Posted on Wednesday, 11 February 2004, at 4:32 p.m.

Feeling a massive headache coming on, Elizabeth excused herself from the group she was with and headed into the library, picking up a glass of wine on the way. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from these people. This had to be the most stuck up group she'd ever been around. What else did she expect from a company headed by Will Darcy? She'd been suffering weeks and weeks of these promotional parties, and she didn't think she could take anymore.

Locking herself in the study of the large house, Elizabeth sighed her relief as she walked to a nearby window. Rubbing her temples and groaning, she quickly took a gulp of the wine and tried to reign in her aggravation.

The most infuriating thing about today, though, had been the final meeting before the kickoff for the new software. Darcy had picked apart every idea she had, and had basically instructed her to redesign everything on the website. Everything! And what was worse, he seemed to enjoy watching her grow angry.

He had hired her as an independent consultant to create the image for this new software - the packaging, the website, everything. And after already choosing a design concept, he had instructed her to change the design and everything around it due to a new idea.

Shaking her head, she muttered, "Why did I even take this project in the first place?"

Hearing a movement behind her, she suddenly heard a deep voice reply, "Because I'm offering you more money than you've probably seen in your whole career."

Jerking around in surprise, Elizabeth found herself looking at a very relaxed Darcy in a huge leather chair. He, too, had a glass of wine and was watching her with those intense brown eyes, a small smile playing at his lips.

Narrowing her eyes, she felt her temper rising. She did not like being toyed with, no matter how rich and good looking a man might be. Her patience with this man was running VERY thin, and she suddenly could care less if he decided to toss her out on her rump. "Isn't this your celebration? Why on earth are YOU hiding in here?" she asked, her temper causing her eyes to flash dangerously.

Something stirred inside of Darcy at the sight of this small woman in front of him, ready to do battle. The dress she wore had been teasing his senses all evening, with the low cut neck line to the clinging material that showed every curve to its best advantage. Feeling his body temperature begin to rise, he took another swig of his wine and replied, "My COMPANY holds these blasted parties. I can't stand them, personally." Watching her intently, he suddenly murmured, "What's your excuse for hiding away?"

Turning her back on him, she glared out the window and replied, "I'm tired of being in the company of people who have their heads stuck so far up their..." pausing in frustration, she avoided the word she wanted to say and replied, "Behinds, that I'm surprised they can even breath."

The room suddenly filled with his deep laughter, causing Elizabeth's breath to catch in her throat, her body betraying the anger she felt. "I dare say you include me in that grouping, do you not?" she heard him ask, amusement in his voice.

Feeling as if he were mocking her, she turned around and replied tightly, "You, Mr. Darcy, I consider their RING leader."

Lifting an eyebrow, he murmured, "You're bold, Miss Bennett."

"No, Mr. Darcy, I'm honest," she snapped back, the wine beginning to get to her head.

Grinning slightly as if he knew something she didn't, he stood to his feet and swallowed the last bit of wine in his glass. Moving towards her, he replied with a slight shrug, "Who's to say that you haven't misjudged me?"

Feeling her heart beat quicken as he approached her, the room seemed to suddenly grow smaller. He stopped within an arm's reach of her and desire seemed to flair in his eyes as he looked down into her own green eyes. "I'm not wrong often," she replied, a bit more breathlessly than she had intended.

"I bet you we're a lot more alike than you realize," he murmured, his eyes intimately looking over her features. Watching as she licked her lips in a nervous gesture, he felt his breath catch in his throat.

Elizabeth cursed her traitorous body as she realized all she wanted was to feel his arms around her. Letting her eyes drop to his lips, she replied, "I doubt that very much."

"Oh?" he asked in amusement, his voice dropping to an intimate rumble as he gazed down into her eyes. His face sobered and he murmured softly, "You know nothing about what it's like to be me."

