'Is that my fault?' Natalie felt as if she was choking. From gentle, coaxing kisses he had turned into a cold, clinical interrogator.
'He'd ditch her tomorrow if he could have you back.' He watched her intently. 'Can he have you back; Natalie?'
'Well, he can have me back tonight to help with tomorrow's interview!' She stood and gathered her little bag, moving to the veranda before he could stop her. He was there immediately but he did not need to take any action. As she reached the veranda the heavens seemed to open with no warning at all. Rain came in a deluge, thunder rolled like a gigantic drum, lightning crackled across the black sky and she stopped in her tracks, a small sound of alarm in her throat.
'Even the gods are against you,' Kip said drily behind her. 'They're no more prepared to let you go than I am.'
She turned in bewilderment to look at him. He was outlined against the light, tall, powerful and thrilling. Tears sprang into her eyes and she bit down on her lip, shaking her head in a small gesture of despair when his hands came to her shoulders. '
'What am I, Natalie?' he asked harshly. 'A consolation prize? I never have been willing to be second choice in anything.'
'There's no choice,' she whispered shakily. 'Neil and I, we just work together.'
'And fight. What is that about, frustration? His or yours?'
Suddenly she went mad, lashing out at him in a flare of loving and hating that tore into her.
'You don't know me! What do you know about me? Nothing!' Her fists began to pummel his broad chest and he just let her go on, keeping her locked inside the circle of his arms as she wore herself out. 'Am I to blame because he's tired of Paula? I hate men—all men! I hate you!'
He bent his head and cut off the unhappy rage, taking her mouth so violently that her breath threatened to stop. There was anger and frustration in both of them and a rising excitement that made her legs go weak. He ravaged her mouth, his hands on her body anything but gentle. He was angry. She could feel it surging through him but, all the same, she was where she wanted to be and the bitterness died inside her as swiftly as it had come.
She softened against him, not fighting any more, and he felt the surrender ripple through her. His harsh grip eased, the fierce tension in his body changing from anger to desire, but there was still a sort of thrilling tyranny, a demand for submission. His arms were like iron, every muscle taut, and the hand that gripped her head, holding it up to his, was a cradle of steel.
'Kip!' She tore her lips away, scared and excited, trembling, tremors running through her voice, but he grasped her head, forcing her back to him, his mouth open over hers.
'Be still!' It was a harsh command, his eyes glittering down at her. 'I've no desire at all to hurt you.'
'I don't care.' Her lips brushed his and he stiffened at her whispered confession.
'Little fool! There are more ways than one of devouring you.'
Suddenly he was gentle, her shivering body folded in his arms, his hand soothing her nape beneath the heavy, long hair. A few feet beyond them, outside, the shelter of the veranda, the rain fell in a torrent, as if it would never stop, and she wished it would rain forever, trapping her here with Kip, trapping him in her life.
When he lifted her and walked inside, slamming the door closed behind them, she saw nothing of the room. A weight seemed to be on her eyelids, her lashes brushing her tinted cheeks, and he looked down at her with harsh, masculine desire. Slender, her body no burden at all to his strength, she lay in his arms like a vivid flower, her shimmering golden dress, her long black hair that cascaded over his arm adding a radiance to her that was unreal. Black and gold as he had first seen her, a mixture of fragility and defiance, anger and submission, she was now completely lost, unable and unwilling to fight him.
His eyes narrowed over her face as he slid her to the floor in his bedroom. Suddenly she looked like a beautiful sacrifice, but the drive to own her was unquenchable. At this moment she was in his bloodstream and she would have to beg him to let her go. He wanted her with an intensity he had never felt before.
Natalie was not begging. As his arms left her, she swayed towards him, resting against the strength of his chest, and he cupped her face with warm hands, making her meet his eyes.