Only 05 - Autumn Lover

Elyssa, turned his back, and rearranged his clothing.
    She waited for him to speak, to say something.
    Anything.
    Silence expanded with every heartbeat until Elyssa thought she would suffocate beneath its weight. Just when she had lost hope, Hunter spoke in a low, emotionless voice.
    “Go back to your bedroom, Sassy. It will be another long day tomorrow.”
    At first Elyssa couldn’t believe that was all Hunter had to say to her.
    “Wh-what?” she whispered.
    “Fun’s over for tonight. Go back to your room.”
    Elyssa closed her eyes as the truth broke over her in a black, icy wave.
    Well, now I know , she thought bleakly. It wasn’t love for me that Hunter was fighting. It was lust .
    And we both lost .
    The pain of it was shocking.
    Instinctively Elyssa knew she couldn’t let it overcome her. Not yet. Not here.
    Not in Hunter’s bed.
    I won’t cry .
    It’s my own fault. Lord knows that Hunter warned me often enough. I just didn’t believe him .
    Fool .
    I won’t cry .
    “Sassy?”
    Without a word Elyssa shot off Hunter’s bed. She moved so quickly that her wrapper lifted and fluttered behind her like ruined wings.
    The bedroom door opened and shut without a sound.
    Hunter grimaced and cursed beneath his breath. He had been too quick, too hard. He had tried to slow down, but the liquid silk of Elyssa’s response had stripped away his control. He had never wanted a woman the way he wanted her.
    “Hell,” Hunter muttered, disgusted with himself.
    He suspected that Elyssa had been waiting for some soft words and gentle petting. He had been sorely tempted to do just that.
    But he hadn’t let himself.
    Hunter was damned if he was going to dance at the end of puppet strings for Elyssa just because he had taken what she offered.
    Even so, next time will be different , Hunter promised himself. Next time I won’t let her sweet little claws and her body twisting beneath mine push me right over the edge .
    The thought of taking Elyssa again sent a hot thrill through Hunter’s body.
    There was no doubt in his mind that there would be a next time.
    Any girl as passionate as Sassy will get hungry again real soon. She’ll come knocking on my door in the middle of the night again .
    I’ll be waiting for her .
    It won’t be long .
    Smiling slightly, Hunter lit a candle and went to the washbasin. He stripped out of his trousers and under-wear and reached for a washcloth.
    The sight of blood on his slowly softening flesh stopped him cold.
    What the hell !
    I wasn’t rough enough to draw blood. I was quick, but she was ready .
    Hunter had no doubt of that. It was the sleek, liquid welcome of Elyssa’s body that had shattered his control.
    It must have been her time of the month .
    Soft, muffled sounds came from the next room.
    Hunter went still, cocked his head, and listened. After a few moments he decided that Elyssa must be crying.
    Uneasily Hunter washed himself. The subdued, broken sounds continued from the next room.
    Still naked, he went to the wall between their bedrooms and listened intently. The sounds weren’t coming from Elyssa’s bed. She wasn’t doing what Belinda had done, lying in bed and sobbing noisily until she got what she wanted from him.
    In fact, it sounded like Elyssa was doing everything she could to make no noise at all.
    I must have hurt her .
    Damn! I can’t believe I was harder on her than a rambunctious lout like Mickey .
    Sickened and angered by his own lack of control, Hunter dressed quickly and went to Elyssa’s room.
    When he opened the door, the sound of crying became more distinct. An acrid scent struck his nostrils, as though someone was burning cloth.
    Hunter closed the bedroom door behind him. A quick look told him that Elyssa was in bed now. Something was smoldering sullenly on the small hearth.
    “Sassy?” Hunter asked softly.
    The sounds of crying stopped as though cut off by a knife.
    Making no noise, Hunter went to the bed and sat on its edge.
    When Elyssa felt the mattress give way under Hunter’s weight, she wanted to flee. But she was stark naked. The stained remains of her nightdress and wrapper were smoldering in the hearth.
    Like a trapped animal Elyssa lay utterly still, silently willing Hunter to go away. To be caught crying by him was just one more in a long list of the night’s humiliations. She didn’t think she could bear any more.
    Elyssa flinched when Hunter’s hand stroked her hair. He felt the betraying motion and swore.
    “I’m sorry,”