I dreaded, craved and hungered for what was coming next.
"C'mere," he said, the word a seductive whisper.
Remain strong! my inner Tigress cried.
Where have you been? I mentally shouted at her. Everything about Royce, from the look on his face to the way his body leaned forward as if poised to attack, was a guarantee he planned to kiss me senseless. Again.
I might hate myself later, but I couldn't allow it. Our first (shatteringly exquisite) kiss had been our last. He was too sexy, too potent, and he wanted too much from me. More than that, I wanted him too much.
"I can't," I said, trying to impress upon my sex-starved body the importance of those words. "Besides, you don't have time. Your meeting, remember?"
"Yes, you can," he said, his voice a throaty, heady murmur that seduced me. Lured me. "And I'll always make time for this."
So will I, I thought, my lids lowering to half-mast.
What are you doing? my inner Tigress snapped. Think about the consequences of your actions. Triple Cs are trouble. Pure trouble.
My body said: I don't care. Kiss Royce. Pleeeease.
Royce clicked under his tongue. "If you won't come to me, I'll come to you." He rose. Before taking the steps that brought us together, however, he strode to the door and clicked the lock in place.
Uh-oh. I gulped.
My mind and body continued their war, and I didn't know what to do. Well, I knew what I should do. It was just a matter of doing it, of getting my ass out of the office and away from Royce.
"I gave you plenty of time to run," he said, stalking toward me. "Yet here you remain."
My eyes followed his every movement with horrified fascination and, seconds later, he was in front of me, reaching down and clasping my hands. In one gentle tug, he pulled me to my feet. Even now, I didn't try to escape, didn't utter a protest, but kept my hands cradled in his.
Leap out the window, my inner Tigress cried. You aren't ready to face such a powerful Tiger.
I frowned. I thought a true Tigress never backed down from a fight.
Don't you know anything? When she's in heat, she avoids everything male. Now run!
If only being with him like this didn't feel so right. If only his hands weren't so warm, so callused. Did he work on the planes himself? The thought of him dressed as a mechanic, oil streaking his arms and face... Holy Lord, fantasy overload.
"What type of flowers does your mother like best?" I asked in one last desperate attempt to prevent what I knew-and secretly hoped-was coming. I'd already proven I didn't have the willpower to run. Words were my only hope. "Maybe I'll scatter petals across the floor and tables." And maybe he could have sex with me on those petals. I uttered a nervous laugh. "They'll fragrance the air very nicely."
"Use orchids." His voice became a husky whisper, deep, low, seductive. "I finally figured out what you smell like. Orchids and honeysuckle."
His seduction was melting my resolve, drugging me. Kiss me, I beseeched with my eyes.
Stop that, I commanded them. No beseeching!
"Every time I'm near you, I drown in your scent," he muttered. "But I've told you that, haven't I?"
Lick me.
Shit.
"Did I tell you how sexy your lips are? I can't keep my eyes off them. I want them all over me."
Bite me.
Damn it all to hell.
He nuzzled the side of my cheek with his nose. Nipped with his teeth.
Oh, yeah. He nipped again. Just... like... that.
I sighed, melting. Lust zinged through me, hot and wild. My body trembled, totally and completely winning the battle against my mind. I really, really wanted Royce to kiss me again.
I knew how he affected me, so I knew to guard my emotions. Right? Yes. Right. That meant I could allow myself to kiss him again. Maybe then I could finally get him out of my system and walk away a stronger woman-Tigress-better equipped to resist him later. Right? Yes. Right.
In a hidden corner of my mind, I admitted I'd been waiting for this moment since I had stepped into his office, uncaring of the consequences. He drew me, tempted me.
"You still haven't run," he said softly. His hands slid up my arms, onto my waist and to the small of my back, enfolding me. I sank into him, my chest pressing against his, my legs cradled by his.
His warm breath fanned my cheek until finally his mouth settled over mine. His tongue thrust