Marriage by Mistake

Instead, here he was in bed with her. Again.
    Dean shook his head. Clearly, he went crazy whenever he was around this woman. He didn't behave rationally or intelligently. He didn't behave like...himself.
    On the other hand— Dean's rueful twist of the lips turned into a genuine smile. On the other hand, he wasn't alone in the insanity. He had a strong feeling Kelly didn't have much control over her behavior when she was around him, either. Why, she'd been downright leery about hopping into bed with Dean again. It had been a wicked pleasure to see her resistance flow into surrender—because of him.
    Yes, because of him. Dean's smile slowly faded. Thoughtfully, his gaze searched Kelly's sleeping face. She hadn't wanted to seduce him, she hadn't sought to get him in her power. Afterward, she'd asked if he was okay. He could no longer deny she was sincerely concerned for his welfare.
    She was...nice. A nice, perhaps even sweet, woman.
    Dean felt a flare—of something. Like faraway lightning. There, and then gone. Inexplicable. Unsettling. He frowned.
    Passion, he told himself. He'd never felt passion this powerfully. Every time he reached a climax with her—every time she reached one with him—it hit him like a thunderclap. That first time tonight, with his name on her lips... Fortunately, Kelly appeared to be as much a slave to the phenomenon as he was. Why, if he reached out for her right now, she'd probably turn into his arms.
    Leave her bed? That would be useless. Avoiding the issue of their passion was not going to make it go away.
    Dean chewed the inside of his cheek, then reached over to turn off the lamp.
    Perhaps it was time to try a different tack.

    CHAPTER FIFTEEN

    In the gray light of dawn Kelly rolled over, waking with a sigh and a frown. Her eyes opened wide as they met Dean's.
    "Oh," she breathed. "You're still here." So...it hadn't been a dream.
    Meanwhile he stared at her with an expression so blank it made Kelly's stomach twist. Oh God, what was his attitude now ? As if in answer, very slowly, he smiled. "Yes, I'm still here. Better yet, it's still early."
    "Early?" Kelly's stomach remained tight, but now for a very different reason.
    He put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her onto her back. "Nobody will be up for, oh, at least fifteen minutes or so."
    "Fifteen—? Oh." Kelly's head tipped back as she accepted Dean's thorough, drugging kiss. She could feel her stomach relax and her body start to melt as it had last night. Last night... Dean had made love to her over and over again. He'd gone to the limit—and beyond—to prove he wanted to. Even if Kelly had questions about his deeper feelings, of his desire she was now certain.
    And for right then, intoxicated by his kiss, enveloped by his strong male body, Kelly decided desire was more than enough. She murmured encouragement and threw her arms around him.
    A few minutes later, panting, Dean leaned down to kiss Kelly's lips. "Noon," he said. "My office."
    "What—?"
    "For more." Dean swept off the bed. Before Kelly could do or say anything more, he'd grabbed his clothes and was gone.
    ~~~
    Dean paid no more than perfunctory attention to the faxes that came across his desk on Tuesday morning. He gave scarcely more attention to the people who filed through his office, giving him their reports. All he could think about was what had happened the night before, and then that morning.
    He'd made love to her—yet again.
    Of course that had been the plan, but now, in the cold light of day, he wasn't sure if his plan was bonkers, or incredibly shrewd. Was passion all that there was between them? Not that it mattered, Dean hastily assured himself. If there was one thing he understood about human nature, it was that emotion, of any sort, was fleeting. Passion, whatever. It would pass and be gone in less time than it would take for Dean to worry about it.
    So Dean didn't need to worry about the lightning bolts that had returned and kept flashing, brighter and more distinctly than the night before.
    Meanwhile, he kept an ear out for his intercom and the announcement Mrs. Barnes would make regarding Kelly's arrival. When it came, Dean felt a leap in his heart, a surge of adrenaline.
    "That's all, Roger. Thanks." He smiled at his CFO and stood to indicate the briefing was over.
    "You're going to want the numbers—"
    "I'm sure you will take care of all the details to my complete satisfaction." Dean came around from behind his desk.
    Roger looked at him in