Call It Destiny

thinking about how everyone says we make such a great team.“
    „Ah. You were applying that phrase to our current situation, is that it?“ A grin tugged at his mouth; the first real grin Heather had ever seen on him. „I’m inclined to agree. We make a fantastic team in bed. But I knew we would.“
    „It’s not funny, Jake.“
    He sobered. „You’re still afraid, aren’t you? Afraid of what we have together.“
    She lowered her eyes, not wanting to admit either that she still knew fear or that they really had found something unique together. But his forefinger lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
    „We are a good team, Heather. And as far as I’m concerned, tonight was our wedding night. We belong to each other now.“
    She moved her head restlessly, desperate to refute his words for some reason she couldn’t fully explain. „One night in bed changes nothing.“
    „It changes everything.“
    „You really are used to getting what you want, aren’t you?“ she whispered.
    „I think we’re both accustomed to working hard for what we want. And we’re both used to reaching our goals. Don’t accuse me of arrogance, honey, unless you’re willing to apply the same label to yourself.“
    „Whatever arrogance I had is gone. You’ve made me realize just how weak and manipulatable I really am.
    Except for that scene at the chapel this morning you’ve been able to handle me as if I were clay.“
    His face hardened. „Heather, listen to me….“
    „I suppose it’s rather amusing on some levels. After all, I’m the one who’s supposed to be so good at handling people. It looks as though your methods are more successful than my so-called charm, doesn’t it?“
    „Hush, honey. You don’t know what you’re saying.“ Jake brushed her lips with the tips of his fingers. „Once we get a few of the details ironed out, you and I are going to be a perfect team. Just as everyone says.“
    Heather took a deep breath. „I don’t think I want to be part of the team.“
    His gaze narrowed. „You don’t have a whole lot of choice anymore.“
    „Yes, I do,“ she managed with a resurgence of pride. „I told you earlier that this night would be on my terms. It’s not a wedding night, Jake.“
    His hand tightened abruptly at the curve of her shoulder. „Then call it a night of surrender. Your surrender. If you have to spell it out, so be it!“
    He moved, forcing her deeply in the bedclothes as his hardening body came down oh hers. Her skin, still damp from their previous encounter, came alive under his bold touch.
    Heather cried out softly, half in protest and half in surrender, and then she was once more swept away by the passion that flowed between herself and Jake.

    Hours later Heather woke to find herself curled closely up to Jake’s warm body. The quiet hum of the air-conditioning unit was the only sound that reached her besides the occasional passing car. It was past midnight, almost two in the morning. She had been held in the grip of shared desire and the shared exhaustion of the aftermath for almost a whole night. Her wedding night, she thought bleakly. No, her night of surrender. Jake had been right on that score. She had given herself completely, glorying in the satisfaction of pleasing him, allowing herself the exquisite happiness of being pleased by him. Allowing was not the correct word, she acknowledged as she stared into the darkness. Accepting, welcoming, craving, hungering. Those were far more appropriate descriptors.
    She had lost her head yesterday morning and she’d lost herself that night.
    Lying here in the shadows of the passion-rumpled bed, Heather faced the reality of what had happened to her. Her rage yesterday morning had stemmed from more than just the fact that she’d been outmaneuvered. She’d felt betrayed on some level even though logic told her she had no one to blame but herself.
    Jake was right when he’d claimed she was every bit as arrogant if not more so than he was. She’d come back to Tucson on her own terms, she’d said. But it was devastatingly clear to her that the only way she could stay would be on Jake’s.
    And now she had to deal with what it all meant. The kind of betrayal she had felt and the knowledge that her pride had been overcome by Jake’s sensual assault were suddenly matters of paramount importance. Never had she allowed a man to play such havoc with her mind and body. She had to confront the fact that Jake had power over her.