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them so that she was sprawled beneath him on the mat. Her heart was pounding, he felt it right up against his own as he looked down into her eyes. There was no fear there, not that he’d expected any. More like a question—a why and not a when—and he almost faltered.
    No way was she wondering why he was making a move on her. She was an intelligent and confidentwoman—she knew damned well how sexy she was and that he’d been insanely attracted to her ever since the first day they met. She had to know.
    Just like she had to feel his arousal throbbing fiercely for her now. Her lips parted farther and he thought she was going to say something, a protest maybe, or some smart retort that would shatter this mood. So instead of waiting for the cold water to be splashed on him, Alex plunged, taking her mouth in a kiss guaranteed to warm even the Ice Queen all the way to her toes.

Chapter 5
    I t was officially a lost cause. He wanted this woman, badly. And she, well, she wasn’t putting up much of a fight. In fact, her arms had twined around his neck and her thighs trapped his between them as he deepened the kiss. He could take her right here, in front of the dwindling fire with the snowstorm raging outside. But he wouldn’t.
    This would not be a quick romp or a sudden release of the day’s frustrations. When he took Monica Lakefield he wanted to take his time, to explore every nuance of this intriguing woman. It was going to take all the strength he could muster, but he wasn’t having it any other way.
    So Alex lifted his head slowly, delaying the parting of their lips for as long as possible. Breathing erratically, they stayed in that exact position, both with eyes closed for seconds that seemed to go on forever.
    â€œI won,” she said finally, her warm breath whispering over his face.
    He wondered if she’d deal with this like she’d dealt with the last kiss—speak no evil, etc. Not sure how that thought made him feel, Alex opted for the cool comeback. “That’s why I rewarded you,” he said, opening his eyes to stare down at her.
    She was not amused.
    â€œMy reward’s the bedroom, as I recall the terms of our agreement.” With that statement she used her palms to push at his shoulders, signaling him to get off her.
    He thought about staying; clearly he outweighed her and could overpower her. But that wasn’t his style, either. So instead, he shifted, rolling off her and watching as she quickly stood and rubbed her hands down her thighs. Thighs he’d felt flexing beneath him just seconds ago.
    â€œI’ll put your bags in the hallway,” she said then turned to leave.
    He could have gotten up, stopped her, made her address this attraction between them, but decided against it. He grabbed the plastic mat, doing some kind of folding job before stuffing it into its box. For anything to happen between them, Monica would have to want it; she would have to be on the same page as he was in her wants and desires. No way was he going to force himself on any woman, especially not this one. So tonight he’d sleep on the couch and convince himself that it was as comfortable as that king-size bed in the other room.
    Â 
    Monica hated the night.
    Hated all the shadowed memories it held and replayed for her at will.
    Taking a deep breath, she burrowed deeper under the comforter and closed her eyes, tighter than they had been before. Maybe if her eyes were closed tight the memories couldn’t find their way inside her head. It was childish and probably sounded way beyond crazy, but this was her nightly ritual. All day long—from the time she woke up, usually at five, until the time her workday normally ended, around eight or nine in the evening—she was just fine. Nothing and/or nobody could throw her off her game. But the minute she changed into her nightclothes and sank into bed, the problems began.
    Her past wasn’t an easy one to