"How hard can it be? You order people around you as if they are of very little value to you and expect everyone to bow to your will. You don't take anyone's opinion into consideration, and you-" her voice faltered as he slowly reached up and ran a fingertip down the side of her face and along her jaw line, his intense dark brown eyes caressing the features of her face.

"And?" he asked huskily, completely aroused by the fire in her eyes, and the electricity that seemed to suddenly be flowing between them. He lowered his face towards hers slightly, his eyelids becoming hooded as he stood so close to her, yet too far away for either of their liking.

"Stop that," she stammered, being driven to distraction by the desperate desire that was raging within her. She wanted nothing more than for this man to kiss her till she couldn't breathe anymore.

"Stop what?" he asked, his finger coming underneath her chin to gently lift her face towards his.

Feeling her body easily bending to his will, she realized that her hands were now flattened against his broad muscular chest, originally to keep him from coming any closer, but instead itching to feel the skin beneath the Armani suit he was wearing. "This isn't what I want," she whispered as he slowly slipped his right arm around her waist and pulled her body fully against his.

Feeling his body immediately react as she melted against him, he cupped her jaw gently with his left hand and lowered his mouth to hover over hers as he whispered, "That's not what your body is telling me."

Having his lips so close to touching her own, she trembled in anticipation of the feel of them on her own, her eyes sliding shut to receive his kiss.

Trying to control himself, he gently brushed his lips across hers - teasingly at first, nipping at her upper lip - then lost all control when he heard her whimper slightly, clutching his body against her own in a desire to be closer, and crushed his mouth against hers in a hungry battle to dominate the fiery spirit within her.

Slipping her hands up his chest and tangling them in the matt of dark curls at the nape of his neck, she tilted her head to allow him to deepen the kiss, allowing him to completely have his way with her.

When he pulled away to take a deep drag of air into his lungs, he held her closely against him, his lips brushing her forehead as he tried to regain his breath. Cupping the back of her head, he told her breathlessly, "I've been dying to do that ever since I laid eyes on you."

Feeling dizzy from the scent of his cologne and the smell of soap still clinging to his skin, she arched against him as his hand ran down her back to readjust her against him. "I-I can't think when you're this close to me," she stammered softly, her eyes still closed from where he had rocked her with that passionate kiss.

"I haven't been able to think for days now, when ever we've been in the same room together," he admitted gruffly, gently tracing his finger down her face to her neck.

Shivering at the light touch, she whispered, "I don't even know you."

"Then get to know me," he replied, dropping a kiss behind her ear. "Not Darcy, the CEO. Get to know ME. William Darcy." Running his lips across the sensitive skin of her neck, he whispered again, "William Darcy, the man who is quickly falling in love with you."

Gasping as he nipped a sensitive place on her skin, she whispered in return, "How do I know you don't want to simply use me."

"In the past three months that you've known me, have you ever seen me with a woman, much less talk to one," he asked, this time gently grazing her earlobe with his lips.

Shivering at the light touch, she replied, "I don't know what you do when you're home at night."

"I'm home alone, thinking of you," he replied softly, pulling back to look sincerely down into her deep green eyes. At that very moment, she saw everything written in his eyes - the vulnerability of a young boy, but a desperate cry for love of a young man with too much responsibility on his shoulders.

Feeling tears rush to her eyes, she whispered uncertainly, "Darcy, I don't know how this can work. We're so different. I'm from a completely different social class than you...you're just as stubborn and obstinate as I am. We'll never agree on anything."

Giving her a slight smile while searching her eyes, he replied, "Yeah, but the making up will be the fun part." Turning serious eyes to her, he gently cupped her face and murmured, "Elizabeth, I'm asking you to give me a chance to show you who I really am. Please don't label me like everyone else has."

Staring in amazement into the eyes of a man she never expected this humble admission from, she found herself nodding her affirmation. As his lips lowered over hers once again, she found that she wanted to give him that chance, and had wanted to for some time. Sighing against his insistent kiss, she surrendered to the wonderful feelings he evoked in her, and decided that this was going to be fun after all.