafted under the door.She dragged in a deep breath. He'd put on a pot of some blend that smelled very, very good. Getting up, she walked stiffly to the bathroom and ran a comb through her hair. Telling herself she couldn't hide forever, she walked slowly down the hall to the k
"We might be here a little longer. I should go back to your house to get more of your things.""Oh, right. I wasn't thinking about that." Kimberly said. "Tomorrow." he said. When she pulled out her chair and sat down, some of the tightness in his chest eased."And I should question you some more." he said. Her head jerked up. "About what?""I don't get why they keep coming back for you" he said. "Their plan failed, why do they keep coming back for you? It has to be someone who knows you. Someone who knows your dad is loaded...Maybe someone with a plan..maybe some kind of grudge. I don't know. You have to think hard, is there anyone you suspect?" She turned her coffee mug in her hands. "You want me to dredge up every little thing? Well, one time at the grocery store a man and I both wanted the same space, and he shook his fist at me." she said sarcastically. "Come on" Asher said. "Be serious" "I am being serious" Kimberly replied. "The truth is that I have no idea who this people
She moved so fast, Asher barely had time to brace himself for her weight. Not that she weighed anything at all. She was soft and sweet and she smelled so incredibly inviting--like a woman aroused. Like feminine heat and excitement.Her brushed-cotton gown tangled around his legs when he turned and pinned her beneath him. He felt her body sigh into his, her slim legs parting, her pelvis arching up. In the next instant, her hands cupped his face and she kissed him. It wasn't a gentle kiss. She ate at his mouth, hungry and anxious and needy.So many feelings swamped him. Lust, of course, since Kimberly always inspired that base craving, even when she wasn't intent on seducing him. And need, a need he didn't like acknowledging, but one that was so powerful, so all-consuming, he couldn't minimize it as anything less than what it was.But first and foremost was tenderness, laced with a touch of relief that he wouldn't have to pull b
Her breasts were still heaving and her heartbeat thundered against his chest. Asher placed one last gentle kiss on her open mouth, then lifted himself away to reach for his pants. He fumbled in the pockets until he found his wallet and located a condom. When he turned back to Kimberly, he saw her watching him, her dark eyes so wide they filled her face. Her bottom lip trembled as she slowly drew in uneven breaths. Damp curls framed her face and her expression was wary.She was probably a bit embarrassed by her unrestrained display. He didn't have time to soothe her, though. He needed to be inside her, right now, feeling her body clasped tight around his erection just as it had clasped his fingers. With the help of the moonlight, he could see her pale belly and still-open thighs.He bent and pressed his mouth to her moist female flesh, breathing in her scent and his need for her overwhelmed him. His tongue flicked out, stroking her, ras
Kimberly woke a little after ten and wasn't surprised to find herself alone. Even if she and Asher hadn't gotten to sleep until almost four in the morning, he wasn't the type to stay in bed past dawn."Big ol' tough guy" she said with a yawn as she got out of bed and prepared to start what was left of her day.As she showered, she stretched her muscles that were mildly sore from the unaccustomed activity. Pain or not, she felt great. Whole, which was odd considering she had never felt anything was missing.Asher was an interesting man. Tender in bed... which she wouldn't have expected, but still tough. Just like the last time they had been together. He had held her through the night. Every time she had awakened, he had been right there, his arms around her.She told herself that it didn't mean anything. That it couldn't mean anything. They hadn't know each other long enough for it to mean anything. Y
He took her hand in his and squeezed her fingers. "Kimberly, are you telling the truth? Do you really love me? Because if you don't, I can't make it. You are my world. This is killing me"She leaned forward and pulled him close. Then he was on the bed and they were kissing as if they had a lifetime to make up for."Of course I love you" she wispererd as she pressed her mouth against his lips, his cheeks, his chin. "I have been calling every week, trying to tell you""I know. James recorded the calls and forwarded them to me. I couldn't stand listening to them and I couldn't stop playing them over and over. I needed it all to me true, even as I told myself it couldn't be""Stubborn man" she said contentedly. "Do you believe me now?""I have to. I need to be with you" he touched her face. "I believe you. I love, Kimberly. I don't deserve you and you can do a hell of a lot bette
It was nearly nine when she picked up her phone to make her weekly call to James. She had gotten in the habit of calling him at night, so that when they finished she could curl up in bed and pretend that Asher had heard every word. That he cared about her and that it was killing him to be so far away from her.At what point did she let go? She wondered. Asher had been concerned that her feelings weren't real, that they were only circumstances. How could she prove otherwise to a man who refused to speak with her or see her? Was he really trying to give her space he thought she needed or did he not care about her? Was her love one sided?Six months, she told herself. She would give him the six months he had offered her. On that date, she would call for the last time. She would also tell James about the baby. She had hoped to tell Asher herself, but if he refused to talk to her, there was little she could do."But that is n
