boat motor finally caught his attention. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the grinning teenagers in the speedboat cruising just offshore. He swore again–an earthy four-letter word that most adequately expressed his emotions at that particular moment.
The kids hooted with laughter and gunned the speedboat, racing off across the lake.
Owen scrambled to his feet hastily. "A married man should not have to go through this," he grumbled.
"He should be able to make love to his wife in privacy."
"Just as well we were interrupted." Angie sat up quickly and began shoving items into the picnic basket. "I’m really not ready for that sort of thing yet, Owen. I’ve told you I want to wait. I would very much appreciate if you would stop trying to seduce me at every opportunity. It’s not fair."
He glowered at her. "Not fair? I’m your husband, damn it. I’ll seduce you whenever I please."
Angie shook her head firmly, closing the basket. "No, I’d rather you did not do that." She sighed. "I didn’t think it was going to be a problem."
"Now what are you talking about?"
"I’ve been so annoyed with you since I found out about the merger and the stock offering that I thought I’d be able to handle the physical side of our relationship."
"You mean you thought you’d be able to resist me simply because you’re mad at me, is that it?" Owen felt his spirits soar as he realized what she was admitting. He started to grin slowly.
"Something like that."
"But you can’t resist me, can you, sweetheart? You want me just as badly as I want you, and when I take you in my arms the way I did a few minutes ago, you melt. Warm honey on a summer day. That’s only right, Angie. I’m your husband. Why fight it?"
"I can resist you and I shall continue to do so," she announced imperiously as she got to her feet, "until I am satisfied with the other elements of this relationship."
"Stop calling it a relationship. We’re married." But there was no real bite in his voice now.
Owen was aware that he was suddenly feeling much better than he had since his wedding night. He
should have tried the physical approach last night, he told himself. Tonight he definitely would take a new tack with his recalcitrant bride. Sex, not subtlety, was the solution to his dilemma.
Angie glared at him. "You can wipe that stupid grin off your face, Owen Sutherland. I am not a complete pushover, you know. I would have stopped you even if those boys hadn’t come along."
"Yes, dear."
"I am not going to let you use the–" she licked her lower lip "–the physical attraction between us to manipulate me."
"I wouldn’t think of it." Owen reached down, picked up the cloth they’d been sitting on and started to fold it. He hoped the action hid the laughing triumph he knew was probably showing in his eyes.
"I mean it, Owen."
"I hear you, honey." He packed the cloth and hoisted the basket. "Ready to start back?" He gave her an innocent smile. "Or would you prefer to continue our hike?"
"I’m ready to go back to the dungeon," Angie muttered.
"Hey, look on the bright side. I’m not trying to get you to wear a chastity belt. Just the opposite."
Angie WAS QUIET on the return trip across the lake. She had started out this morning feeling very much in control of herself and the situation. Looking back on it, she realized that the midnight confrontation with Owen the night before last had given her a dangerous confidence.
She had sensed the passionate pride in her husband and had told herself it meant he had other strong passions, as well. She understood pride and passion. She could deal with those powerful emotions. Or so she had thought.
But now she had to face the fact that she was still as vulnerable to Owen’s mesmerizing sensuality as she had ever been. She must be careful, she warned herself. She had to maintain her equilibrium in this volatile situation. She was very much afraid she would lose what little advantage she did have if she succumbed to
The kids hooted with laughter and gunned the speedboat, racing off across the lake.
Owen scrambled to his feet hastily. "A married man should not have to go through this," he grumbled.
"He should be able to make love to his wife in privacy."
"Just as well we were interrupted." Angie sat up quickly and began shoving items into the picnic basket. "I’m really not ready for that sort of thing yet, Owen. I’ve told you I want to wait. I would very much appreciate if you would stop trying to seduce me at every opportunity. It’s not fair."
He glowered at her. "Not fair? I’m your husband, damn it. I’ll seduce you whenever I please."
Angie shook her head firmly, closing the basket. "No, I’d rather you did not do that." She sighed. "I didn’t think it was going to be a problem."
"Now what are you talking about?"
"I’ve been so annoyed with you since I found out about the merger and the stock offering that I thought I’d be able to handle the physical side of our relationship."
"You mean you thought you’d be able to resist me simply because you’re mad at me, is that it?" Owen felt his spirits soar as he realized what she was admitting. He started to grin slowly.
"Something like that."
"But you can’t resist me, can you, sweetheart? You want me just as badly as I want you, and when I take you in my arms the way I did a few minutes ago, you melt. Warm honey on a summer day. That’s only right, Angie. I’m your husband. Why fight it?"
"I can resist you and I shall continue to do so," she announced imperiously as she got to her feet, "until I am satisfied with the other elements of this relationship."
"Stop calling it a relationship. We’re married." But there was no real bite in his voice now.
Owen was aware that he was suddenly feeling much better than he had since his wedding night. He
should have tried the physical approach last night, he told himself. Tonight he definitely would take a new tack with his recalcitrant bride. Sex, not subtlety, was the solution to his dilemma.
Angie glared at him. "You can wipe that stupid grin off your face, Owen Sutherland. I am not a complete pushover, you know. I would have stopped you even if those boys hadn’t come along."
"Yes, dear."
"I am not going to let you use the–" she licked her lower lip "–the physical attraction between us to manipulate me."
"I wouldn’t think of it." Owen reached down, picked up the cloth they’d been sitting on and started to fold it. He hoped the action hid the laughing triumph he knew was probably showing in his eyes.
"I mean it, Owen."
"I hear you, honey." He packed the cloth and hoisted the basket. "Ready to start back?" He gave her an innocent smile. "Or would you prefer to continue our hike?"
"I’m ready to go back to the dungeon," Angie muttered.
"Hey, look on the bright side. I’m not trying to get you to wear a chastity belt. Just the opposite."
Angie WAS QUIET on the return trip across the lake. She had started out this morning feeling very much in control of herself and the situation. Looking back on it, she realized that the midnight confrontation with Owen the night before last had given her a dangerous confidence.
She had sensed the passionate pride in her husband and had told herself it meant he had other strong passions, as well. She understood pride and passion. She could deal with those powerful emotions. Or so she had thought.
But now she had to face the fact that she was still as vulnerable to Owen’s mesmerizing sensuality as she had ever been. She must be careful, she warned herself. She had to maintain her equilibrium in this volatile situation. She was very much afraid she would lose what little advantage she did have if she succumbed to
Similar Books
