Unexpected by Lori Foster Page B

spoke. Her defeated voice was muffled by the covers. “My aunt . . . used to call me Ray Jean, just to remind me that I was female.”
    Unable to resist, Eli rubbed his nose against her neck. “She was actually in doubt?”
    Her shrug jarred the bed. “She just didn’t think I was very ladylike, and she hated that—she hated me. She tried to insist I curl my hair, that I wear dresses and makeup. Whenever I did, she made fun of me for doing it wrong.”
    Eli pressed his face into her neck and just held her.
    â€œShe ridiculed the way I walked, the way I talked. Everything. Her prissy daughters were held up as a constant example of what I wasn’t.”
    Understanding came, and with it, an ache in his heart that nearly did him in. “So you became just the opposite?”
    She made a sound of disgust. “Don’t be an imbecile, Eli.”
    He smiled at the insult. No woman had ever called him names before. “Sorry.”
    â€œI was already the opposite. No matter how my aunt pushed, I couldn’t be like them. It’s just not me.”
    Eli breathed in the light, natural fragrance of her. Her wrists where he held her were small, the skin silky smooth. He could feel the contours of her body, the dip of her waist, the rise of her rump. God, he wanted her in so many ways. He wanted to hold her, to fuck her and make love to her and talk to her all night.
    He also wanted her to trust him. “I think,” he whispered, forcing the words out despite his raging lust, “that you’re about as much as any woman can be.”
    Ray didn’t say anything. She held completely still beneath him and that bothered him more than her curses or insults ever could.
    When the silence stretched out uncomfortably, Eli said, “I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
    She still didn’t answer.
    â€œRay?”
    In a small voice very unlike her usual commanding tone, Ray admitted, “I’m not used to someone getting the best of me. It’s . . . disconcerting.”
    Eli wasn’t certain, but he thought he detected a touch of admiration in her tone. It pleased him. “I am a lot bigger, Ray. And stronger.”
    She shook her head, and her hair brushed against his jaw and chin. “It’s not that. I could still take you.”
    Eli laughed outright. “You think so, do you?”
    â€œI know so.”
    â€œThen what happened?” He settled himself more firmly against her, spreading his legs a little, which forced hers wider, too. “Why are you beneath me instead of the other way around?”
    She stiffened. “If you’re going to be a jerk about it, I’ll admit that I didn’t want to hurt you.”
    â€œReally?” She was so full of surprises. “What do you call choking me?”
    She huffed. “It didn’t shut you up, did it? I could have put you out then, but I didn’t.”
    The idea that she might have held back intrigued him. “Why not, Ray?” Did her restraint mean she cared?
    â€œThe agency would frown on it.”
    He hadn’t laughed so much in a long time. “That’s your only reason, huh? Well, not to brag, you understand, but I held back, too.” Her head came up in surprise, affording him the chance to kiss her cheek. With his mouth still touching her, he said, “You may as well know there’s no way you could ever best me. No holds barred, I’d come out on top.” And he was just horny enough to press into her and whisper, “Again.”
    â€œThat cocky attitude is going to get you into trouble.” She looked over her shoulder to add, “Next time I won’t concern myself with returning you whole hide.”
    â€œSo we’re to battle it out, huh? I’ll look forward to your efforts, Ray. Not that it’ll change the out-come.”
    Ray snorted in derision. “You want me to believe you’d actually fight me?”
    He