the way you kissed me. I want to lay with you. Make love with you."
"Make love? Make love?" He spread his arms out. "Bella... all I've got to offer you is fucking. You won't like it, and frankly I won't like doing it to you. You're so much better than that."
"I felt your lips on mine. They were gentle-"
"Oh, please-"
"Shut up and let me finish!"
Z's mouth dropped open, sure as if she'd booted him in the ass. No one ever took that tone of voice with him.
The anomaly alone would have gotten his attention, but the fact that it was her stunned him out.
Bella pushed her hair over her shoulder. "If you don't want to be with me, fine. Just say so. But don't hide behind wanting to protect me. You think I don't know the sex would be rough with you?"
"Is that why you want it?" he asked in a dead voice. "You think you only deserve to be hurt now, after the lesser?"
She frowned. "Not at all. But if that's the only way I can have you, then that's how I'll take you."
He ran his hand back and forth over his skull trim, hoping the friction might get his brain to work.
"I think you're confused." He looked down at the floor. "You have no idea what you're saying right now."
"You arrogant bastard," she snapped.
Z's head shot up. Well, that was slap in the ass number two... "Excuse me?"
"Do us both a favor and don't try to think for me, okay? Because you're going to get it wrong every damn time." With that, she marched into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Zsadist blinked a couple of times. What the hell just happened?
He looked around the room as if the furniture or maybe the drapes could help him out. Then his acute hearing tuned in to a quiet sound. She was... crying.
With a curse he went over to the bathroom. He didn't knock, just turned the knob and went inside. She was standing next to the shower, arms crossed, tears pooling in her sapphire eyes.
Oh... God. What was a male supposed to do in this situation?
"I'm sorry," he muttered. "If I... uh, hurt your feelings or something."
She glared at him. "I'm not hurt. I'm pissed off and sexually frustrated."
His head snapped back on his spine. Well... then. Okaaaaay.
Man, he was going to need a neck brace after this conversation.
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J R Ward: Lover Awakened
"I'll say it again, Zsadist. If you're not into laying with me, that's okay, but do not try to tell me I don't know what I want."
Z planted his palms on his hip bones and looked down at the marble tile. Don't say a thing, asshole. Just keep your mouth-
"It's not that," he blurted. As the words floated out into the air, he cursed himself. Talking was bad. Talking was a real piss-poor idea...
"It's not what? You mean you want me?"
He thought of the it that was still trying to claw a way out of his pants. She had eyes. She could see the damn thing. "You know I do."
"So if I'm willing to take it... hard..." She paused, and he had a feeling she was blushing. "Then why can't we be together?"
His breath shortened until his lungs burned and his heart pounded. He felt as if he were looking over the edge of a ravine. Good Lord, he wasn't actually going to tell her? Was he?
His stomach rolled as the words came out. "She was always on top. The Mistress. When she... came to me, she was always on top. You, uh, you rolled over onto my chest and... yeah, that doesn't work for me."
He rubbed his face, as much to try to hide from her as to relieve the headache he suddenly had.
He heard breath being exhaled. Realized it was hers.
"Zsadist, I'm so sorry. I didn't know-"
"Yeah... fuck... maybe you can forget I said that." God, he needed to get away from her before that mouth of his got flapping again. "Look, I'm going to-"
"What did she do to you?" Bella's voice was thin as a hair.
He shot her a hard look. Oh, not likely, he thought.
She took a step toward him. "Zsadist, did she... have you against your will?"
He turned away. "I'm going to the gym. I'll see you later."
"Wait-"
"Later, Bella. I can't... do this."
On his way out, he grabbed his Nikes and his MP3 player.
A good, long run was just what he needed right now. A long... run. So what if it got