Green Fire by Stephanie James

you describe your own behaviour?"
    He kept his attention on the cups he was putting into the sink, but his expression grew thoughtful. "Possessive might be a good description. Protective. Concerned."
    Rani held her breath as he said the words. She sensed the tension in him, knew it communicated itself to her. "You have no right, Flint."
    He turned his head to look at her, his green eyes unfathomable. "I also have no choice."
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    "I can't let another man make love to you, Rani. Not now. I've been searching for you for too long. It would drive me crazy to know someone else was touching you now that I've found you."
    She stared at him. "I think you already are a little crazy."
    He didn't move. "You don't believe that."
    "Mike suggested it might be a possibility," she said recklessly. "I told him about the ring and why you were working here this winter. You've got to admit, it does sound strange, Flint. And your behavior doesn't exactly make it seem less strange."
    He ignored that. "What did he say about the ring?"
    "He asked if it was valuable. I think he was worried you might try to steal it."
    "You gave him your opinion that it was strictly paste?"
    This wasn't the direction she had intended to take the conversation, Rani thought wildly. "It's not just my opinion! I had the thing appraised. I keep telling you that."
    "Did you tell Slater that?"
    "Yes, damn it! Will you forget about the stupid ring? It's not an issue here."
    "What is the issue?" he asked interestedly.
    "Your rude and objectionable behavior."
    "Oh, that."
    "Yes, that." Rani threw up her hands in surrender. "I've about had if for tonight, Flint. It's obvious you have no intention of listening to what I say or in apologizing. Kindly go back to your cottage and leave me in peace."
    He came toward her, his big hands lifting to settle heavily on her shoulders. Flint smiled with a touch of genuine sympathy. "Poor Rani. You're used to being in command of your life, aren't you?"
    "Nothing has changed. I am in command of my life. I intend to remain so. Get out of here, Flint. In case you haven't noticed, I am angry and disgusted. I would like some peace and quiet. Maybe I'm the one who's a little crazy. I must be for tolerating your behavior."
    "Rani—"
    "I mean it, Flint. I want you to leave."
    He hesitated. Rani could feel the weight and strength in his hands. Such big hands. They were hard and callused from a lifetime of rough work. She didn't want to think about what those hands might feel like on her body. She would not allow herself to think about such things. She really would drive herself crazy. Rani could feel Flint's willpower pushing against her own. He wanted her to back down, wanted her to retreat and relax. She knew without having to hear the words that he wanted to stay the night. He seemed to think he had a right. It took far more of her own willpower than it should have to resist the possessive demands that flamed in his green gaze.
    "Maybe not tonight, Rani, but sometime soon," Flint said quietly. "It has to be soon. I want you."
    "What you want," she got out between clenched teeth, "has nothing to do with it."
    "You'll want it, too. I swear it."
    "That sounds like a typical male ego talking."
    "How long are you going to fight me, Rani?"
    "As long as necessary. Now go, Flint."
    He wanted to kiss her. She waited tensely, not certain what would happen if he did. It would be so much easier if he didn't. Rani was more afraid of her own reactions than his actions. A kiss could be such a casual, meaningless thing. It would have been casual and meaningless with Mike, for example. She was sure of that. But it was altogether different with Flint. That made the prospect seem very dangerous.
    But he didn't kiss her. He stared down at her for a moment longer and then, very lightly, he brushed his fingertips across her lower lip. Rani trembled as she felt the roughness of his finger on the delicate tissue of her lips.
    "I'll go, Rani.