Exclusive Excerpt for today...Across a Crowded Room

A SIZZLING Erotic Suspense by Elizabeth Marchat

Jason's dark past keeps him away from Emily, until she finagles her way on his next anti-terrorist mission. Juggling the balance of world power in her inexperienced hands, she plays a dangerous game of seduction with a notorious arms dealer. While Jason tolerates the woman he loves seducing another man to expose a killer, he wonders if Emily stop before it goes too far?

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He snarled. "Just what do you think is going to happen? That he's going to let you tease him like you did all day and get away with a good night kiss? He's a damn player, an arms dealer, for Christ's sake. This isn't some college boy. He's going to expect to fuck you!" He took her by both of her shoulders, with his fingers digging into her flesh. He shook her, his voice rising, sounding slightly panicked. "How do you plan to get out of this? What the hell were you thinking?" "Jason, stop." "I'm not sure I'll be able to rescue you out there. It's not like I can just drop in unannounced." And he stopped suddenly, realization taking hold. He quieted and released his grip on her as if he'd been burned. "You...?" He turned away from her, unable to look at her as he choked out the rest of his thought. "You're prepared to go through with it, aren't you?" She glared at him, never losing eye contact. What was she planning, really? "What do I have to lose? An attractive man wants me, the one I'm supposed to be seducing. Well, it worked." He released her with a push. He sounded disgusted when he asked, "You were never planning to stop, were you?" His voice was low, almost a growl. He turned and sneered at her as if revolted by her very presence. "You'd go that far?" "If it would seal the deal. Yes. Wouldn't you?" She snapped back and lifted her chin in the air. "Haven't you?" He flinched. She could see the pain her answer caused him. He looked like he had been gut punched. His voice turned to a soft whisper. "This is different." She softened, realizing his predicament. "I'm not planning on going through with it. I'm not counting on it being necessary. I think I can maneuver my way through this. Well, I hope I can at least for tonight." "By God, I hope you're right, because I'm not sure I can leave you with him tonight. Not under the circumstances. Not after what I've been watching all day." She watched his jaw clench when she responded. "It's not up to you anymore. The plan's underway, and we'll have to play out our hands—win, lose, or draw. That's the deal." "He's not prepared to take no for an answer," Jason warned. "I understand. But what he finds intriguing about me is more than just your interest in me. I think he's fascinated that I can find him attractive and still control my sexual urges where he's concerned. My impulses are there, and I let him know that. I'm just not ready to go through with them like every other woman he encounters. My guess is not many women have ever resisted him." Jason lifted her chin and stared deep in her eyes. "Just make sure you're one of the ones who can." Guilt made her glance away. "Hell, you're attracted to him, aren't you?" "Oh, my God. What did you expect?" Emily snipped at him. "He's charming and sexy, and I'm playing this part. To be perfectly honest, I don't understand my feelings, and certainly not these mixed signals from you." Jason let out a long sigh. "This wasn't supposed to get so complicated." "No?" "I knew he'd have a passing interest in you because of your grandfather. I hoped he'd be interested enough to want to pursue you when he gets back in DC. I wasn't expecting this full-blown assault or your interest." "Dammit, I'm not interested. Attraction and interest are two separate things. Get real. You should know that better than anyone. Besides, how could you even suggest such a thing? He could have been involved with my father's death.""Sorry. I have to somehow get him to back off a little, for a while at least." "Well, you do what you have to, and I'll do what I have to. For now, I can only go with the cards I've been dealt." "Okay, try to play it a little cooler, at least until I figure out what our next move should be. Your father would kill me—" Emily's patience snapped, poking him in the chest, punctuating each word with her finger. "Don't bring up my father!" "Emily?" Jason held his breath and held her hands, as if afraid of what her answer would be. "Promise?" "I think you're wrong about playing it cooler." She lifted her brow. All he had to do was tell her he still had feelings for her. "If your reasons are all about my father, then it doesn't matter who I sleep with." All he had to say was don't do it. "Jesus! Emily, please!" "I don't know. You go back to watching again. If I need you, I'll let you know." If he thought sitting through Mosel's moves earlier was bad, he better gear himself up for the full-blown assault. If he really cared about her, tonight's surveillance would be agony for him. He may as well get used to this. If he didn't want her, someone else would, and from now on she would take what she wanted.