Retreat

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An Excerpt From: RETREAT

Copyright ? MARI CARR, 2008

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing,
Inc.

Carly
was quiet as he drove her home from the football game. In fact, she?d been
rather subdued ever since his impetuous kiss in the restaurant. He?d wanted
to talk to her about it, but at the football game she had carved them out a
place in the midst of the faculty section. Surrounded by colleagues didn?t
allow much opportunity for intimate conversation. Unfortunately, the long
game?Lowell won in overtime?gave him too much time to worry about her
response. He?d sensed she was confused and he didn?t blame her. In the
course of a few hours, he?d told her she was beautiful, threatened to spank
her and kissed her public.

She
lived close to the school and they were pulling up in front of her house
before he?d had a chance to speak a word to her.

?Carly.? He turned toward her as she reached for the
door handle of the car.

?Jon,
you don?t have to say anything. I mean it was just a little kiss. Don?t
worry about it.?

??Worry
about it???

?Yeah.
I mean, you?ve been so sweet to me today, but you really didn?t have to kiss
me just to make me feel better about myself.?

?What??
He was perplexed by her comments.

?I
know I?m not exactly what you would call the most self-confident woman in
the world, but I meant what I said about Adam. I?m not hurt by his
decision, so you don?t have to worry that I?m in denial or pining away or
lonely or anything.?

She
thought the kiss was simply to cheer her up? A pity kiss?

She
was still talking and he forced himself to tune back in to her rambling
conversation. ?Suppose I?m just not the kind of woman to evoke that kind of
passion in a man.?

?What??

?I?ve
always been the girl next door, never the fantasy. I?m a tomboy?always have
been. Guys see me as a friend, not a conquest, and there?s nothing wrong
with that. I mean, I think fellas are cool to
hang out with. Much better than women who only ever want to shop and talk
on the phone.?

He
shook his head, certain he hadn?t heard her right. She thought that he
wasn?t attracted to her. That she didn?t ooze passion and sex out of every
pore of her delectable body.

?So
thanks for the nice words and kiss, but you don?t have to worry, I don?t
expect anything more. Nothing?s changed. We?re still friends.?

?The
hell we are!? He realized he was shouting and he spoke with more heat than
he?d intended. She flinched as if he?d hit her. ?Don?t say another word.?
He opened his door and circled the car to open hers. ?Get out.?

She
got out of the car stiffly, clearly unsure how to react to his angry
response. Grabbing her hand, he half led, half dragged her to her front
door, barely keeping himself in check.

?Where?s
your key?? He grabbed it from her when she attempted to hand it over. Her
hands were shaking now but he was too far gone to care. Reilly had lured
the bear out of its den this afternoon and her comments
had poked it into a fury.

Once
he had the front door open, he followed her in, latching it behind them.

Warily,
she turned to him. ?Jon??

He
didn?t reply to the question in her voice. ?Upstairs.?

He was
slightly surprised when she followed his command without refusal. Having
been in her home numerous times, he knew exactly where her bedroom was.
When they reached the top of the stairs, she paused until he placed his
hand on the small of her back and guided her toward her room.

Upon
reaching his destination, he stood in the doorway as she moved away from
him to the center of the room. Obviously she?d had enough time to gather
her wits and she rounded on him, fury evident in her face.

?What
the hell is wrong with you today?? She yanked off her denim jacket and
threw it across the room.

Still
angry, he was itching for a fight. ?I?ll tell you what?s wrong with me.
You!? He pointed a finger at her before divesting himself of his own
leather coat. ?You?re what?s wrong with me, but you know what, Blue Eyes?
I?m about to correct that.?

?I
don?t know what you?re talking about.? She backed away slowly but he
matched her step for step.

?I?m
talking about the fact that you are so fucking blind to your own beauty you
can?t see when a man is attracted to you. That was no goddamn pity kiss and
if you can?t tell the difference, then it?s obvious you need to be taught a
lesson about kissing.?

?Lesson??

He
halted her retreat by grabbing her upper arms and pulling her toward his
chest.

?Lesson.?
His lips descended on hers in a kiss that her insecure mind could never
mistake for pity or friendship. It was an outright possession, an
unreserved claiming. His tongue explored her mouth and his teeth nipped
lightly at her lips as his hands moved up to cup her face, holding her still
for his amorous assault. And an assault is exactly what it was. He gave her
no quarter, no reprieve, no opportunity to misunderstand his meaning this
time. She was not going to be his friend or his girl next door.

She
was going to be his.

?