Confrontation, Part 2

Dan & Libby

Libby had time to let out half of a gasp before Dan's mouth found hers. She responded to the hunger in his kiss, but then she realized something. There was also anger there. His hands on her arms were hurting. She felt forced.

She managed to get her hands between them and pushed back, pulling away enough to protest. "Dan! What-?"

The intensity in Dan's eyes had deepened, if that was possible. He was aware of nothing but the fact that Libby was right here, right now, and he wanted her. But, at her protest, he drew back a little.

"You don't know what I'm here for?" he murmured the question with a grin. "Sure you do, Libby. This is what I'm here for." He bent his head toward her again, pulling her roughly back against him.

"To attack me?" The words came out of her own anger, and she regretted them instantly.

"Attack you?" Dan's voice was explosive. "You think I'm attacking you?! I'm just taking what I want." His voice lowered, became more seductive. "What we both want. You sure seemed to want this a couple of days ago."

Then his anger came back. "Or do you like it better when that Italian chef of yours does it? He spices it up a bit more, does he? But then, his being a married man would automatically make it more spicy, wouldn't it?"

Libby wrenched one arm free and slapped him across the face. Now, where had that come from? "Don't you talk about March like that! He's a good, sweet man. He-" She stopped, staring at him curiously. "How'd you know he was married?" She knew it was not something March went around talking about.

"I looked him up." Dan was still holding her arm with one hand and had pressed the other against his cheek. "I been working for Ben Wade a long time. You get to be an expert at that sort of thing." Dan could feel his anger ebbing, but his hunger was mounting.

"You didn't have any right to do that, and you don't have any right to be here." Libby spoke quietly now, trying to be firm, but failing she knew. Raising her hand, she put it on Dan's cheek beneath his hand.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I shouldn't have done that. I-"

"It didn't change anything, Libby." He was moving purposefully toward her again. "I came here because I want you, and I mean to have you. Tonight. Now."

That quiet desperation that she normally saw in Dan Evans was replacing some of the anger. That look affected Libby. It had from the beginning. It made him look lost, lonely. It made her want to take away that loneliness. And that, on top of wanting him so much...

"Oh, Dan..." She moved toward him, this time being the one to begin the kiss, to take him in her arms. "Dammit, Dan, why do I feel this way about you?"

He didn't answer her, couldn't answer her. But when they were in her bedroom those answers didn't matter anyway.