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Lifting her from the crib, Rachel cuddled Amber close to her heart, reached out and stroked the tiny strands of red-gold hair from her brow.
The soft blue dress and little stockings she wore had been bought by Jonas. The clothes, tiny shoes, everything Amber now possessed had been provided for by Jonas. Everything Rachel now owned, Jonas had given her. He provided everything. And he did so without demanding payment. Without asking for the slightest thing in return.
Had anyone besides her sister ever done that?
"You were born to be a mother."
Jonas was behind her again. She had felt him before he spoke, and that amazed her.
"You don't make sense to me, Jonas," she whispered. "What are you trying to do to me?"
"Complete you. Protect you." His voice deepened as it speared through her heart.
Rachel kissed Amber's forehead gently, smiled as the baby pursed her lips as though to kiss her back, then laid her back amid the incredibly soft blankets that covered the mattress.
Turning to Jonas, she passed him, moved back into the office and felt his presence as he followed.
"I have to return to D.C. tonight," he told her as she moved back to her desk.
"Running away?" She stopped at her chair and turned back to face him. "Isn't that what you accused me of, Jonas?"
"My running is the only thing that will save you," he informed her, his voice turning to ice once more. "Never doubt that, Rachel. If I stay here tonight, I won't have the control not to take you. Now get everything ready--"
"No." Adrenaline raced through her as though she were facing losing something, someone. Jonas would be back, she knew he would, but something inside her couldn't bear to see him go.
Reaching out, she gripped his arm and held on tight. "You wouldn't let me run, you won't let me hide. Why should you be able to?"
"Because of this." His finger touched the mark he had left on her: the small scratch his incisors had left on her neck. "I drew blood, and for a second, love, I nearly licked over the wound. Do you know what would have happened, what I would have done to you, had I done that?"
She shook her head as she fought to control the pain that tried to twist her expression.
"The mating hormone would have infected the wound. Within hours, it would have moved into your system. A few more hours and you would be begging me to fuck you. Screaming for it. That's what's going to happen if I stay."
Rachel jerked away from him. Raking her fingers through her hair, she fought to make sense of her emotions, her needs, her confusion.
What was he doing to her?
She remembered, so many years ago, seeing his face on a news interview. She had watched his eyes, the swirl of color, and had felt her heart clench. Over the years, nothing had changed. Each time she saw a glimpse of him in the news, she had watched, absorbed by the sight.
Meeting him had produced a stronger reaction. It hadn't been simple attraction. It hadn't been mere interest or even absorption. From that first face-to-face meeting, Jonas had inspired emotions inside her that she hadn't wanted to face.
"Rachel." His voice rasped across her senses as he moved behind her.
His hands gripped her hips, held her to him as he laid his cheek against the top of her head.
"I don't sleep because I can do nothing but hunger for you," he whispered. "I smell your scent, heavy with arousal, and it burns inside me. I see you and I want nothing more than to taste you, every inch of you. I'm a strong man, baby, but I'm not that strong."
His hands stroked up her side, moved around, cupped her breasts.
She breathed in sharply and arched into his touch.
"I sat in that office, fighting for control, and the scent of you drew me back. Do you know I can smell the wet heat of your pussy clear into that fucking room? All I can think about is spreading your legs." His fingers found her nipples, stroked them, gripped them between fingers and thumbs before rolling them firmly.
Her head fell back against his chest as her back arched in pleasure.
"I can't keep my hands off you."
Did she want him to keep his hands off her?
