Never Gamble with a Caffarelli(28)
Angelique lifted and then rolled her hips. He grimaced as he tried to hold back but then she rolled her pelvis again. She felt the exact moment when his control slipped. He stiffened and then let out a shout, the pumping action of his body triggering another wave of pleasure through her body that travelled all the way to her fingertips and toes.
He slumped over her, burying his head to the side of her neck, his warm breath and stubbly skin a deliciously sensual caress against hers.
Angelique was so used to sparring with him that this new connectedness was faintly disturbing. If he could read her body so well, how well could he read her mind?
She wasn’t used to feeling such powerful sensations during sex. She had never felt that level of desire or need before. She had never orgasmed with a partner before. She’d always pretended and got away with it.
This was so new and exciting. Breathtaking. Tantalising. Addictive.
Dangerous.
Remy finally lifted his head and looked at her. ‘Was that good for you?’
His arrogant confidence made her retort ‘Average.’
His brown eyes glinted as if he knew she was lying. ‘Then maybe I should try and improve my rating.’ He stroked a lazy finger down between her breasts where a tiny slick of sweat had pooled. ‘You’re incredibly beautiful.’
She gave him one of her bored looks. ‘Do you know how many times I’ve heard that?’
His eyes tethered hers; dark, probing, penetrating. ‘Ah, but do you believe it?’
Angelique felt as if he had already cracked open a corner of her mind and was examining the contents with a high-beam searchlight. She put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. ‘I have to get up. I don’t want the condom to leak.’
He got up and dealt with the disposal of the condom while she went in search of her clothes. She felt foolish and somehow sordid, scrabbling about the room, picking up her underwear and redressing while all he had to do was straighten his clothes and zip up his trousers.
Was it somehow indicative of the imbalance of their relationship? She would always be the one who felt naked and exposed while he would only reveal what he wanted her to see.
He was in control.
She wasn’t.
‘Is this yours?’ Remy asked, holding up a diamond pendant swinging on a fine gold chain.
Angelique went to take it off him but he held it just out of her reach. ‘Give it to me.’
His mouth was curved in a sarcastic smile. ‘Where are your manners, mon amour?’
She ground her teeth and flashed him a resentful look. ‘Please.’
‘Not good enough.’ He held the pendant higher as she took another swipe at it. ‘I want to hear you ask nicely.’
She felt a ripple of annoyance course through her, tightening every muscle to snapping point. ‘Give it to me, please.’
His chocolate-brown eyes contained a goading glint. ‘You can do better than that, ma belle. I want to hear you beg.’
Angelique felt the sudden rush of her fury as it unleashed itself from the tight restraints she had spent a lifetime keeping in place.
She would not beg.
She would not plead.
She would not give in to his command like a servant who had no rights. She would scratch his eyes out before she did that.
She flew at him like a dervish, calling him every foul name she could think of. It all came bubbling out like poison—the rage, the hatred, the feeling of impotence, the shame at being under his control when she had worked so hard not be under any man’s control.
He had subdued her sensually.
He had ambushed her.
Disarmed her.
Now he wanted to break her spirit just like her father had done to her mother.
Of course, she was no match for him. He took control of her flailing fists before they could even land a punch. ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ he asked, frowning at her.
Angelique pulled against his iron-like hold. ‘Let go of me, you...you bastard!’
‘Not until you simmer down.’ His tone was calm but implacable. ‘You’re going to hurt yourself carrying on like that. What’s got into you?’
Tears started and burned in her eyes. It was the greatest shame of all to be snivelling like a child in front of him but there was nothing she could do to stop the flow once it had started. She choked back a sob but another one soon followed, and then another, and another until she finally bowed her head and gave in to the storm of weeping. It was lowering to find herself in such a vulnerable state. How could she have let this happen? What was wrong with her? Where was her pride and determination? Had his powerful love-making undone her completely? How would she get herself together again?
Remy released her wrists but he gathered her to him, putting his arms around her so the wall of his body supported her. One of his hands went to the back of her head and gently stroked her hair as she shook with sobs against him. ‘I’ve upset you.’ His voice was very deep and sounded surprised. Perhaps even a little shocked.