All or Nothing by Dee Tenorio Page B

again. Then they closed into a knot of flesh and leather. She felt his gaze hit her like a fist, instantly making her regret pushing.
    She took a step back. Not in fear of him, but his intensity. Every emotion seemed to flow like molten energy in his eyes. Pain. Desire. Anger. Need. Hot, hungry need. She took another step as he came towards her.
    “What’s the matter, Belle? You look worried.”
    Because she was . “I don’t want you here.”
    “Why?” She must look defensive, too, if his pleased perusal meant anything.
    “Why what?”
    “Why don’t you want me here?” With each word he came closer and she retreated further to the warehouse. The dog danced around her feet, looking for a place to stay, probably wondering if this was a game. “You never had a problem with me here before.”
    “I have a problem now.” Yeah, brilliant response, dumbass.
    “Why?”
    “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Run for friggin’ Congress, Belinda. Geez.
    “Oh, yes, you do. You never have, but you should.”
    His autocratic remark finally cemented her feet in place. Anger, wonderful, spine-stiffening anger, flooded her. He kept advancing, stopping only when their chests touched with each heaving breath they took. Not that she understood why either of them was breathing so hard. They were only talking…right?
    She poked her finger against his chest. “All I should have to do is tell you to go, Lucas. That’s enough for everyone else.” Well, it would be, if anyone else were allowed on her property.
    “You haven’t told me to go.”
    She thought over their conversation, momentarily befuddled. Hadn’t she told him to leave? She couldn’t remember. “I’m telling you now.”
    “Go ahead.”
    Maybe it was the tremble in her body, having him so close. Or just the power of his gaze drilling into her, but she couldn’t form the words. Any words at all.
    He nodded slowly, understanding—damn him—and their breathing seemed to slow down. She got lost in his gaze, in the fiery touch of his now bare thumb on her jaw.
    “No matter what you do or how you hurt me, you can’t make what’s between us go away. You can’t make me disappear, Belinda. I’m not going anywhere.”
    Her body clenched, caught between wanting to defy and wanting to hide. “You were the one who wanted out, Lucas. I’m just holding you to it.”
    “I was wrong.”
    That required blinking. Lucas was never wrong. He didn’t know how to be wrong. She was about to mention that, but his mouth descended on hers. His arm snaked around her at the same time, yanking her against him while his other hand cupped the back of her head.
    She didn’t want to use the word helpless . It didn’t apply. But she did feel powerless—against him, against her own needs—when her hands took hold of his hot shoulders, sliding slightly against the sweat there while his tongue plundered her mouth with devastating accuracy. He didn’t stop the battle until she whimpered, until she was clinging and tears seeped beneath her tightly closed lashes. Then he was gentle, soothing with caresses of his lips…and then he was gone.
    As quickly as the kiss came, it was over. She was released and he looked grimmer than before, arms outstretched wide. To keep himself from touching her?
    “This isn’t over,” he said, a dark promise that locked around her like a vise.
    She touched her mouth, still wet, still possessed by him. Every inch of her felt possessed, owned, by his proprietary gaze.
    “Now get inside and lock the door before I change my mind and take you right here in the dirt.”
    So Belinda did what any woman did when her knees were melted, her heart was confused and the man in front of her was the last man she could afford to love.
    She ran.
     
     
    It was official. He was never listening to his brother again.
    Lucas finished sorting the junk truck, but it wasn’t anger he had to work off anymore. He’d gone there to confront her. To pound on her door and