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Page 104
and noted the perspiration on his brow; he must have run the entire way from his cabin. "I am fine, Mike. I just"
He grabbed her shoulders with hands as strong as cold iron, and she stopped speaking. Scowling with unchecked fury, he yelled, "Damn it! What do you think you're doing, running off like that?"
Then, quite suddenly, she was in his arms.
He held her tightly against his powerful, tense body, and she felt his chest heave from his prior exertion. He kissed her forehead, her cheekand then he found her mouth.
A quiver of shock and delight swept through her as, with scant deliberation, she rejected the idea of thrusting him away.
She had no excuse now as she had above the flooded wash, when surely relief and the intensity of the moment had led to his taking such liberties. And to her allowing themno, participating with such surprising abandon in them.
Now she reveled in the feel of his hot, searching lips against hers. There was no gentleness in his kiss. Pulling the pins from her hair, he buried his hands in the loosened cascade, holding her fast. He seemed to want to punish her for his hurt and fear. With only a fleeting thought for her brazen boldness, she did not hesitate in returning the pressure, reveling in the feel of his tongue thrusting audaciously against hers. She reached up, her fingers catching in the dark waves of the hair at his neck.
Herefor now, at leastwas where she belonged.

 
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