Surrender 01 - Surrender

determination that impressed him.
    “I never asked for your respect, Ari. All I want is your body,” he quickly responded, fascinated by the fire leaping to life in her eyes.
    “Well, you can’t have either,” she muttered as she picked up her spoon and swirled it around her soup bowl.
    No skirmishes disturbed the rest of the meal. With a ravenous appetite rising up all of a sudden, Rafe polished off most of his dinner, whereas she simply picked at hers. He watched as she kept darting glances at the clock. Knowing she wanted nothing more than to run away from him, he drew out the time, making her squirm in her seat.
    After an hour, they sipped coffee and he debated seducing her again. He wouldn’t mind taking her once more that night. He just didn’t know whether it was the smartest move for him to make in their little game.
    “Mr. Palazzo, your mother is on line two.”
    Well, that ended his debate. His family always came before any woman he was with, and even before his own pleasure.
    “Thank you. Take Ms. Harlow back to her room, please.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “I don’t need to be taken back to my room. I’m ready to go home,” Ari said as she stood.
    “I’ve grown tired of arguing with you for the night. You’ll stay here as the doctor ordered. Don’t worry. I won’t bother you again this evening,” he said, letting her know the matter was closed to further discussion.
    As he walked from the room, he heard her frustrated sigh, but he knew his staff would make sure that she went upstairs and didn’t make any escape attempts.

    *****

    Ari woke the next morning to find a note on the nightstand. Relief flooded her when she read the words that released her from her luxurious prison. Rafe was allowing his assistant to take her home.
    She didn’t dare use his bathing facilities again, not wanting to get too used to the deluxe bath or shower. She knew she needed to get as far from Rafe as she possibly could before she did something stupid — such as agreeing to be his mistress.
    With the feelings he aroused in her, she was afraid it would be entirely too easy to say yes to him. That would be suicide for her. She had a feeling women were never the same after being with Rafe for any amount of time.
    The man inspired too much emotion — whether it was lust or hate. She couldn’t imagine how a woman felt who was stupid enough to fall in love with him. One thing she realized, though, was the fact that sex needn’t be a dreadful thing.
    Rafe had made her feel things she definitely wanted to feel again and again. She would have to allow herself some time to date other men, because now that those doors had been opened, she didn’t know if it was possible to shut them again. She really didn’t think she wanted to shut them.
    She gathered her purse and walked down the stairs, taking her time to look around his home on her way out. The curiosity irritated her, but she couldn’t seem to stem it. Rafe had good taste in decorations and furniture, using bright colors and deep, rich-toned wood.
    Not wanting to learn anything else about the man, Ari forced herself to head straight for the front door, where she was pleased to find a car waiting.
    “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Ms. Harlow.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Kinsor. I appreciate all the staff’s taking such good care of me. I’ve never felt so pampered,” she replied. She genuinely liked Rafe’s right-hand man. True, the guy had known exactly what the position was that Rafe wanted to hire her for, and yet he hadn’t warned her. But she could hardly expect him to sell out his employer.
    “Do you need to make any stops before going home?”
    Ari thought for a moment as he held open her door. She wouldn’t feel up to leaving her house the rest of the day, and her head was already starting to throb a little. Why not take advantage of having a driver for a little while?
    “If you’re not in a huge hurry and wouldn’t mind, could we stop by a drugstore?”
    “Of course. I’m yours for as long as you need me. Mr. Palazzo was explicit in his directions to give you whatever you needed today,” he answered happily as he shut the door and quickly went around to the driver’s side.
    Ari’s confusion grew at Mr. Kinsor’s words. Why did Rafe have to be so accommodating and kind one minute and then such a brute the next? Why couldn’t he have been just a regular guy she’d met on Stanford’s campus? She wished she could wipe him from her mind,