All of You by Dee Tenorio Page A

unfeeling? She was right, one amazing night didn’t mean he knew everything there was to know about her. He didn’t know her favorite color or why she ate in those tiny, nibbling little bites. True, he didn’t know what motivated her or what she did in the quiet times of the day. But did she think he didn’t remember those hours they’d spent before trying to devour each other in her bed? She hadn’t wanted to, but she’d shown him her personality, her interests, a tantalizing peek of the woman behind the professional mask.
    Enough to make him want answers to those other questions.
    He wanted to understand why just looking at her made him feel like the world stopped spinning. Or why sparring with her verbally gave him such an adrenaline rush. Why touching her felt better than touching anyone or anything else in the world.
    Why she was so damn scared of him.
    “We could always talk about us.”
    “Oh no you don’t. Every time you talk about us, it’s some new approach to get back in my bed.”
    He slid down to the ground, still holding on to the rail but feeling less desperate. “You have a nice bed.”
    “I know. And I don’t plan to share it.”
    “Ever?”
    She munched another apple piece. “Allow me to rephrase. I don’t plan to share it with you.”
    “Why not? You didn’t have any complaints last time.”
    She made a choked, incredulous sound. “I’ve had nothing but complaints!”
    “Not about the sex.”
    Her mouth pursed tightly, but rather than admit the truth, she shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to sleep with you again. So all your elaborate plans, the meals, the plants, the ambushes…there’s no point. Set your sights on easier game.”
    “Hey,” he replied, his temper sparking. His life up to this point might have been superficial and okay, somewhat wasteful, but he wasn’t a predator. Ever. “I don’t hunt women. The women I sleep with know what’s going to happen and they’re equal participants. Even you. And they all knew there weren’t any promises. No commitment. No happily ever afters.”
    She didn’t look like she believed him. “What about what you said in the stairwell? And everything else you’ve been doing the last few days? What do you call that?”
    A change of heart. But Dory had warned him expressly against letting Jessica in on his hopes. She offered him another apple slice and this time, he took it. Handling it gave him time to think of the right answer. Or it would have if he weren’t thinking how the tart fruit fit her—always a sting before the sweetness.
    “You’re different,” he finally said with a shrug, not wanting to lie, even in this. Maybe especially in this. “I’ve never been with a woman who challenged me on so many levels. A woman like you brings a whole other dimension to the word stimulation.” He paused, watching her until he was sure she was taking him seriously. “The truth is, one night with you just wasn’t enough for me.”
    She stared at him, her blasé mask finally gone. But she didn’t look happy. “It was hardly a night.”
    He made an effort not to raise his brows, but one might have gotten away from him because she sighed.
    “Fine, since you’re never going to let this go, yes, I liked what happened between us. But all I want in a man at this point in my life is one who can be good in bed and good enough to leave when we’re done without taking it personally.”
    Well, it wasn’t the open-armed acceptance he’d been hoping for, but as Dory said, if Jessica didn’t set it on fire…
    “I can do that.”
    She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t an invitation, Kyle.”
    “Wasn’t it?”
    She was cute when she stumbled through an attempt to speak. Her cheeks colored a soft rosy shade and she puckered her mouth over and over again, trying to find a word.
    It was impossible to ignore.
    He leaned over, letting go of the rails, and pressed his mouth to hers. He felt her gasp and was careful to keep the kiss