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You don’t think I’d be with him for the pleasure of his company, do you? I’ve got it. You’re a dancer with a mean sense of rhythm and—.”
    “Warrior.”
    If the lifted eyebrows and open lips were an indication, he’d surprised her. Dominick watched where she sat, her words momentarily halted. Then something changed. Her face took on a blank look as she regarded him silently. It didn’t last.
    “Warrior? Oh, please. Let’s just pretend that occupation didn’t disappear with what? The Trojan Wars? Roman conquests? Oh! I get it. You’re a Special Forces kind of dude. That’s what you mean. And you can just stop there.”
    His fingers froze on the knotted tie while he looked across at her.
    “What? I’m supposed to be too stupid to notice you’re setting up a seduction here? Give me a break. No. Give me two of them. Come on, Dominick, say something else. I’m really feeling awkward and nervous over here. And I just told you that keeps me talking. I’m called ‘motor-mouth’ for a reason. Heaven knows what will happen if I get scared.”
    He yanked the drapery tie apart, making the entire bed structure creak. He regarded her through the sheer curtain, blurring the view. She did look a bit scared, with wide eyes, hair that haloed her head, while both hands were clasped at her breast.
    She didn’t know what she asked. If he made any sound, it would contain the raw primitive emotion he was suffering. If she felt nervous now, she’d be in allover fright. He didn’t dare speak. So he kept his steady regard on her, fully and completely. He moved out an arm and lifted the drape, lowered his chin, and called on his skill to mesmerize and enthrall; concentrated to bring on the humming sensation that hypnotized and froze his prey…and got nothing.
    Dominick blinked on the proof before his eyes. He should have known his power wouldn’t work. For centuries now, he’d been able to wield it. But not now. And not with her. If anything, it looked to have the opposite effect. He watched as she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and started breathing shallowly and quickly. The panel could just stay where it was.
    The next moment he was at her side, rocking the mattress with the force of his entry as he gathered her into his arms.
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
    Her words halted, and every thought behind them. He had her pressed against him, held in the curve of his body, while the most amazing vibration emanated from where her nose pressed, right beneath his chin. It spread from there until it encompassed her entire frame, sending her against him in a continual set of surges she hadn’t any control over. Or maybe it was his movements engendering the same response. It was incredible. Stirring. Sending myriad images in lightning progression through her mind, all of them featuring naked, entwined limbs. On this bed.
    Nothing could have prepared her. Especially for what happened next.
    He put a finger beneath her chin, using it to tip her face to his, slanting his head down slightly at that same time. She wasn’t given any choice save to look right into his shadow-enhanced gaze. The result was breath-stealing. Heart-stopping. Enough to stop time and make it cry defeat. Courtney was ensnared. She couldn’t blink. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t think. She didn’t know if she’d be able to take her next breath. Dominick had beautiful eyes of darkest brown. Deep, and bottomless, and sending her senses into overdrive. A flicker happened, coming from the depth of black she stared into. It was snuffed the moment it happened. The resultant shockwave jolting her entire frame wasn’t as easily extinguished. Or endured. And since there wasn’t a particle of air space between them, there wasn’t any way to hide it.
    Except to open her mouth and say something. Anything. Before she dove right into the pit of sensual ecstasy his look promised.
    Words didn’t happen. Dominick lifted her, the same moment he dipped his head, and took