Surrender 01 - Surrender

if his words were a threat or a promise. She forgot to breathe as she looked deep into his midnight eyes, quickly getting lost.
    With a growl of irritation or frustration — she didn’t know which — he walked from the room.
    “Ms. Harlow. I’m so sorry about your fall. Let’s make sure everything is OK.”
    Ari turned to find a perky young woman walking in the door that Rafe had exited through. As her gaze settled on the closed door, she told herself it was relief that he was gone. She wouldn’t have to see him again.
    By the time the X-ray came back, showing that she had nothing more than a bruised tailbone, Ari was ready to go home and rest . She wasn’t up for chatting with her mom as originally planned . The doctor told her she’d be uncomfortable sitting for about a week, but other than that, she’d be just fine.
    Ari had already expected that , but she supposed it was better to be sure. She couldn’t fault Mr. Palazzo or the staff for double-checking. They didn’t want someone to get injured on their premises and then turn around and seek liability from the hospital — not that she’d ever do something like that. They didn’t know her, though.
    She was grateful when the woman left and she had a minute alone to get dressed. She hoped Rafe would be gone when she came back out. He was a difficult man to be around while trying to maintain a distance. She could see herself wanting to spend time with him — well, if he weren’t so dang kinky.

    *****

    Rafe waited outside for Ari to emerge. He found it almost amusing that he was pacing the halls in a hospital, worrying about a woman. He honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually waited for anyone.
    One minute he felt like strangling Arianna Harlow, and then the next he wanted to find the nearest bed and see whether all of the sexual tension was in his head or if they’d create steam together. He blamed his unusual desire for the woman on his recent stint of celibacy. Plus, the challenge she posed doubtlessly increased his libido. He hadn’t planned on running into her, but it wasn’t an unpleasant coincidence.
    He shouldn’t think of Ari as anything more than a conquest to be won. She’d turned him down, and now it was his job to make her want him so that he could return the favor — regain his control.
    He was very glad his sisters weren’t around. Members of his family were the only people on earth who could tame him, make him act like a decent human being. And he didn’t want to be a decent human right now; he wanted to sink deep inside Ms. Harlow until she was screaming his name.
    Just as he was getting ready to pace the long hallway again, the door to the examination room opened and Ari stepped out, surprise and apprehension in her eyes that he was still there. Good. He wanted her to be wary of him, concerned in his presence. He wanted a mistress filled with respect, not a girlfriend who adored him.
    “Is everything OK?” he asked as he stopped a couple feet in front of her.
    “I’m fine. There really was no need for you to wait for me.”
    “Of course I was going to wait. It’s my fault you were injured. Are you sure everything is all right, or are you just telling me that you’re fine to get me to go away?”
    “My tailbone is bruised. Other than that, I am indeed fine. I need to leave now,” she curtly told him as she turned away.
    “I like the way your expressive eyes and their incredible lights show forth so much more clearly without those absurd oversized glasses. Leave them off.” Rafe was a little surprised by his words, but felt they were worth it as her face grew rosy pink and she looked down.
    Placing his hand beneath her chin, he lifted her head until she was looking in his eyes. “I’ve been picturing you lying beneath me while I make you scream in pleasure. You know this will happen soon, right?”
    Rafe’s words stopped her in her tracks. When she didn’t turn for several moments, excitement began stirring in him. Was she going to accept his offer? He wasn’t sure whether he wanted her to or not. If she did, then his game would end prematurely . And he wasn’t ready for it to be over just yet .
    Finally, she turned with a genuine smile on her face, one that nearly caused him to stagger back a step. She had a natural beauty about her that shone with innocent pleasure. This was the first time he’d seen an expression of happiness on her face.
    “No. I can very happily tell you that I was