He drew closer, knelt down in front of her, his eyes level with hers. "What happened?"

She couldn't stand it. The concern on his face, in his tone. Couldn't deal with the slow ache it caused in her heart. "Why the h.e.l.l do you care? You won't remember it twenty minutes after I tell you."

His hand shot out, gripping the back of the hot tub; his eyes blazed with heat. Anger, certainly, and something else. The anger she could handle; it was the else that scared her.

He lifted his other hand, cupped her chin. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" she asked, jerking her face away.

"Why do you lash out? Is it when I get too close?"

"What? What does that mean?"

"You can be so pleasant, I've seen it. And then you can put all your shields up and go on attack. I think it's when I start to get close to the truth. And it scares you."

Yes, it scared her to her soul. She wanted to deny it, and she couldn't, because she was trembling inside. But being angry was so much easier than being afraid. And pushing someone away was so much easier when she was being mean.

She pressed her back against the wall, trying to put some more distance between them. "Maybe I'm just not a nice person. Did you ever consider that?"

"I don't think that's the case. I've been accused of being a terrible, boring b.a.s.t.a.r.d the past few years. But I don't think that's your problem."

"Maybe you just aren't very good at reading people."

He shook his head. "An interesting gift, or rather, strange side effect, of my injury. I do not surround myself with so much noise, so it seems I have more time, more of an ability to look closely at the people who are around me. You aren't mean, Hannah. You're afraid. The question is, what are you afraid of?"

Her heart was pounding, her body hyperaware of his nearness. She took a breath and pushed off from the wall, standing so that he was slightly beneath her. She put her hand on the back of his neck.

"I'm not afraid of anything," she said, lying. Boldly. Her hands were shaking, her body was shaking. But she couldn't let him win. Couldn't let him see any weakness. Couldn't let him see her.

He took his hand off the wall and put it on the small of her back, his fingers rough, hot against her skin. Steam rose between them and stirred when she breathed out.

"Is that so?" he asked.

In response she dipped her head, brushing his lips with hers. A hard zip of attraction punched her, deep in her core. He wrapped his other arm around her, his hand splayed between her shoulder blades. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned down, deepening the kiss as much as she could in her position.

Her brain was screaming that she was making a mistake. Walking into danger.

Her body was complaining that she wasn't walking fast enough.

She'd been out to prove a point, but everything, the previous conversation, the reason behind her action, was shrouded in the mist that curled between them, that seemed to have wrapped itself around her mind, shielding her in a blessed haze where all that mattered was the feel of his hard body against hers, the feel of his mouth covering hers.

He lowered his hand slowly, cupping the curve of her b.u.t.t, down to her thigh, tugging gently. She followed his lead, lowering herself so she was straddling his legs, the hard ridge of his arousal apparent, thick and tempting between them.

He pulled her hard against him and she let her head fall back as he kissed her neck, her collarbone. His mouth so hot on her wet skin, warming her where the night air had left her cold.

"Oh, yes," she said, rocking against him, seeking out the pleasure she knew he could provide. Pleasure she knew would far surpa.s.s any s.e.xual experience she'd had before.

She tightened her hold on him, claimed his mouth again, her tongue delving deep, his returning the favor, exploring, creating a delicious friction that made her internal muscles tighten.

She could lose herself in him. In this. Close out everything and embrace the pa.s.sion. The moment. The need to have him deep inside of her, thrusting hard and deep, mirroring the action of his tongue.

She wanted to surrender. To her feelings. Her body's needs. To him.

She wanted to give him her control.

Panic hit her, hard in the breast and she pushed at his chest, trying to free herself from his embrace. He slowly released his hold on her, his expression confused, hazy. She stumbled back, splashing water up around them, and climbed up the side of the hot tub, not bothering to get around him by using the stairs.

"No, this isn't happening," she said, panic clawing at her. Mocking her. Reminding her that she wasn't brave, that she wasn't different. That if she let go, all of the trappings, everything she'd built for herself, would fall away and reveal who she really was. The stupid girl, needy girl. Ready to give it all up so someone would just pay attention to her for a minute. For a few hours. So that she could have someone look at her like she mattered. Forget what she wanted. Forget self-esteem, self-respect. Control.

"I think it is. It has," he said. "It seems to keep happening."

She shook her head. "No. I'm not sleeping with you."

