“You wouldn’t understand.”

I looked straight into his burning dark eyes. “Try me.”

He picked up the glass, walked to the sink, and poured it out. He came back to the table and pounded it with a loud bang. “There. I took care of it.”

“And that is supposed to be significant?”

“Trust me. It is.”

I turned my attention back to my teacup. “If you say so.”

He stood and took the water glass to the sink. He stayed for a moment, his back to me, his ass looking delectable in his sleeping pants. His skin was tan, and the strong muscles of his back seemed tense. How I longed to massage all the tension out of him. Would I ever get that chance?

I’d have to break down a lot of walls to be able to do anything for his tension. Was I ready for that? Having just come away from a broken engagement?

I let out a soft chuckle. Whether I was ready mattered little. Talon was not ready and probably never would be.

He turned around and gazed at me. “What’s so funny?”

Shit. Had he heard my laugh? “Nothing.”

He walked toward me, aggression in his demeanor. “Are you fucking laughing at me?”

“No, I—”

He pulled me up and out of my chair so I was facing him, our chests nearly touching.

“You think it’s funny that I can’t sleep? That I sit here with a glass of water? Is that why you get up every night, to laugh at me?”

I trembled before him—from fear or arousal, I wasn’t sure. He gripped my upper arms, his knuckles whitening with the pressure he was exerting.

I should stop him. I should stop him now before this goes one minute further.

But I didn’t want to stop him. Yes, he was gripping me hard, harder than he should. But his touch on my skin, his hands on my flesh… It all felt right, somehow.

“Answer me, goddamnit.”

I shook my head. “Of course I wasn’t laughing at you. I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

He sneered at me. “Yes, because you’re such a nice person, right?”

“Yes.” My lips trembled.

“Are you, Jade? Are you really a nice person?”

“Of course I am.”

He still gripped me firmly. “Then you should probably stay the hell away from me.” He released me quickly.

I stumbled backward, catching myself by grabbing the back of the chair.

This man was dangerous. Brooding and dangerous. And sexy as hell. His dark-walnut hair framed his face in soft tousled waves. His onyx eyes gleamed, boring holes in my center as he stared at me. His muscles were tense, his whole chest clenched. He needed something. Anything, to release the tension.

“I…I guess I’ll get back to bed.” I turned to leave.

But he grabbed me again, this time pulling me right up to his chest, only the thin cotton of my tank separating us.

“I’m going to tell you this once, and I expect you to listen,” he said, his eyes burning.

Was I supposed to nod? I simply arched my eyebrows.

“Do not come to the kitchen in the middle of the night anymore.”

“Why not? If I can’t sleep, the tea helps me relax—”

His lips slammed down on mine.

Oh, God…

He forced my mouth open with his tongue and plunged inside. His kiss was…feral—more feral and animalistic even then the previous ones. Oh, yes, he needed to release tension…and I would willingly help. He gripped my shoulders, bringing us closer and closer together, as if he wanted to disappear inside my skin.

I returned his kiss, not only because I wanted to, but because he seemed to need it so much.

We kissed for several minutes until finally he eased up, and the kiss became softer. He unclenched his fingers from my shoulders and trailed one hand up my neck to cup my cheek.

And I was lost. I could never resist a face toucher. I loved the feeling of being so treasured by someone. I wasn’t laboring under any delusions that Talon Steel treasured me, but oh, the touch of his calloused fingers on my bare cheek… I was in heaven, floating on a magical cloud.

The kiss was still deep, and I still returned it passionately, but it was soft now, almost…loving. He unclenched his other hand from my shoulder and slid it down my arm, my skin prickling in its wake. My nipples were so hard I felt sure they were poking him. I longed for him to slide his hand up my side and cup one of my breasts, but we were too close together for that. I ached for his touch.

My sex throbbed. I knew I must be dripping, and all I had on were these loose boxers. God, I wanted his fingers on me, in me, stroking me to completion while he continued to kiss me.

Bravely, summoning all the courage in my arsenal, I clasped the hand that was holding on to my wrist and drew it toward my mound.

He broke the kiss abruptly, forcing me backward, his dark gaze burning into mine. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, blue eyes.”

My courage still coursing through me, I regarded him. “I do, actually.”

“I will hurt you.” Sadness laced his voice.

Why would he think he would hurt me? Was he even talking about emotional hurt? Did he actually think he would physically hurt me?

“I’m a big girl, Talon. I can make my own choices. If I get hurt, it will be my own doing.”

“You don’t know what you’re dealing with. You have no idea how much I ache for your pussy right now. I want to stuff you so full of my cock that you can’t see straight. I’ve wanted you since the first time I laid eyes on you, Jade. I don’t know why, but you have a hold on me.”

My skin warmed, my pussy pulsing. Was this truly happening? “Then take me to bed. I’m going willingly.”

“I’ll never love you.”

Bam! A brick settled on top of me. At least he was honest. I could give him that. I responded the only way I knew how. “I’m not asking for your love.”

He let out a chuckle. “Sooner or later, all you women want love.”

I chuckled back at him. “Seriously? Look where so-called love got me. Left at the damned altar. Humiliated in front of my family and friends. Why in hell would I want to repeat that?”

“Maybe you don’t want love today, and maybe not tomorrow. But you will someday.”

“And who’s to say you and I are going to be together someday?”

Another chuckle. “I can guarantee you we won’t be together someday. I don’t love, blue eyes. I take. I take what others are willing to give to me, but I can’t give anything in return. It’s not in me.”