Disclaimer: Not mine. Blah blah blah. [insert witty remark here]
By Zeus she was spectacular! She was all that he’d expected of her, and tantalizingly more. He’d made her laugh several times. The sound of it had been husky and sexy and pleasant at the same time. He could get used to hearing the sound for all eternity.
However, she was resisting the attraction, which he knew she felt, he’d worked the enchantment over her carefully and powerfully. He could hear it working in her quickening heartbeat, the way her eyes would drag over him slowly, the shallowing of her breath at times. But he didn’t mind the resistance; in fact he admired her all the more for it. He loved the chase, and he could tell she could easily be caught, so long as he played it all correctly.
The walk to her car was infinitely too short, as he soon found himself loading his share of the shopping bags in the trunk of her sporty little red car. Absently he checked for the model and brand. Ford Mustang. Not bad. The vehicle suited her, sleek and sexy and powerful. He leaned against the side of the car watching her as she loaded her share of the bags in the trunk and slammed it shut, walking around him, keys out so she could unlock the door.
“Thanks fer the help,” she said as she turned the key, the lock popping up. “Ah do ‘preciate it.”
“My pleasure.” Before she could open the door he moved smoothly around her so he could box her in against the car. She turned as well, not willing to leave her back to him. Wise girl, smart move, but ultimately useless. He moved close enough that she was forced to lean her weight back against the car, his hands braced on either side of her to keep her there. He leaned in, moving in for a kiss. He almost made it too, but he felt the slight pressure of her hands on his chest.
“No.” Her voice was soft, husky. She wanted it, but when he looked into those deep rich green eyes of hers he saw the flickering of panic. It made his heart alternately melt and clench to see that fear in her eyes. But still, he had to play this out.
“You sure?” He pressed his body against hers; let his hips brush against her thighs, letting her know that he wanted her. He felt her breath catch; her body go rigid in an effort to stifle the slight trembling that ran through her. And still the pressure on his chest remained firm.
“Yeah, Ah’m sure.”
“As you wish,” he smiled softly and moved back a step, taking his hands away. He saw her release the breath she’d been holding as she stood straight. He reached around her smoothly and opened the door for her. “May I at least know the name of such a charming and radiant goddess?”
She eyed him warily for a moment. Then she slipped inside the car and yanked the door shut. The engine started with a vicious roar, not unlike a lion warning off an invader. Then the window came down and those green eyes were lifted to him again.
“It’s Rogue.”
“Gorgeous.” He smiled brilliantly as she blushed, a smile of her own creeping over her lips. He sighed in satisfaction as she gunned the engine so that the tires screeched and sped off out of the parking lot. His eye followed her until she disappeared from view. “Absolutely gorgeous.”
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Rogue had to keep reminding herself to slow down as she drove home. The last thing she wanted was to get pulled over. What would she say to the officer? Ah’m sorry ‘bout speedin’ officer. Ah’m sufferin’ from a case of intense sexual agony. Oh yeah, that’d go over well.
But by God it was the truth! She felt so hot she thought she might burst into flame at any moment. She could still feel the imprint of his body on hers, how he’d surrounded her so completely. And that part of him he’d rubbed against her thigh! God she’d wanted to jump on him right there in the parking lot! Which had scared her to death.
Yeah that was part of it too. He’d scared her. He’d tried to kiss her, which had set off all sorts of alarms, but she hadn’t shoved him away like she should have. She shouldn’t have let him box her in in the first place, but she had. If she were honest with herself she’d admit that liked it, and on some base animal level had craved it. Craved for that sensual mouth on hers. Craved for that perfect male body to be pressed against hers. And because she’d craved it, she’d said no.
She had refused because it was wrong. She felt guilty. In her heart she was committed to Remy. Or she thought she was. Her conscience burned her insides. That small allowance she’d given to Apollo was a big betrayal against Remy. She loved Remy. They connected in ways that no one could understand but themselves. Many times, when she’d mused on their relationship, she’d come to the conclusion that they were very likely soulmates. So much had passed between them and still they were together.
“An’ no shiny golden god’s gonna change that.” She said it out loud because she needed to hear it. It let her anger come out and battle back the lingering arousal. Anger she could deal with better. She could wrap her brain around it easier. So she worked herself up into a nice rage, all directed at the handsome interloper named Apollo.
Even her car made an angry growl as she pulled into the Mansion garage and shut it off. She managed to keep the fury burning bright while she unloaded her trunk and made her way inside and up to her room. She fanned the angry flame while she changed into a black body suit and sneakers, and headed to the gym. Then she let the nicely bottled up rage out on the workout equipment, getting so involved that she lost track of time.
She was wailing away on a punching bag, specially made to take her punches, when she was finally brought back to reality by a voice behind her.
“I can’t imagine what that punchin’ bag did t’ya, chere, but I think it’s learned its lesson.”
She turned around to see Remy leaning in the doorway. The sight of him always seemed to knock the wind out of her lungs. How could he look so good in just a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt? His hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, leaving his sinfully handsome face unframed.
It was probably just because the blood was pumping so hard through her veins from the workout, but she couldn’t help but feel that he was likely the most devastatingly good-looking man she’d ever met. No golden god could hold a candle to Remy’s dark sexy features.
“Ah didn’ hear ya c’min.” She picked up a towel and began to pat the fine sheen of sweat from her face, neck and chest.
“I noticed. I’ve been standin’ here a good twenty minutes. An’ ev’n then it looked like you been at it for a while,” he said it with a teasing smile, which broadened, she was sure, when he saw her eyes go wider.
“Jesus, how long’ve Ah been in here?” She looked up at the clock on the wall, did the math. She’d been there for a good three hours. She plowed a hand through her sweat dampened hair. “Dang. Ah must’ve been way outta it.”
“Must’ve been. I came t’get you for dinner,” he gave her a smile that told her she could interpret that however she liked as he slowly looked her over with those intense eyes of his.
“Ah gotta get a shower.” She slung her towel over her shoulder and started for the girl’s locker room.
“Can I watch?” she heard the soft purr of his voice behind her, and the barely there sound of his footsteps as he followed after her.
She laughed softly. But she didn’t say ‘no’.