"Oh, so what was that then? Another effort on your part to keep a man controlled? To lead him around by his b.a.l.l.s?"

"If you didn't think with them, it wouldn't work so well," she shot back, dying inside. She felt like her defenses were crumbling, like all of her armor was melting from the heat of Eduardo's touch. And she couldn't allow that.

"Perhaps I was wrong, Hannah. Perhaps I was looking for more where more did not exist."

"I told you." She turned and grabbed a towel from one of the lounge chairs, wrapping it around her body. A physical barrier in the absence of a much-needed emotional one.

"You did. Understand this, though-unlike your ex, I will not be a part of your games. You will not play with me."

"You just let me." She turned on her heel and walked out of the courtyard, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind her.

She climbed up the stairs, towel clutched tightly to her chest. She opened the door to her room and closed it firmly behind her, leaning against it. Then she put her hand over her mouth and m.u.f.fled a sob.

She slid down to her knees, her body shaking as she gave in to tears for the first time in more years than she could count.

Eduardo knocked on the door that connected his room to Hannah's. He had a feeling he would regret checking on her. He shouldn't care what she was feeling. She'd played him. She'd tried to use her body to control him; she'd insulted him.

And yet, he found he still didn't believe it was her. Still didn't believe she was being genuine. She had been afraid. Not just when he'd asked her about her past, she'd been afraid when they'd kissed. Of the pa.s.sion that had flared up between them.

He felt wild. He didn't feel like himself, whoever the h.e.l.l that was. And looking at Hannah, touching Hannah, didn't take him back. It took him somewhere else entirely. He had no idea what to do with that.

He knew what he wanted. And for now, wanting something, needing, that was enough.

She didn't answer. He let out a growl and opened the door without waiting for a response.

He saw her, sitting against the wall, her knees drawn up to her chest, her head down. She looked like a broken doll.

"Hannah?" he asked, a pang hitting him hard in the chest.

She raised her head, and he saw tears shining on her cheeks, illuminated by the moonlight. She wiped her cheek with her arm. "Go away."

He took a step toward her. He didn't know what it was that compelled him when it came to this woman. He didn't know why she felt so imbedded in him, and yet, she did. A part of him he couldn't escape, a part he couldn't forget.

He hadn't wanted to pursue anyone since his accident. He'd had no focused s.e.xual desire.

But Hannah, tough as nails Hannah, who liked pink, who was sitting on the floor now, wet, still in her bathing suit, all her armor stripped, looking like she would shatter if he touched her, she drew him.

She had fascinated him back when they'd first met. A sc.r.a.ppy, low-cla.s.s, determined girl who had clawed her way up from nothing, just to get an education. To try and change her life. But the fascination had changed. It was different now. Deeper. As though she'd burrowed beneath his skin.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

She pushed up from the floor and stood. He expected her to yell at him. To insult him. Because he'd caught her feeling vulnerable, and that was what she did when he spotted a crack in her armor.

Instead she just straightened, blond hair flicking over her shoulders like a silvery wave, her chin tilted upward. She was like a proud queen, one who would never acknowledge what he'd just witnessed. She would pretend to be above it, above him, if she had to, in order to protect herself. To keep herself securely locked in her ivory tower.

"Of course."

She would never take sympathy from him, and he didn't like seeing her broken. "You owe me an apology, Hannah," he said, changing tactics, hardening his tone.

She tipped her chin up. "For?"

A smile curved his lips, heat pooling in his gut as he stepped toward her. "You insulted me. Good manners dictate you tell me you're sorry."

"But I'm not."

It was a bad idea to push her. It had been a bad idea to come to her room in the first place. "Perhaps I can change your mind."

She took a step toward him. "I doubt it."

"I don't."

Hannah sucked in a deep breath, tried to erect a barrier between herself and the dark sensuality radiating from Eduardo.

She hated how she shook when she was near him. How much her body ached for his. She hadn't had s.e.x in nine years. Pathetic, but true. All because of fear. All because she was afraid that if she ever let herself lose control, she would find out that she had never changed. It was why she lashed out at him, it was why she ran from him.