He stepped back and studied her, then rubbed his thumb against her cheek. "My beautiful baby girl. What did he do to you?" he asked.She covered her hand with his. "Not so much as you would think" she replied."But what he did to you. I can't believe that he kidnapped you. Yet it's all true. He is in jail, you know. As are the people who worked for him."Kimberly led the way to the sofa and set next to her father. "It's a lot to take in" she said."Too much. He fooled us all" His mouth twisted. "I'm so sorry you tried to explain to me on the phone and I wasn't listening." He pulled her close. "I will never forgive myself for that""You can't blame yourself, dad" Kimberly said. "He was your close friend, for God knows how long. I understand if you couldn't believe it at first"Her father grimaced. "That's still not enough reason. I just hope you know just how sorry I am a
"Asher, I...." she began.He pressed his fingers to her mouth. "Don't say anything, Kimberly. You don't have to""Yes, I do" Kimberly said. "You saved me... Again. Not just from Christopher. But you showed me that I was tough and capable""You always knew that. You always have been" Asher replied."Maybe, but I never had to prove it before" She shrugged. "I shot you""Good for you. You did what you had to in order to survive.. To save your father""Oh right. I ran straight to the enemy""You didn't know that. The point is you needed to escape from me and you did" he said.His casual acceptance of her actions made her heart sick. "I should have trusted you""We have been over that" he leaned close and kissed her forehead. "The reality of all this is you haven't even known me for long. In a dangerous situation, everything is heightene
"I will get you, you bitch!" Christopher screamed at Kimberly. His face turned red and his eyes seemed to bug out. "This is all your fault. I will get you, and when I do, I will make you wish you were dead. You hear me?"The last of her reserves faded. At that moment, Kimberly couldn't take one more thing. She felt weak. She handed the phone to Asher."Talk to my dad. Maybe you can make him understand. He's not listening to me" she said.Then she grabbed for a chair as her legs gave out and she fainted.------------------------Kimberly finished packing her clothes. She had already put her laptop in it's case and cleared out the bathroom. There wasn't all that much left to do, which meant she had no excuse to linger. But she desperately wanted to see Asher before she left.James had said something about him dropping by, but he hadn't been specific. Kimberly had a feeling that if she
She was living on borrowed time, as well but somehow that mattered less. If he killed her this second, she would have only two regrets. First, that she wouldn't be around to help those adorable kids anymore, and second, that Asher would always believe that she hadn't trusted him or cared for him at all.----------------------------Kimberly rode the elevator in silence, then stepped out in the elegant foyer and asked for Damon Forbes."I'm sorry" the lady they spoke to told her. "Mr Forbes is on vacation. Did you have an appointment?"Kimberly turned to Christopher. "Did you make an appointment?" she asked him.He nodded. "Paul Nelson is handling the transaction""Then Mr Nelson" Kimberly said."Of course. I will tell him you are here" she waited politely for their names.Christopher put his arm around Kimbe
"You bastard" Kimberly said. "He thought you were his friend. He trusted you. Why would you do something like this to him?"He ignored her questions. "I want you to change your clothes" he said as he walked back to the door. "You will have to eat too. No fainting. In fact, nothing out of the ordinary"She waited, knowing he was finally going to tell her what this was all about. And then, before he could speak, she understood."You need money." she breathed. "You were after the ransom money from my kidnap. Only that plan didn't work out so well for you""Smart girl" Christopher said grinning."You could have just asked for help" Kimberly said. "You didn't have to do all this""Shut up" he shouted. "I don't have to explain my actions to you. That's the thing with you and your father. Feeling and acting like gods. Now, I decided to go another way. We
Kimberly drank some water from the faucet and returned to the bed. Asher would probably have recovered from the sedative, but that wasn't going to be much help to her. Sure, he could trace her to the hospital, but then what?Alex was probably going to kill after getting what he wanted from her. She accepted that. If not today, then soon. The thought of death scared her, but that really made her want to pound her hands against the walls and scream was the thought that Asher would never know she was sorry to have misjudged him. He would live the rest of her life aware that in the heat of the moment, she hadn't trusted him."I was a fool" she whispered into the silence. "I should have trusted him. I should have remembered that that Alex would do anything to lure me out. I should have known you were on my side"Worse, she should have listened to her heart. Over the past couple of days, she had been feeling things for A
The shot was quieter than she would have thought. The sedative struck him in the upper left part of his chest, close to his shoulder. Her eyes flickered open then closed. She waited five seconds before shaking him."Asher" she yelled. "Can you hear me?"He didn't budge. She dropped the gun onto the floor and ran for the garage.She was nearly halfway across the cement floor before the computerized voice warned her that she had violated her authorized perimeter. The shrill siren began as she started the car engine. She started to back out before the garage doors had fully opened, and there was an ugly scraping sound, barely audible over the pulsing alarm.Kimberly turned on the lights of the car and drove down the street. Not long now, she told herself over and over again in a litany of prayer. I will be there, daddy. Just hang on for meTears threatened, but she willed them away.