“My pride won’t allow me to let you give me money.” She stopped fighting him because his words said that he’d given her the money because he’d wanted to help her, and while she didn’t want his help, his intentions had been good and she had no right to go off at him. Slowly the anger inside her drained away.
“Would you feel the same if Jake or Buster gave it to you?”
“Yes.” Annabelle felt him exhale. Obviously he’d thought it was just him she didn’t want to accept anything from.
“You can let me go now.”
“Do I have to? Damn, honey, you have a fine body.” He accompanied these words by pushing his face into her hair and sniffing. “You smell nice, too.”
“Ethan.” Annabelle tried to sound pissed off, but it came out more like a sigh.
“You gonna take another swing at me if I release you?”
“No…I should, but I won’t, because I’m a better person than you.”
She didn’t want to feel regret when he dropped his arms so she could step away from his body, but she did. The man was potent. She’d always reacted to him being near her, which was the reason why she always abused him. No way was she letting him close, no way in hell. He was a womanizing machine and she might want him, but she would never follow through.
“It’s true, you are.”
He was aroused—she’d felt it pressed between her buttocks—but he wasn’t embarrassed, so she struggled not to be.
“What you did for me was a really nice thing, Ethan, but I have to pay you back.”
Before she could react he’d grabbed her again; one big hand had cupped the back of her neck and he’d pulled her into his arms. The kiss was hot and hard and she tried to resist but it was futile, and in seconds she was slumped against him as he took her mouth. Annabelle clenched her fingers into his shirt and kissed him back. Angling her head, she climbed to her toes and met him. Their tongues tangled, teeth clashed. It was hot and sexy and she wanted more, needed more of him. His hand cupped her breast, fingers stroking the hard nipple, and she heard a moan slip from her throat.
“Annabelle.” He rasped out her name. “I want you so bad.”
“I know,” she whispered against his lips, “but it’s a bad idea.”
“Feels like a real good one right now.”
“Ethan, it would ruin everything. You know I’m right.”
“To hell with right. Just take your clothes off, honey, and let me kiss your body all over. I’ve fantasized about you naked since I met you. Tell me you haven’t done the same.”
She had, many times.
“It would screw with what we have. Jake, Branna, Buster, all of them. It would mess with all that if we did this.”
He sighed. Annabelle didn’t resist as he held her closer; she simply rested against him, laying her head on his chest.
“God, I want to screw with you.”
Annabelle smiled. It was nice, just being held like this, having a man put his arms around her for no other reason than comfort. She could still feel his erection, but she wasn’t threatened. Ethan was a gentleman for all he was a pain in her butt, and for these few brief moments they’d called a cease-fire between them. She had no doubt it would be brief, especially on her part, but at that moment she was too weak to resist.
“I have to pay you back, Ethan.” Annabelle pushed away from him again.
“You don’t.”
“I do.”
“All right, then, get your clothes off and we’ll start the repayments now.”
“Not going to happen.”
“You’re a hard woman.”
“I am. Years of experience taught me it’s the best way to be.” She looked down at their feet and saw the card. Bending, she picked it up, reaching it just before he could. “Whose wedding are you invited to?”