She hated fear. Hated how much of it lived inside of her. She'd bought into her own lie of strength. Had done for years. She'd found someone who hadn't challenged her, who hadn't tapped into any sort of deep s.e.xuality, who hadn't worked at uncovering her secrets, and she'd been able to pretend. Pretend that nothing had ever happened to her, that she had never been Hannah Mae Hackett. High school dropout, pregnant teenager, fraud.

With Eduardo, she couldn't pretend.

With Eduardo she couldn't hide the fear, not from him, not from herself. He stripped her with one look. And his touch ...

It had to stop. She wouldn't be afraid. She could still have control, even in this. She had to.

She took another step toward him and put her hand on his face. He reached up, wrapped his fingers around her wrist. "Do not test me, Hannah, not again. I am not playing games. If you kiss me, you had better intend to follow through."

"Or what?"

He chuckled. "I would never hurt you. Would never force myself on you. But I will never allow you to touch me again, either. I do not play. If you turn back now, nothing will happen between us."

"I don't intend to turn back," she said.

"Then why did you earlier?"

"Because this is a very, very bad idea. I thought I would turn back while I still could." Now if she turned back she would be doing it because of fear, and she would know that was why. But if she kissed him ... She could do it now. While she had him off guard. While she was in command.

He turned her hand and pressed a kiss to the underside of her wrist, his dark eyes never leaving hers.

"Why don't you kiss me?" she asked.

"Why don't you apologize?"

A laugh escaped, nervous. Strange sounding. "I might feel more sorry if you just give me what I ask for."

He hesitated for a moment, dark eyes glittering. Then he dipped his head, his mouth claiming her quickly, fiercely. She didn't want anything intruding, no thoughts, no emotions; she only wanted what he made her feel. The intense ache that he brought to her core, the desire to have him, over her, in her.

She ran her hands down his bare chest, relishing the feel of his muscles beneath her palms. She'd never touched a man who looked like him, had never been with a real man, truly. Fumbling teenage boys who didn't know what foreplay meant hardly counted as comprehensive s.e.xual experiences.

They hadn't been the complete sensual playground that Eduardo was. He was so masculine, so perfectly formed.

She felt her breath getting short, choppy, and she slowed it, taking a few steadying breaths to help reset the rhythm. To keep herself from losing her mind.

She had the control here. He wanted her; she could see the hunger in his lean face. She held the power.

He moved his hands up her waist, kissing her deeply, thoroughly, his thumbs skimming the undersides of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She moaned into his mouth and an answering sound of pleasure reverberated in his chest.

He slid his hands higher, cupping her, teasing her nipples. A shot of pure, liquid heat poured into her core. She put her hands on his b.u.t.t and drew him tighter against her, his erection pressing hard against her hip.

He gripped one of the straps on her swimsuit and tugged it down, dropping a kiss onto her shoulder, peeling the Lycra away from her skin, exposing her breast. "Oh, yes. So beautiful," he said, his voice rough, pained.

He lowered his head, his tongue caressing her nipple, circling it before he sucked it deeply into his mouth. She raised one hand quickly, fisting his hair, holding him to her. He lowered her other strap, baring her other breast. He moved his attention there, lavishing it with the same, very thorough attentions.

She closed her eyes, the sheer intensity of the desire rocketing through her making it impossible to move. Impossible to breathe. Impossible to do anything but stand there and just let him have his way with her body.

When he gripped her swimsuit and pulled it down the rest of the way, a flash of panic hit her. But it was dark. He wouldn't be able to see. Wouldn't notice the silvery lines that trailed over her stomach.

Even if he did, it didn't mean he would know what they were.

He sucked harder on her breast while he teased the other one with his thumb and that last conscious thought fled.

He raised his head and kissed her mouth again, his hair-roughened chest providing the stimulation now.

"Yes, yes," she repeated, over and over, mindlessly as he backed her to the bed and lowered her onto the soft surface.

Dimly, she remembered that she was supposed to take control, that this was about proving that she wasn't afraid, that she could master her need for him, and hold him in the palm of her hand.

The only part that registered was the last one.

She reached down between them and touched at the apex of his thighs with her hand, moving her palm over the hard ridge of his shaft.

A little tremor of fear shot through her. Fear of pain. It had been a long time. And it had never been with a man like him.

"I ... Do you have condoms?" she asked, a trickle of panic hitting her. She shook it off. She wasn't going to let fear have anything in her anymore. Wouldn't let it have anything in this.

He swore. "Just a moment."