He walked over to the couch and crouched down in front of her. “What's this about, baby? Why the tears?” He kept his voice tender and soothing. He didn't like to see her tears.
Lori touched a finger to her own cheek and frowned when it came away wet. “I didn't realize I was crying.” She looked at him with her heart in her eyes, and Gideon was lost in her tenderness. “I don't know. I guess it's just ... everything. What you went through as a child.” She laid a soft palm against his cheek. “You must have felt so alone, so isolated. And the way you talk about your mother, you love her very much, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. She was one-of-a-kind. She died of breast cancer two years ago, and I miss her still.” He took her hand in both of his and pressed his lips to her fingertips. “But don't cry for me. It was all a long time ago. I'm an adult now. Thanks to my mom I live a very happy and relatively normal life.” When she started to speak again, he stopped her. “Have I frightened you away yet?"
Her answer was so important to him, and he knew by now he could expect nothing less than complete honesty from her. “I'm not afraid of you, Gideon.” She looked down at her lap. “I'll admit I'm a little uncomfortable."
Gideon attempted to wriggle back into her mind. Like a thief in the night, he wanted to see her innermost feelings. Without warning, Lori jerked away from him and jumped to her feet. She started to do a fast walk, to put distance between them. Between Gideon and her thoughts more likely. Gideon was faster. In a few strides he caught her in one long arm. She landed against him with a thud. He turned her in his arms and growled, “Why are you running?"
"Because you can't seem to stay out of my head!"
"But your thoughts are so delicious, baby."
"You have no right to—"
Gideon stopped her with a kiss, his lips hard and brutal. God, she tasted good. He swung her into his arms and carried her to the couch, then sat down with her on his lap. He was careful to hold her face in place without hurting her as he deepened the kiss. She had no choice but to submit to his will. Trapped against him, he knew Lori could feel his hard length beneath her bottom. He was painfully aroused. He sported a permanent hard on around her. She drove him to his knees with desire. She could have both hands tied behind her back, and he'd still be completely helpless. She was so delicate and fragile, but intelligent and determined. She was the perfect combination.
He coaxed her mouth open and slipped his tongue inside. Lori's whimpers tore at his control. He nipped at her lower lip; the little stinging bites had her moaning and wriggling. Gideon eased up and placed soft kisses over her cheeks and neck. He began caressing her jumpy pulse with his tongue, touching all the places he'd discovered drove her wild; then he suckled, leaving his mark behind.
Gideon lifted his head slowly. Putting a stop to the sensual assault took all his willpower. “Don't walk away from me,” he commanded.
Lori stared up at him, eyes glazed over with desire.
Gideon addressed her again. “Face me head on, sweetheart. Don't run."
"I wasn't running ... exactly,” she pouted.
Gideon smiled with primal satisfaction. Lori wasn't the type to take commands from a man, but teaching her to take them from him was going to be a damn pleasure. “Then what would you call it?"
"Self-preservation. It's annoying when you invade my thoughts."
"I can't say I'll stay out. I like the way you t
hink. The images floating around in that beautiful head turn me on."
"I don't know what to do with you,” Lori complained. “You're entirely too arrogant. I want to smack you and kiss you at the same time."
"How about this. I'll tell you what I know about you, and if I'm wrong, I'll stay out of your head for the rest of the day. Deal?"
She smiled. “I'm all ears. Give it your best shot."
"You're always in control, always the responsible one. It's your mom and sister who are the spontaneous ones. You want someone to take the lead for a change. You'd love to let someone else make the decisions, but you don't trust anyone enough. How am I doing so far?"
She looked away. “Not too bad."
"You're going to learn a few things today, sweetheart. The first of which is that submitting to a lover doesn't make you weak-willed. Just the opposite. It takes a great deal of courage to give someone so much trust. I want to prove you can trust me."
"It's not in me to be submissive. It'll never work."
"What if I said if you don't, I'll punish you?"
He wanted desperately to hear her say it, to hear the words from her mouth. She was such a controlling woman, always striving for order, but she was tired of order. She wanted to be messy, to let some of her inhibitions go.
"I'd tell you that I won't be ordered about, not by anyone."
"Shall I show you what happens when you defy me?” Gideon whispered, his smile feral. Lori was like a pretty little moth, drifting ever closer to the heat of his flame.
Straightening her spine as if determined to stand her ground, Lori stated, “It makes no difference because I don't take orders."