A Little Bit Sinful(72)

She came around the desk, intending to see him back out the door. “I don’t believe we have anything to discuss, George.” There was no longer a reason for her to be pleasant to him. He’d done the unforgivable to her.

“Oh, but we do, Clarissa, we have much to discuss. I will admit that your attempt at coercing me into marriage angered me at first, but I have forgiven you.”

She felt her eyebrows rise. “Oh, you’ve forgiven me, have you?” That was rich. He courted her for more than a year, then he put his hands on her body, yet had chosen to forgive her. Ella had been right about George all along, and Clarissa could kick herself for not trusting her friend sooner.

“Indeed. That was a very naughty thing you did, Clarissa,” he said. He took several steps toward her effectively penning her between himself and the desk behind her.

“It was a mistake, a huge mistake,” Clarissa said, more to herself than in an effort to apologize.

“Now that you’re married, we can come to an agreement.” Again he moved toward her.

She braced her hands on the desk behind her.

“An arrangement that would serve both of our needs.” He ran a finger down the side of her arm.

How had she ever thought him handsome? Now as he stood before her, she saw nothing but arrogance and pride and a smile that made promises it never kept. “There will be no arrangement between us, George. You should leave. Now.”

“No, now is the perfect time for us. Your husband has gone to Rodale’s. He won’t be home for hours. We have time. Plenty of time to pick up where we left off. Finish what we started.” He grabbed her and pulled her against him. His grip on her arms was tight, uncomfortable.

“Unhand me, George. I am a married woman.”

“All the more reason that we can now have that affair. I know you want me, Clarissa. I’ve seen the desire in your eyes. And the way you kissed me. You are a wanton,” George said. “I cannot believe it took me so long to see it.”

“I am no such thing. And I most certainly do not want you. Justin will be home any moment,” she said. But she knew it was untrue. George had been right. Justin had left for Rodale’s and said he probably wouldn’t be back until dawn. She was at the mercy of George and his unwanted advances. She supposed she could scream, but she was new in Justin’s household and being caught in the arms of another man…there was no way she could explain her way out of that. She certainly didn’t want to make Justin look bad.

He rubbed his hands up and down her arms and leaned in to kiss her neck. She pushed at him, shoved at him, but his strength would not be swayed.

“I’ll scream.”

He laughed. “Good, I like a woman with fight in her. Makes it more interesting.”

Oh God, how had she been so very wrong about this man? Or how had Rebecca?

He released one of her arms and rearranged her so that he held both of her arms in one of his hands. He was so strong. With his free hand he slid up her skirt, running his palm against her stocking-clad leg. Her stomach churned.

“Help!” she yelled. It was worth it to try to get someone to help, but he slammed his mouth down on hers effectively stifling her voice. She tried to bite him, kick him, anything to get him off her, but her efforts were in vain. Clarissa’s heart pounded so loud, she heard it reverberating in her ears.

And then he was gone, pulled off her and slammed onto the floor.

“Get the hell off my wife and out of my house before I kill you,” Justin said. He stood over George’s body. “Don’t think I won’t.”

George pulled himself to his feet, rubbing his jaw. “I was just trying to take what she’d offered. Did she tell you the truth about that night?”

Justin slammed his fist into George’s face, then nailed him in the stomach. George doubled-over in pain.

“You should consider boxing, Rodale,” George said.

“I’ll say it again. Get the hell out of my house,” Justin said, his tone even, but deadly.

George wiped blood off his lip, then spit a mouthful onto Justin’s imported rug. “You can have her.”

…

The moment George left the study, Clarissa’s tears started. Justin gathered her in his arms.

“It’s all right now, love, I’m here.” He kissed her forehead, smoothed his hand over her hair. When he’d come in the room and seen George on her, he’d nearly lost his mind. He’d wanted to rip the bastard’s head off. “I should have killed him.”