Read 2. Come Be My Love for Free Online Page B

intensity of the moment. Perhaps this man couldn't talk about his feelings. He might even verbally deny them, but he couldn't hide them completely.
    She responded with wholehearted enthusiasm, enjoying the sensation of feeling the surge of power in his heavy shoulder and chest muscles as he held her against him so tightly. Her hands explored the contours of his shoulders and back, wordlessly encouraging him.
    Greg pulled away slightly and looked at the small young woman in his arms. Had he lost his mind? What in the hell did he think he was doing? He'd always taken pride in his ability to control himself, and yet... and yet now he seemed to have lost all restraint, all the rational and reasoning processes inside him that he'd come to rely on all these years.
    This tiny wisp of a woman seemed to have reduced all his thinking processes to a quivering mass of mush. She lay in his arms with a slight smile on her face, her eyes closed. Her lips were moist and rosy from his earlier possession of them. His mouth unconsciously sought hers once more.
    The sudden crackling of the wood in the fireplace several minutes later jerked Greg's thoughts away from Brandi. The loud noise in the otherwise quiet room grabbed his attention. He looked around, forcing himself to regain his self-control.
    Brandi was lost to the sensation of the moment. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that anyone could affect her in such a way. No wonder so many of her college friends had advocated sexual exploration with their enthusiastic boyfriends.
    How could she have possibly missed such a marvelous experience before now?
    Greg loosened his hold around her and carefully moved away from what he considered a dangerous and explosive situation. He got up and checked the fire, then walked over and looked out at the moonlit, snow-blanketed night.
    "You'd better go on upstairs, Brandi," he said without turning around. "It's late."
    "I'm going to sleep down here."
    Still without turning around, he said, "No, you're not."
    "But the sofa isn't long enough for you."
    He finally glanced at her over his shoulder. "I'll be fine. I'll see you in the morning."
    "But Greg-"
    "Let's not debate the issue, Brandi. I'm afraid I'm not in the mood."
    Gone was the passionate man who had held her so closely, kissed her so thoroughly and made her feel as though she were soaring high above the universe. In his place was the arrogant lawyer she had met the night before. Hadn't what they had just shared meant anything to him?
    "If you're sure—" she began softly.
    "I'm sure."
    She walked over to the bottom of the stairs. "I'll get you some blankets and a pillow."
    "Thank you."
    "Good night, Greg."
    "Good night, Brandi."
    He waited without turning until he heard her moving overhead. Greg realized that he was shaking. He couldn't believe what had almost happened. He'd lost all control over the situation with a woman who obviously trusted him not to take advantage of their isolation from the rest of the world.
    He'd never been affected so strongly by anyone before, not even Penny. How could that be? Penny had taught him everything he knew about loving and caring. So how could he feel such an intense need for Brandi that he was willing to forget all his scruples in his almost uncontrollable desire to make her his.
    He'd only meant to hold and comfort her, to reassure her, but as soon as he'd been near her he'd wanted so much more. What a laugh. He, of all people, knew there was nothing more, nothing except disillusionment.
    Greg turned and watched Brandi bring blankets and a pillow down the steps. He met her at the bottom of the stairs and took them from her.
    "Thanks," he said in a cool tone.
    Brandi's bewilderment at his sudden change of mood slowly turned to pain. ''You're welcome," she managed to say before turning and slowly walking up the steps again.
    What an inscrutable man, she thought. She was surprised by how quickly she'd allowed him to get close to her, both physically