Finally, he pulled back and stared into her eyes. Although no longer pressing against her, his leg remained between hers, effectively pinning her to the cabinets. His left hand released her jaw to cup the side of her face. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were swollen. Like him, she was panting slightly.
As soon as he kissed her his eyes closed in ecstasy, but he knew hers were open the whole time, possibly except when she squeezed them shut in exertion. Now those glorious hazel eyes glared up into his, blazing indignantly. He continued his silence just drinking in the sight of her, amazed that a girl could look so seductively sultry and infinitely adorable at the same time. She was perfect.
"You- you-!" Lips feeling bruised from his kiss, Sandra couldn't find words to express her shock and fury. Never had a man forced himself upon her, and she couldn't believe that the man was Simon, someone she always respected.
But at that moment his gaze was so disconcertingly obsessive she was temporarily lost for words. Not anything like the Simon she knew, his eyes were heavy-lidded with desire, in his excitement their colour seemed to have darkened into liquid pools of black.
"This is illegal," she said, her voice trembling with anger and fright. "This is assault. It's unacceptable. Let me go!"
Simon shook his head apologetically. "You don't understand," he tried to explain, "I'm still that same guy you've worked with for half a year. It's just...I can't resist you. And you like me, I know you do."
As she shook her head to deny it, his right hand trailed down her body.
"I can't forget what we just shared - I want more." On the last word he bent his head to kiss her again, but this time she managed to duck to the side and his lips grazed her right ear.
As she tried to dash around him he caught her easily and pulled her close into a bear-hug, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Don't fight me, Sandra," he murmured into her ear, his mouth on that sensitive area sending shivers through her body. "I can make this good for both of us."
"You're sick," she snapped, jerking her head back. "I didn't take you for the type to have an ego that can't take rejection."
Twisting her torso, she tried to kick him. Simon grinned and tightened his hold on her, making her whimper. Realising her efforts were useless, she tried to placate him.
"Simon, please!" she insisted, "Enough already! Let me go!"
She squirmed, trying to loosen his hold. "You're holding me too tight!"
Simon didn't think it was possible, but her begging made his erection even harder than before, bordering on painful. Without loosening his grip he easily hoisted her up, chest to his, so their faces were level. She lost a shoe as her feet left the ground.
"Are you going to cooperate?" he asked roughly.
Sandra tried to look away but she couldn't. The desire in his gaze alarmed her, and she could feel his erection more prominently in this position. Crushed against him, she noticed his eyes had hardened in his determination. In that moment she knew he was going to get his way regardless, and possibly hurt her in the process.
For a long moment they faced each other - one apprehensive and uncertain, the other predatory and confident. A tear rolled down Sandra's cheek, and she dropped her head to his chest, hating further intimate contact with him but wanting to escape the tension in her body and most of all, his terrifying stare.
"Please don't hurt me, Simon," she relented, "I'll do what you want."
"Look at me when you say it."
"No." She shook her head against his chest and her soft hair brushed his chin.
Struggling with the temptation to breathe in the scent of her, he gave her a little shake. Always business before pleasure, Simon needed to assert his control first.
"Look at me. Tell me," he persisted.
When she still didn't answer he shook her harder.
"Say what I want to hear, or you'll just drag out the experience," he said.